Embracing God’s Love in Diversity.
The Fourth Sunday of Lent, often referred to as Laetare Sunday, serves as a
beacon of hope amidst the penitential season of Lent. It is a moment that invites
us to reflect deeply on the profound messages of love and mercy, which are
presented in today’s second reading and Gospel. These readings call us to
recognize God’s immense love for us and to bring this love into practice,
especially when it comes to loving those whose ideas may be different from ours.
In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us of the richness of God’s mercy
and the depth of His love for us. He says “God, who is rich in mercy, because of
the great love he had for us.” This divine love is not passive; it is an active,
transformative force that reaches out to us in our most profound moments of
need. The challenge for us is how to embody and reflect this merciful love in our
interactions with others, especially when faced with differences that could easily
divide us.
Living in an increasingly polarized world where differing ideas can lead to
conflict rather than constructive dialogue, the call to love as God loves us
becomes even more critical. To love one another in the face of disagreement,
requires us to see beyond the surface level of ideas and opinions to the inherent
dignity and worth of God’s children. It asks us to listen and to respond with
compassion. This love does not require us to agree with everyone on everything
but rather that we love and respect everyone as beloved children of God.
In the Gospel, St. John proclaims the profound truth that “God so loved the
world that he gave His only Son.” This act of sacrificial love demonstrates the
magnitude of God’s love for us – a love that knows no boundaries, draws us out
of our brokenness and invites us into a relationship of healing and wholeness. As
we reflect on the magnitude of God’s love for us, the question then, is how do we
respond to this overwhelming love? Do our lives reflect gratitude for the gift of
divine love, and are we willing to share that love with others, especially those
who may seem difficult to love?Fr. Dominic Toan Tran, Pastor
Dear brothers and sisters, during this Lenten Season, let us consider how we
can more fully participate in God’s love and extend that love to those around us.
Whether it’s through acts of kindness, words of encouragement, or by simply
being present to someone in their time of need, we have countless opportunities
to manifest God’s love in the world.