God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

To all of you, a blessed Fourth Sunday of Lent.

The entrance antiphon of today’s Mass, in Latin, begins with Laetare. Laetare means, “Be joyful,” … for our spiritual exercises are midway as we journey toward Holy Week and onward into Easter. The color rose is used this weekend at Mass instead of purple, as a way for our eyes to capture the meaning of this word – Laetare – to be joyful. Tomorrow, the statues in our basilica (church) will be covered with purple to signify that the Church is turning her focus fully onto the suffering and the death of Jesus as Savior of the World. They will be unveiled at the sacred Liturgy on Good Friday. Make a genuine effort to participate in the Triduum – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday Mass. Thank you!

There is a story of three angels talking to God as Creator. He asked the three angels what they thought about Him creating the human race.

The first angel was the angel of Truth. He told God the Creator not to do it because humans will no doubt twist the truth. “They may very well destroy the very beauty of truth that You are about. You’ll get nothing but deceit and falsehood. It’s not worth it. Don’t do it!”

The second angel, the angel of Justice, and he too told God, “Don’t create them! Human beings will undoubtedly create all kinds of wickedness – He will be bad, cruel, and dishonest. It’s not worth it. Don’t do it!”

The third angel was the angel of Mercy, who said, “Heavenly Father, create the human being. If humans sin and turn from the path of what is right, and truthful, and holy, you can take him by the hand, show him love, and lead him back to You. It is worth it. Do create him.”

We actually see the mercy of God as His created persons. Let us listen very carefully to the Gospel and quote, “That God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, and shall have Eternal Life.”

The Second Book of Chronicles speaks of a people committing infidelity and abomination, polluting the truth and justice that comes from the Lord our God. It is enough to say that the angels of Truth and Justice in the story that I told were indeed right; it’s not worth it … but Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians today, reminds us also of the immeasurable riches of the grace of Christ who saves us from the cross. God has brought to us Life with Christ. We must live therefore in Christ. Thus, the angel of Mercy in my story reveals to us the very God of Mercy and forgiveness.   

Nicodemus, a devout Jew and learned Pharisee, embraces Jesus as the Light dispelling evil and darkness.

As we continue our Lenten penance, especially through making a good confession, renewing yourself through the graces of the Sunday Mass, rid yourself of the hidden corruption of sin and the Devil, and be joyful – Laetare – in the mercy and forgiveness of Jesus Christ Savior of the World.

Monsignor Michael J. Cariglio, Jr., Pastor & Rector, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica – Saint Anthony Parish

In those days, all the princes of Judah, the priests, and the people
added infidelity to infidelity,
practicing all the abominations of the nations
and polluting the LORD’s temple
which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

Early and often did the LORD, the God of their fathers,
send his messengers to them,
for he had compassion on his people and his dwelling place.
But they mocked the messengers of God,
despised his warnings, and scoffed at his prophets,
until the anger of the LORD against his people was so inflamed
that there was no remedy.
Their enemies burnt the house of God,
tore down the walls of Jerusalem,
set all its palaces afire,
and destroyed all its precious objects.
Those who escaped the sword were carried captive to Babylon,
where they became servants of the king of the Chaldeans and his sons
until the kingdom of the Persians came to power.
All this was to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah:
“Until the land has retrieved its lost sabbaths,
during all the time it lies waste it shall have rest
while seventy years are fulfilled.”

In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia,
in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah,
the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia
to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom,
both by word of mouth and in writing:
“Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia:
All the kingdoms of the earth
the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me,
and he has also charged me to build him a house
in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to any part of his people,
let him go up, and may his God be with him!”

R. (6ab)  Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
By the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the aspens of that land
we hung up our harps.
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
For there our captors asked of us
the lyrics of our songs,
And our despoilers urged us to be joyous:
“Sing for us the songs of Zion!”
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
How could we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand be forgotten!
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
May my tongue cleave to my palate
if I remember you not,
If I place not Jerusalem
ahead of my joy.
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!

Brothers and sisters:
God, who is rich in mercy,
because of the great love he had for us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions,
brought us to life with Christ — by grace you have been saved —,
raised us up with him,
and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,
that in the ages to come
He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace
in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this is not from you; it is the gift of God;
it is not from works, so no one may boast.
For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works
that God has prepared in advance,
that we should live in them.

It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an Act of Spiritual Communion, which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion is an ardent desire to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament and lovingly embrace him at a time or in circumstances when one cannot receive Him in sacramental Communion. The most common reason for making an Act of Spiritual Communion is when a person cannot attend Mass. Acts of Spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

Come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there

And unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.