Readings and Reflection for March 6, Second Sunday of Lent

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Readings and Reflection for March 6, Second Sunday of Lent

FIRST READING
The call of Abraham, the father of the People of God.
A reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 12: 1-4a)

In those days: The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.” So Abram went, as the LORD had told him.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 33:4-5. 18-19.20 and 22 (R. 22)
R/. May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord.

The word of the Lord is faithful,
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right,
and his merciful love fills the earth. R/.

Yes, the Lord’s eyes are on those who fear him,
who hope in his merciful love,
to rescue their souls from death,
to keep them alive in famine. R/.

R/. May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord.

Our soul is waiting for the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
May your merciful love be upon us,
as we hope in you, O Lord. R/.

SECOND READING
God calls and enlightens us.
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:8b-10)

Beloved: Take your share of suffering for the Gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.

The word of the Lord.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL MATTHEW 17-5
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. From the shining cloud the father’s voice is heard: this is my beloved Son, hear him. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“His face shone like the sun.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 17: 1-9

At that time: Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking, when behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
“It is wonderful that we are here. ”Why not remain here permanently, praying and enjoying this holy companionship? Such a religious experience is good and transforming – it brings one closer to God. But the test of a good religious experience is our everyday life with its challenges.  It is wonderful that we gather every Sunday to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus and, like the disciples, to have a religious experience. We come with our joys and hopes, our anxieties and sorrows, our thanksgiving and praises, our needs and desires. We listen to the Word of God and receive Jesus in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. At the end of the Mass, we are sent back to our everyday life, to our homes and places of work – to become witnesses of the transforming religious experience we had at Mass. How much of the Mass do we take home? How much of it is reflected in our lives and encounters?

Readings and Reflection for March 4, Saturday of the First Week of Lent

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Readings and Reflection for March 4, Saturday of the First Week of Lent

FIRST READING
“You shall be a people holy to the Lord your God.”
A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 26: 16-19)

Moses spoke to the people, saying: “This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances; you shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day concerning the Lord that he is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his ordinances, and will obey his voice; and the Lord has declared this day concerning you that you are a people for his own possession, as he has promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, that he will set you high above all nations that he has made, in praise and in fame and in honour, and that you shall be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he has spoken.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 119: 1-2.4-5.7-5 (R.1b)
R/. Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord!

Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord!
Blessed are those who keep his decrees!
With all their hearts they seek him. R/.

You have laid down your precepts
to be carefully kept.
May my ways be firm
in keeping your statutes. R/.

R/. Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord!

I will thank you with an upright heart,
as I learn your just judgements.
I will keep your statutes;
do not ever forsake me. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL 2 Corinthians 6:2b
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 5:43-45

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
We say we are Christians, yet we fight each other just as non-believers do, sometimes even bloodier than non-believers. We drag ourselves to law courts. We even present our cases before traditional rulers some of whom do not share our faith. In truth, if the people of that community at Antioch behaved like us, they wouldn’t have been called Christians but simply church-goers.

The greatest scandal of Christianity today is that the qualities for which that small community at Antioch was given the name “Christian” are no longer found amongst many so-called Christian communities today. Basically, there seems to be no line of distinction currently between Christians, Non-believers, Doubters, and even Atheists other than the fact that each Sunday, we go to Church.

What makes us Christians? It is our ability to rise above the traditional church-goer mentality. It is doing more than the tax collectors who love only those that love them. It is doing more than the Gentiles who greet only those that greet them. It is stepping out of the box, is acting in a manner that is really different from what our society regards as normal. It is doing things just as Jesus would do if He were to walk this earth again.

What made that first community so unique? What earned them the name “Christian”? It was the Christ-like Love that existed among them; a love that is capable of forgiving one’s enemies right on the cross; a love that does not select its beneficiaries; a love that is purely sacrificial not expecting anything in return. In all honesty, the only love found in our so-called Christian communities today is the business love; a love that is purely based on give and take; a love that is concerned only about those who are capable or willing to reciprocate it; a love that demands much more than it gives; a selective love.

