The Fourth Sunday in Lent
When I was about to get married, someone asked me why I was so serious and wasn't more excited. I thought "What are you talking about, of course, I am excited." Solemnity does not negate joy. While looking forward to the wedding and my marriage to Kelsey, I also felt the sacramental weight of such a sacred act. Sometimes, we think it is all or nothing. Either we are fully joyful or fully depressed; fully devoted to Lent or we decide it's not that important or it's just too hard right now.
An image of this is how people understand Sundays during Lent. Some people will treat Sundays in Lent like other Lenten days, but the reality is that Sundays should not lose their connection to Easter Sunday. Just like all Fridays are mini-Good Fridays, so all Sundays are like mini-Easter Sundays. The other pitfall, however, is to forget that you are in Lent at all on Sunday and forgo both your Lenten fasts and Lenten discipline. Perhaps, the best way is somewhere in the middle where you lighten your fast but not your discipline. This balance is more complex than simple extremes. We are more complex. Indeed, our hope and joy in Christ is more complex.
This Sunday is a reminder to find joy in the midst of austerity. Depending on who you ask, you will receive a plethora of names for this Sunday. It is often called The Fourth Sunday in Lent, Rose Sunday, Refreshment Sunday, Mothering Sunday, and Laetare Sunday. All these titles speak to the same purpose of this Sunday. Refreshment Sunday speaks of the lightening of the Lenten disciplines and the austerity of Lent. This lightening is represented in the rose-colored vestments since rose is a lightening of the color purple. Likewise, we see a turn in the somber language of the Introit where it begins with the word "Rejoice", Laetare in Latin, hence Laetare Sunday. The easing of the Lenten season is a reminder that the purpose of Lent is not to leave you defeated; rather, in your discipline, you are preparing yourself for the joy of the resurrection. As the Psalmist reminds us, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help." This pause calls for us to lift our heads. And where do we look? Upon the holy hill, where Jerusalem stands. The full Introit quotes Isaiah 66 and Psalm 122: "Rejoice ye with Jerusalem: and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: that ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations. Ps. 122 I was glad when they said unto me: we will go into the house of the Lord."
It is at this point that we introduce the name Mothering Sunday and where the practice of Simnel cake comes from. As we are reminded throughout the readings and propers within this week's liturgy, we are children of the promise, joined to Jerusalem. And so, in the 16th century, Mothering Sunday was less about mothers and more about returning to your mother church, the place where you come from, the place of your baptism. However, according to some historians, since everyone was going home to where their family resided, they would often bring food with them, as the food supply was low after the winter. They would take this time to visit their mothers and bring cake made with fine flour (where they think the word simnel comes from). Overtime, the cake took on other symbolism related to Easter and the disciples, with eleven balls of marzipan or almond paste on the top of the cake, symbolizing the 12 disciples minus Judas.
Whatever you call this Sunday, find time to lift up your eyes and rejoice in the hope of the resurrection. We are halfway through Lent and the rest of it will fly by, catch your breath. Remember, this is a day to reflect on your baptism, look to the hope you have in Christ given to you in the sacraments of the Church. And rejoice, rejoice in Christ and in our common life together.
Pax et Bonum,
Fr. Aaron