Dear parishioners and friends of Saint James, 

From the Introit: Laetare Jerusalem et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam (Rejoice ye with Jerusalem; and be ye glad for her, all ye that delight in her) . . . 

Today is Laetare Sunday and signals our arriving at the mid-point of Lent. Actually, the mid-point was Thursday but the celebration was transferred to Sunday. There is a hint at a breather, not an interruption, in our Lenten observances with encouragement that Easter is near. 

The vestments for the priest and deacon are ‘rose’ rather than violet. Most people, I think, would say pink and purple. Perhaps rose and violet sound more dignified? While we are on the subject of color, I might address the idea of purple (violet) being a color associated with penance. 

On Thursday of the Second Week of Lent, I faced the irony of wearing purple vestments for Lent and at the same time proclaiming the Gospel of “The Rich Man and Lazarus”. It begins, “Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.’” We know for sure that the rich man was certainly not doing penance! 

As it turns out, the use of purple for Confessions, Advent and Lent stems from the mockery Jesus received at his trial when Pilate ordered Jesus to be crowned with thorns and dressed in a purple garment to make fun of his supposed wannabe status as the King of the Jews. It is this humiliation of our Lord and the ignorance he faced, after all, he is not only King of the Jews but the King of Kings, that we come to see purple as a point of sadness, humility and sorrow. It is humanity’s gross shame to not recognize God sacrificing himself for these sins and the sin of the world then and now. 

We can note in the reading from the Prophet Isaiah, “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.” Jesus was the ultimate prophet to call people to repentance. Saint Paul says that while we were still sinners, God sent his Son to redeem us. Saint John tells us that despite everything, God loved the world so much that he sent his Son that we might not perish but have eternal life. 

This should be a warning sign for all of us: Stop! Arrête!¡Pare! 

The rose color indicates that we are closer to the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus who gave his life for our salvation on the Cross. We can take this for granted, say we aren’t that bad. However, we live in a corrupted society with many a conscience singed or more likely, deactivated. We may not even be aware that we are offending God. 

So, we take a breather to appreciate what God has and is doing for us and then get back in the saddle. It gets more intense from here on. Tomorrow, back on with the purple and strive to be holy! 

In solidarity,
Fr. Bryan Patterson