The theme for the photo today is "Laetare". If you're like me you probably have no idea what this word means, and to be honest I have been nervous for day 26 of this challenge since I began. Luckily after some research I found out that it is not as difficult as it seems.
Laetare is a word for the fourth Sunday of Lent. It is a Latin term that means "rejoice", which is exactly what I did when I found out that this wasn't some obscure idea in the Catholic church. Why is the fourth Sunday of Lent special? After some research I discovered that Laetare Sunday is the Sunday before the midpoint of Lent, which is something to celebrate because we are halfway through the wait for the coming of Jesus Christ. It is a Sunday of celebration, much like the third week of Advent, to remind us that we have almost made it through to the ultimate celebration day.
For today I chose this photo of a rose. The rose is not quite a bud, but has not fully bloomed yet, much like our Lenten journey so far. We are almost halfway through our fast, but we are not quite ready for the coming of Jesus. Just like in the photo, there is minimal light. It is enough to illuminate the subject, but still provides some shadow and question about the end result. We are still on our journey to reach the day of celebration. We still have growing, praying, and preparations to make.
If you are beginning to struggle with your sacrifices remind yourself that you have almost made it. Remember that we are growing and learning together and supporting each other in whatever way we can. More importantly, remember to rejoice today, and every day, that we get closer to the Jesus' resurrection!