Laetare Sunday

Yesterday was the fourth Sunday of Lent, or Laetare Sunday. Laetare is Latin for rejoice and the Introit (beginning) of the Mass says, “Rejoice O Jerusalem; and gather round, all you who love her.” Since we are deep into Lent, a time of repentance and sorrow, this Sunday is where the faithful catch their breath and ponder the good in this life before continuing their journey on towards the Passion before reaching the beauty and joy of Easter.

The Gospel for this fourth Sunday is taken from John 6:1-15, the telling of the miracle of the five loaves and two fish. I repeat, miracle, because this is not just about sharing and being kind to our neighbor. It is a supernatural occurrence prefiguring Jesus instituting the Eucharist at the Last Supper.

Jesus, knowing exactly what he will do, asks the disciples, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” (There were about 5,000 of just men, not to mention women and children.) Verse 7 says, “Phillip answered him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little.” Andrew adds in Verse 9, “There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves and two fishes. But what are these among so many?”

Some would say that the Apostles were doubtful and worried that nothing could be done, that they were only seeing things from a material point of view. I have a feeling that they were merely pointing out to Jesus the situation and were only waiting instructions from Him, knowing that He would come up with something. After all, they had enough faith to give up everything and follow Him. We then see Jesus give thanks for the bread and fish and distribute them, as He does with the bread and wine at the Last Supper, and as the priest does at each Mass. 

This Gospel reading therefore gives us hope and nourishment to make it the rest of the way. We too will be fed by the words and actions of our Lord Jesus Christ.