Sunday of Joy

As Father Vincent reminded us in this morning's homily, today on Laetare Sunday in the midst of our Lenten observance, the Lord God is inviting us to joy. This is the joy of a father who runs after a prodigal son who has squandered all his inheritance, a father who begs that son's reluctant brother to come and join the celebration because his brother has been restored to the family. The Lord God always waits for us, to catch us if we crash and draw us to himself in love. God's patience and relentless love are unimaginable. The crucified Jesus has absorbed all of our crashes in his wounded and risen body, the body that we are. Jesus has reconciled us to God forever. Let us rejoice.