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Less than 24 hours ago, this very Cathedral was packed with faithful from across the Archdiocese to celebrate our annual the Chrism Mass. In the midst of that joyful celebration, little could we have imagined the tragedy that would unfold four hours later, while most of us were asleep, as the cargo ship Dali unexpectedly hit the Key Bridge leading to its collapse. And so it is that we gather once again in this Cathedral church.

We are not alone. We journey together. Your presence this night in such great numbers testifies to this – our priests, deacons, religious, laity, seminarians and discerners.

Throughout history, many have willingly gone to their death for a good cause. What sets Jesus apart from every other hero in human history is that Jesus faces certain death, not merely for a good cause but to enter into the realm of sin and death itself, there to confront the powers of darkness.

This evening may our minds, our hearts, and senses be struck by the beauty of this sacred space and the beauty of these sacred rites.

That Jesus’ hour had arrived is made clear by the request of some Greek converts to Judaism to see Jesus. The prophets who preceded Jesus foretold that the hour of salvation would arrive when the Gentiles would also seek to be converted and to worship the living God.

The vows at the heart of religious life and the promises which I have made as a priest – these are not a boast that we are tougher or better than others in the Church, that we can “take it”, that we can lives differently from others.

Every time we come to Mass, Jesus reminds us who he is, what he has done for us, and he helps us remember who we are: beloved sons and daughters, the very people his Father loved so much that he was willing to give his Only Begotten Son.

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is called “Laetare Sunday”. “Laetare”, as you know, is a Latin word that means “to rejoice”. With wisdom and love, the Church offers us this Sunday of rejoicing in Lent, to encourage us in our Lenten resolutions to fast, pray, and assist the poor.

On this Laetare Sunday, a Sunday of Rejoicing in the midst of Lent, we have gathered to bless this new daily Mass chapel here at St. Joan of Arc, and to dedicate its focal point, the altar, on which the mysteries of our salvation are re-enacted day after day.

We should be even more excited about the great reversal in today’s Gospel: Jesus’ parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector who went to pray in the temple.