Watchmen, where is the night ?

Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast. (cf. Is 66:10-11) Opening Antiphon

On this 4th Sunday of Lent the Church invites us to rejoice! We are now at the midway point in our journey towards Easter. On this 4th Sunday the colour of the priest's vestment changes from its penitential purple to a lighter, rose-coloured one. This underlines both the road we have already travelled this Lent as well as the way ahead which still remains for us:

Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast. (cf. Is 66:10-11) Opening Antiphon 

    This opening antiphon of the Mass is very striking; it immediately catches our attention, encouraging us to continue on our way. The joy which it announces gives us hope and a spring in our step, urging us to keep on going: the Lord is there, and he is waiting for us

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In today's Gospel we hear the story of the Prodigal Son. Yet it is also, above all, the story of the Loving Father, who longed with all his heart for the return of his beloved son. Every day he scours the horizon in the hope of seeing, even in the far distance, some sign of the outline of his long lost son whom he misses so much making his way back towards him. Finally, at last, that longed-for day arrives and the Loving Father cannot contain his feelings, not even for a single second. His heart bursting with joy he rushes headlong towards the one for whom he had been waiting and longing every day since his departure. He reaches him and hugs him, embraces him and caresses him, covers him with kisses and orders that the greatest of feasts be made ready that all may rejoice to celebrate this most wonderful thing: the return of his beloved son, for he who was lost has been found and brought back alive among us.

This story is full of love and hope and longing. This is what all of us are living in one way or another, whether directly or indirectly, near or far, at this moment, as we continue along the path of our Lenten journey. Here in the Holy Land we are praying and hoping with so many others for the day to come when peace will return and be given to us and to all in this sadly war-torn country. We know not when or how that will come about but we firmly believe and are sure that it will for Our Lord, who is Lord of all, will indeed have his hour.

Jerusalem is almost empty of pilgrims even now, as it has been for so long on account of the sad events of which the whole world is aware. This Jubilee Year of Hope which the Universal Church is living is a deep daily reality for us here in our community, as it is for the whole of the church here in Jerusalem. Maintaining hope for both the great peoples for whom this Holy Land is their home, as it is for us, is so important. In the midst of such suffering there is a profound silence which we can all feel, but in the silence, there is also hope. All are longing for an end to this war, already so long and murderous, and hope and pray to the Almighty to restore peace...

We thank you profoundly for your communion with us in prayer and hope: may peace still be possible in spite of everything and may the war and all the human folly that cause it cease. Thank you also for your material support: in solidarity with the local population, we look forward very much to the day when the pilgrims will be able to return.

We also pray for each one of you! May the Lord bless each and all of you, and all your families and loved ones! We wish you great perseverance and many blessings as you continue on our shared and common journey towards Easter Joy, the triumph of the Lord...

Yours Sisters of the Carmel in Jerusalem.