Being a Christian is practicing what I would call non-selective goodness. It is being kind to people not because they deserve it but because of who you are; a child whose Father does not discriminate who benefits or not from his rain.

Readings and Reflection for March 3, Friday of the First Week of Lent

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Readings and Reflection for March 3, Friday of the First Week of Lent

FIRST READING
“Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 18:21-28)

Thus says the Lord God: “If a wicked man turns away from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness which he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and does the same abominable things that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds which he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, he shall die. Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just. ’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die for it; for the iniquity which he has committed he shall die. Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 130:1-2.3-4.5-7a.7bc-8 (R. 3)
R/. If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?

Out of the depths I cry to you,
O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive
to the sound of my pleading. R/.

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you is found forgiveness,
that you may be revered. R/.

R/. If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?

I long for you, O Lord,
my soul longs for his word.
My soul hopes in the Lord
more than watchmen for daybreak.
More than watchmen for daybreak,
let Israel hope for the Lord. R/.

For with the Lord there is mercy,
in him is plentiful redemption.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Ezekiel 18:31
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, says the Lord, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
Go first and be reconciled to your brother.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 5:20-26)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgement. ’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgement; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool! ’ shall be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
The most difficult word in the Bible is forgiving. If we are to be very sincere with ourselves, we would realize that forgiveness (reconciliation with people who have something against us) is easier said than done. Even though we pray the Lord’s Prayer every day, only one line rings a bell in us: “Give us this day our daily bread.” We never pause to meditate on the line that says: “as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We so gloss over this line that we do not even think it is part of “Our Father.” Mind you, we do not pray: “as we plan to forgive…” or “as we hope to forgive…”. What we pray is “as we forgive…” This means each time we pray with un-forgiveness, hatred, or bitterness still in our hearts, we are lying to God. We are claiming to have done something when we haven’t done it. No wonder Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:23 that we should not even come to God to offer our gifts if our hearts are not completely clean from hate. Reconciliation for Jesus is more important than offertory. I may be the highest donor in church, the best singer, or the best preacher but if there are still people I am quarreling with, my worship of God is corrupt.

“How do I forgive?” you might ask. The book of Ezekiel 18:21-25 contains a clue. The prophet tells us how God behaves. God does not relate with us according to our past! God does not keep records of our past whether good or bad. God is the God of this moment. God is able to forgive us because he constantly dies in the past. In other words, if we are to forgive, we must develop the habit of dying every moment of our past. This is not easy but with a bit of practice, it is possible.

Die to the Past every minute, forgive to make your heart cleaner and shining so that there is room for God to enter still and speak to you, let go; we brought nothing to this world, and we shall leave with nothing. If I refuse to let go now, my death will force me to let go so why wait till then? Let go and let God take care of things.

Readings and Reflection for March 2, Thursday of the First Week of Lent

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Readings and Reflection for March 2, Thursday of the First Week of Lent

FIRST READING
I have no helper but you, Lord.
A reading from the Book of Esther 14:1.3-4.11.13-14

In those days: Esther the queen, seized with deathly anxiety, fled to the Lord. And she lay on the earth together with all her maid- servants, from morning until evening, and said: “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you; help me, who am alone and have no helper but you, for my danger is in my hand. I have heard from the books of my ancestors that you liberate all those who are pleasing to you, O Lord, until the very end. And now, assist me, who am all alone, and have no one but you, O Lord, my God. Come to my aid, for I am an orphan. Put eloquent speech in my mouth before the lion, and turn his heart to hate the man who is fighting against us, so that there may be an end of him and those who agree with him. But save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our affliction into well-being.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 138:1-2a.2bcd-3.7d-8 (R. 3a)
R/. On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I praise you.
I bow down toward your holy temple. R/.

I give thanks to your name
for your merciful love and your faithfulness.
You have exalted your name and your promise over all.
On the day I called, you answered me;
you increased the strength of my soul. R/.

