Fourth Sunday of Lent

Today the Church celebrates the Fourth Sunday of Lent. The assigned readings are 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23; Ephesians 2:4-10; and John 3:14-21. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 137 (Psalm 137:1-6).

For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:

YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 137 "Amidst sorrow in exile, could I forget you, Jerusalem?"

The Gospel reading is as follows:

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.

Reflections on these readings:

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Fourth Sunday of Lent (March 18, 2012)

Msgr. Charles Pope: Your Love is Lifting Me Higher. A Meditation on the Readings for Laetare Sunday (17 MAR 12)

Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: John 3:16 and Grace

The Deacon's Bench: Homily for March 18, 2012: 4th Sunday of Lent (17 MAR 12)

The Quiet Corner: Authentic faith is a lifelong process guided by beliefs (15 MAR 12)

The Lectionary: God sent his Son into the world as an act of love (15 MAR 12)

Dr. Scott Hahn: Living in the Light (Fourth Sunday of Lent)

Father Thomas Rosica: Nicodemus’ search for the “Soul of Theology” (13 MAR 12)

The Word Encountered: Being Saved by God’s Kind Favor (Fourth Sunday of Lent B)

Dominican Daily: Word to Life: Sirius XM: 4th Sunday Lent (B)