Happy Sunday, everyone! If you walked into Mass today and noticed your priest wearing a shade of pink, or more accurately, rose, you aren’t seeing things. Today is March 15, 2026, and it marks the Fourth Sunday of Lent, traditionally known as Laetare Sunday.
The word Laetare means "Rejoice." Even though we are in the middle of the penitential season of Lent, the Church takes a little breather today to remind us that the joy of Easter is just around the corner. We are halfway to the Resurrection! But the joy we talk about today isn’t just about the proximity of a holiday; it’s about a change in how we see the world.
Our readings today focus on a powerful theme: Seeing with the Heart. Whether it is God choosing a shepherd boy to be a king or Jesus healing a man born blind, we are being invited to trade our narrow, human vision for God’s expansive, loving perspective.
Looking Past the Surface: Samuel and David
The first reading today (1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a) takes us back to a pivotal moment in the history of Israel. The prophet Samuel is sent by God to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king. Samuel, being human, looks at Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab, and thinks, "Surely this is the guy. He looks like a king!" He’s tall, he’s strong, and he fits the part.
But God immediately stops him. He says something that serves as the cornerstone of our reflection today: "Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature… for God sees not as man sees, for man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart."
Jesse brings out seven of his sons, one by one. Each time, Samuel thinks he’s found the one, and each time, God says, "Nope, not him either." Finally, Samuel asks if there are any more. Jesse almost forgot about the youngest, David, who was out tending the sheep. David wasn't even invited to the meeting! He was just a kid, a shepherd, the "unlikely" choice. Yet, as soon as David walks in, the Lord tells Samuel, "Anoint him, for this is the one."
This tells us so much about how God operates. He doesn’t care about the resume, the height, or the social status. He looks at the capacity for love, the resilience, and the "heart" of the person. God saw a king in a shepherd boy when no one else, not even David’s own father, saw anything more than a farmhand.
From Darkness to Light: The Man Born Blind
Moving to the Gospel of John (9:1-41), we encounter the famous story of the man born blind. This is a long, dramatic narrative that serves as a masterclass in spiritual sight.
When Jesus heals the man, He doesn’t just give him physical vision; He initiates a process of spiritual awakening. Notice how the man’s understanding of Jesus grows. First, he calls Him "the man called Jesus." Then, he calls Him "a prophet." Finally, he falls down and worships Him as the "Son of Man."
While the formerly blind man is gaining "heart-sight," the Pharisees, who have perfect physical vision, are becoming spiritually blinder by the minute. They are so caught up in the rules (like the fact that Jesus healed on the Sabbath) that they cannot see the miracle standing right in front of them. They see a sinner; the man sees a Savior.
Jesus tells us, "I am the light of the world." Light doesn't just make things visible; it changes the quality of what we see. When we walk in the light of Christ, we stop seeing people as "problems to be solved" or "sinners to be judged" and start seeing them as God sees them: as beloved children with infinite potential.
The Mission Connection: The Society of St. Peter the Apostle (SPA)
So, how does this "seeing with the heart" apply to us today, specifically in our mission as part of The Pontifical Mission Societies?
Within our organization, we have a special branch called The Society of St. Peter the Apostle (SPA). You can learn more about their specific work here: https://pontificalmissions.org/who-we-are/the-society-of-st.-peter-the-apostle.
The mission of SPA is deeply rooted in the story of David. In mission territories across the globe, in small villages in Africa, remote islands in Asia, and mountain towns in Latin America, God is still calling "Davids." These are young men and women who feel a call to the priesthood or religious life.
From the outside, they might seem ordinary. To the world, they might just be students from poor families or young people without much "lofty stature" in the eyes of global society. But SPA looks at them with the heart. We see the future bishops, the future sisters who will run clinics, and the future priests who will bring the Eucharist to places that haven't seen a priest in months.
Supporting the "Eyes" of the Local Church
When we support SPA, we aren't just paying for books or building seminaries (though we do that, too!). We are supporting the "eyes" of the local Church.
An indigenous priest, someone who was born and raised in the community he serves, has a unique ability to help his people "see" God’s love. He doesn’t need to translate the culture; he lives it. He can explain the Gospel in a way that is culturally relevant and deeply rooted in the local traditions. He helps his community walk as "children of light" because he understands their specific darknesses and their specific joys.
There are currently thousands of seminarians and religious novices in mission lands who rely on the Society of St. Peter the Apostle. Without our help, these "Davids" might never get the formation they need. Their potential might remain hidden behind the "outward appearance" of poverty or lack of resources. By supporting SPA, we are telling these young people: "We see what God sees in you. We see your heart, and we want to help you shine."
Rejoicing in the Light
On this Laetare Sunday, we are reminded to rejoice because the Light is coming. But we are also challenged to be that light for others.
Radical attentiveness is a term often used in spirituality. It means paying close attention to where God is moving right now. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the "penance" of Lent, the things we gave up, the things we’re struggling with, that we forget to look for the miracles happening in our peripheral vision.
The man born blind didn't ask to be healed; Jesus saw him. God saw David in the field. God sees the young woman in a remote village in India who dreams of becoming a sister. Seeing with the heart means being attentive to these calls and responding with generosity.
Conclusion: Walking as Children of Light
As we move into the final weeks of Lent, let’s ask for the grace to have "heart-sight."
Let’s pray for the seminarians and sisters in the missions. May they have the courage to say "yes" to a call that might seem bigger than they are. And may we have the "sight" to see the value of their vocations. Our support is more than just a donation; it is an act of faith that says we believe in the future of the Church in every corner of the world.
Today, let's look at our neighbors, our families, and even ourselves through the lens of Laetare Sunday. Don't focus on the "outward appearance" of your faults or the "lofty stature" of your goals. Look at the heart.
Let us pray:
Lord, heal our blindness. Help us to see others as You see them. Bless the work of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle and all those preparing for a life of service in the missions. May we all walk as children of light, rejoicing in the hope of Your Resurrection. Amen.
Thank you for being part of this mission. Whether through prayer or support, you are helping the world see God's love more clearly.
Rejoice, for the Light is here!