R/. On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

With your right hand you save me;
the Lord will accomplish this for me.
O Lord, your merciful love is eternal;
discard not the work of your hands. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Psalm 51:10a. 12a
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“Everyone who asks receives.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 7: 7 – 12)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
As a reciprocal, communicative event, prayer is an expression of our trustful relationship with God, it is predicated on God’s love and fidelity to His creation, His care and His providence. In her ‘mortal peril” Esther presents herself to God with total self-abandon: “I am alone and have no one but You, Lord. “In the Gospel, Jesus encourages us to dare to present ourselves and our needs to God (ask, seek, knock), trusting that ‘God gives good things to those who ask Him!,  What God gives in response to our prayers is what is good for us – and He alone knows what is ultimately good for us. God does not always give us what we want, but what we need – and He knows what we really need.

Readings and Reflection for March 1, Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

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Readings and Reflection for March 1, Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

FIRST READING
The Ninevites turned from their evil way.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jonah 3:1-10

The word of the Lord came to Jonah, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he cried, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. Then tidings reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, and covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he made proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them cry mightily to God; yes, let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence which is in his hands. Who knows, God may yet repent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we perish not?” When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it.

The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 51:3-4.12-13.18-19 (R. 19b)
R/. A broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn.

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your merciful love;
according to your great compassion,
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me completely from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin. R/.

Create a pure heart for me, O God;
renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence;
take not your holy spirit from me. R/.

R/. A broken and humbled heart, O God, you will not spurn.
.
For in sacrifice you take no delight;
burnt offering from me would not
please you.
My sacrifice to God, a broken spirit:
a broken and humbled heart,
O God, you will not spurn. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Joel 2:12-13
Glory and praise ‘to you, O Christ.
Even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, for I am gracious and merciful.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“No sign shall be given to this generation except the sign of Jonah.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 11 :29-32)

At that time: When the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nineveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation. The queen of the South will arise at the judgement with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will arise at the judgement with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
The entire book of Jonah is for me a story of God’s unending faith in humanity; the fact that God does not give up on the creature he made; the fact that God is ever ready to give us a second chance again and again. God could have simply destroyed the Ninevites but he gave them a second chance by sending Jonah to them. Jonah himself tried to escape from God but God caught him, brought him back and gave him another chance. Jonah wasn’t even qualified as a messenger of God yet this irresponsible-runaway- preacher became instrumental to the salvation of an entire city.
Do not conclude about yourself based on what you see now, develop a new vision for yourself, call yourself a Saint and start working on yourself, begin to make efforts, do something about that which you do not like about you, ask for help, open the roof of houses like the four men who brought their paralytic to Jesus, talk to someone today as to how to come out of your spiritual captivity. You see, the point is: God wants to see the efforts you are making.  At times, like these people, we judge ourselves based on surface appearances; we consider ourselves good for nothing because of what our physical eyes can carry. We lack faith to realize that we have God inside us; that we are capable of much more than we think. We see the son-of-a-carpenter in ourselves but we don’t believe in the Saint we could be. Never judge a book by its cover. Never conclude about yourself based on your past; don’t give up on yourself, keep believing, keep being positive; keep making efforts.

Readings and Reflection for February 28, Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

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Readings and Reflection for February 28, Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

FIRST READING
“My word shall accomplish that which I intend.”
A reading from the Book of Isaiah (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Thus says the Lord: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I intend, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 34:4-5.6-7.16-17.18-19 (R. see 18b)
R/. The Lord rescues them in all their distress.

Glorify the Lord with me;
together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free. R/.

Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This lowly one called; the Lord heard,
and rescued him from all his distress. R/.

R/. The Lord rescues them in all their distress.

The Lord turns his eyes to the just,
and his ears are open to their cry.
The Lord turns his face against the wicked
to destroy their remembrance from the earth. R/.

When the just cry out, the Lord hears,
and rescues them in all their distress.
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;
those whose spirit is crushed he will save. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Matthew 4:4b
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“Pray then like this.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 6:7—15)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
The effectiveness of prayer is not a matter of the number of words used, but the faith with which every word is spoken. The book of Hebrews tells us: “Without faith, it is impossible to please God. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6.

