Rejoicing in God's Riches

Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year B
2 Chr. 36.14-16, 19-23 Psalm 137 Ephesians 2.4-10 John 3.14-21

In some ways, today seems a strange day for rejoicing. Yet that is what the Church asks of us. It is Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, one of two days during the year when rose vestments are worn. It is the only Sunday during Lent when flowers are allowed in the church. This weekend, we are called to step outside the regular disciplines and atmosphere of Lent to rejoice. It seems a strange thing to do, especially in the midst of the somberness of this season. And what’s more, once again the news of the week has led to more outcry than rejoicing, more anger and frustration at the acts and mindset of the few who are growing wealthier while the rest of the country is struggling. There is nothing to rejoice about in the daily news headlines. And yet, here we are, on this Laetare Sunday. The church calendar does not change depending on what is going on in the world. And so, today, we are called to rejoice. Something isn’t right.

Or is it … as a matter of fact, we do hear about riches and wealth in today’s readings, a richness that can remind us of the great things we do have. St. Paul is writing to the Ephesians about God’s grace, and listen to what he says: “God, who is rich in mercy … raised us up with him, … that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2.4-7). No matter what we have, no matter what our lives look like, there is one person who is always rich – perhaps not rich in the ways of this world, but rich in mercy and in grace. God, who loved us so much that he sent is only son to die for us – this same God is so rich and overflowing in mercy and grace that we cannot even imagine it. It’s so unbelievable, we have to hear it over and over for it to really sink in. I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it again – when it comes down to it, as long as we have the love of God, then what else do we need? The only way we should really despair is if God’s grace were to run out, if his forgiveness were to run dry. But the promise of the gospel, the promise that St. Paul gives to the Ephesians and to us, is that that will never happen. God’s grace cannot run out, God’s love does not expire, the riches of God’s mercy can never go bankrupt. Now that is something to rejoice about. It can’t get much simpler than that.