Prayer must go with the action, whatever I ask from God, I too must be willing to give to my fellow brothers and sister. Prayer is a Cross; the vertical line depicts our reception from God while the horizontal line depicts our sharing with one another. Prayer must benefit others. I dare not ask God for divine protection while I wish death for someone else. The divine protection I plan to receive from God must extend to people otherwise my prayer is null and void.

As part of his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6, Jesus warns us about talking too much or repeating ourselves over and over again when we pray. Before ever we set out to pray, we must first assure ourselves that God is more than able to grant our requests. We must remind ourselves of what God has done in the past and face the truth that no situation is beyond God. In this regard, in the book of Isaiah, God assures us that just as the rain drops from heaven and never returns until it has watered the earth, God’s words can never return empty. Isaiah 55:10-11.

Readings and Reflection for February 27, Monday of the First Week of Lent

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Readings and Reflection for February 27, Monday of the First Week of Lent

FIRST READING
“In righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.”
A reading from the Book of Leviticus (Leviticus 19: 1-2. 11- 18)

The LORD said to Moses, “Say to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, you shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy. “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. And you shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. “You shall not oppress your neighbour or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. “You shall do no injustice in judgement; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbour. You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand forth against the life of your neighbour: I am the Lord. “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason with your neighbour, lest you bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 19:8.9.10.15 (R. sec john 6:63c)
R/. Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the Lord is perfect;
it revives the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are steadfast;
they give wisdom to the simple. R/.

The precepts of the Lord are right;
they gladder the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear;
it gives light to the eyes. R/.

R/. Your words, O Lord, are Spirit and life.

The fear of the Lord is pure,
abiding forever.
The judgements of the Lord are true;
they are, all of them, just. R/.

May the spoken words of my mouth,
the thoughts of my heart,
win favour in your sight, O Lord,
my rock and my redeemer! R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL 2 Corinthians 6:2b
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 25:31-46)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. ’Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ “Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. ’And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
In the sixth Station of the Cross, Jesus speaks: “Can you be brave enough to wipe my bloody face?” “Where is your face?” you may ask, and I will answer “at home, at work, in the streets, on market corners, wherever suffering exists, my face is there and there I look for you to wipe away my blood and tears.”

A great man once commented: “The amount of respect I give to people is not based on how high they carry themselves but how they treat those lower than they are.” How do you treat people lower than you? How do you treat those who cannot measure up to your status, your money, your intelligence, and your position? Whatsoever you do to the least (the smallest, the unimportant, the poorest, the minority), that you do unto me.

The book of Leviticus tells us: “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason with your neighbor, lest you bear sin because of him…but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19:15-18.

Are you finding it challenging to overcome hatred in your heart for a brother or sister? Then try to see the face of Jesus in that particular brother or sister. Realize that whatever it is that you are planning against him or her, it is Jesus himself you are plotting against. When you start seeing Jesus in your enemies, your heart begins to melt toward them. You no longer feel like striking back at them but praying for their deliverance from captivity. The only way you can love your enemies as Jesus teaches us is by seeing the face of Jesus in your enemies.

The book of Proverbs adds: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.” Proverbs 25:21-22.

Readings and Reflection for Sunday February 26, First Sunday of Lent

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Readings and Reflection for Sunday February 26, First Sunday of Lent

FIRST READING
Creation of our first parents, and their sin.
A reading from the Book of Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

The Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”’ But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 51 :3-4.5-6ab.12-13.14 and 17 (R. cf. 3a)
R/. Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your merciful love;
according to your great compassion,
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me completely from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin. R/.

My transgressions, truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done. R/.

R/. Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Create a pure heart for me, O God;
renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence;
take not your holy spirit from me. R/.

Restore in me the joy of your salvation;
sustain in me a willing spirit.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. R/.

SECOND READING
“Where sin has abounded, grace has abounded all the more.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 5:12- 19

Brethren: As sin came into the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all men sinned— sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the effect of that one man’s sin. For the judgement following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Then as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

The word of the Lord.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Matthew 4:4b

Glory and praise to you, O Christ. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL

Jesus fasted forty days and was tempted. A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 4: 1-11

At that time: Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will give his angels charge of you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! for it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

What do we live on? What is it that sustains our life today and instills in us the hope for a better future? The temptation narrative invites us to look at our life from God’s perspective and not that of the tempter. What does God want from me in my concrete life situation today? Certainly, He does not want me to get hooked on miracles or to pay allegiance to demonic forces, or to demonstrate or be enticed by demonstrations of putative powers. If He had succumbed to the tempter, Jesus would have betrayed and abandoned His mission. So what do we live on? Jesus’ response is instructive. Our life is dependent on God whether or not we are in need. God does not allow us to be tempted beyond our strength. Let us learn to trust in Him – and in Him alone. He is enough for us.

Readings and Reflection for February 23, Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

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Readings and Reflection for February 23, Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING
“I set before you blessing and curse.”
A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Moses spoke to the people, saying, “See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart tums away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you this day, that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and clinging to him; for that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 1:1-2.3.4and6(R.40:5ab)
R/. Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.

Blessed indeed is the man
Who follows not the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stands in the path with sinners,
Nor abides in the company of scorners,
But whose delight is the law of the Lord,
And who ponders his law day and night. R/.

He is like a tree that is planted
Beside the flowing waters,
That yields its fruit in due season,
And whose leaves shall never fade;
and all that he does shall prosper. R/.

R/. Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.

Not so are the wicked, not so!
For they, like winnowed chaff,
Shall be driven away by the wind.
For the Lord knows the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked will perish. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Matthew 4: 17
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
Repent, says the Lord, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“Whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 9:22-25)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” And he said to all, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
The greatest victory a man can have is to conquer himself. Often times we look to the external battles while the real ones lie within. The struggle with pride, lust, greed, slothfulness, envy and jealousy; all these demand some measure of decisiveness from us to choose life or death, prosperity or disaster. If we are courageous enough to live in the light of God’s ways by keeping his commandment does not add to God’s glory, instead, it helps us to live liberated from the clutches of sin and enter into the glory of God’s children, but first, deny yourself! Are you ready to do that? Chose life and you will live and increase.

Readings and Reflection for February 23, Ash Wednesday (Fasting and Abstinence)

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Readings and Reflection for February 23, Ash Wednesday (Fasting and Abstinence)

FIRST READING
“Tear your hearts and not your garments.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Joel 2:12-18

“Even now,” says the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and tear your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy, and repents of evil. Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?”’ Then the Lord became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 51:3-4.5-6ab.12- 13.14 and 17 (R. cf. 3a)
R/. Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your merciful love;
according to your great compassion,
blot out my transgressions.
Wash me completely from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin. R/.

My transgressions, truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done. R/.

R/. Have mercy, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Create a pure heart for me, O God;
Renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence;
take not your holy spirit from me. R/.

Restore in me the joy of your salvation;
Sustain in me a willing spirit.
O Lord, open my lips
And my mouth shall proclaim your praise. R/.

SECOND READING
“Be reconciled to God. Behold, now is the acceptable time. ”
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, (2 Corinthians 5:20, 6:2)

Brethren: We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

The word of the Lord.

Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
Today, harden not your hearts, but listen to the voice of the Lord.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 6: 1-6, 16- 18)

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. Lent is a season in the Church’s liturgical calendar when the members are expected to be sorry for their sins, do penance, sacrifice, give alms, and intensify and enrich their prayer life. It is called Ash Wednesday because of the ash each person is expected to be marked with on the forehead, to remind us of our sinfulness and mortality. Today’s Gospel is appropriate for Lenten observances. It touches on three important religious practices, namely; almsgiving, fasting and prayer. All these practices are very Important for a deeper spiritual communion. However, Christians should not be showy in observing any of these. Any form of attention- seeking behavior contradicts true piety.

True piety is secretly practicing these acts, acknowledging God who sees in secret. Desist from unnecessary attention. Be humble.

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