Readings and Reflection for March 6 Saturday of the Second Week in Lent

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Readings and Reflection for March 6 Saturday of the Second Week in Lent

FIRST READING 
“He will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Micah (Micah 7:14-15.18-20)

Shepherd your people, [O Lord,] with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land; let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old. As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt I will show them marvellous things. Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever because he delights in mercy. He will again have compassion upon us, he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM  Psalm 103:1-2.3-4.9-10. 11-12 (R. 8a)
R/. The Lord is compassionate and gracious.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all within me, his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and never forget all his benefits. R/.

It is the Lord who forgives all your sins,
Who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with mercy and compassion. R/.

R/. The Lord is compassionate and gracious.

He will not always find fault;
nor persist in his anger forever.
He does not treat us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our faults. R/.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so strong his mercy for those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far from us does he remove our transgressions. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Luke 15:18
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.  Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“This your brother was dead, and is alive.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 15:1-3.11-32)

At that time: The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me. ’ And he divided his living between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would gladly have fed on the pods that swine ate; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son. ’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry. “Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to make merry and be glad, forth is your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.”’

The Gospel of the Lord

Today’s Reflection
Jesus was “guilty” of fraternizing and socializing with the wrong kind of people: tax collectors and sinners. The “good people”, i.e. the Pharisees and scribes, were scandalized. In their mind, Jesus had no business keeping company with such deplorable people. They had forgotten the message of the Prophet Micah. Otherwise, they would have known that God was a merciful God, “pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression.” The parable of the “Prodigal Son” illustrates that perfectly. Today’s sinners can take heart from the fact that their sins will be forgiven the moment they leave the “far country” to return to the Father’s house, the moment they repent.

Readings and Reflection for March 5 Friday of the Second Week in Lent

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Readings and Reflection for March 5 Friday of the Second Week in Lent

FIRST READING
“Here comes this dreamer. Come not’, let us kill him.”
A reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 37:3-4.12-13a.17b-28)

Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild beast has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; cast him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him”- that he might rescue him out of their hand, to restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore, and they took him and cast him into a pit. The pit was empty, there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers heeded him. Then Midianite traders passed by; and they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver; and they took Joseph to Egypt.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 105: 15- 17.18-19.20-21 (R. 5a)
R/. Remember the wonders the Lord has done.

But he called down a famine on the land;
he broke their staff of bread.
He had sent a man ahead of them,
Joseph, sold as a slave. R/.

His feet were weighed down in chains,
his neck was bound with iron,
until what he said came to pass,
and the word of the Lord proved him true. R/.

R/. Remember the wonders the Lord has done.

Then the king sent orders and released him;
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him master of his house
and ruler of all his possessions. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL John 3:16
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son; that whoever believes in him should have eternal life. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL               
“This is the heir,’ come, let us kill him.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 21:33-43.45-46)

At that time: Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, “Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterwards he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The very stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the multitudes, because they held him to be a prophet.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection
The Patriarch Joseph was a dreamer. He incurred the wrath of his brothers by telling them his dreams and because their father showed him greater love than he showed them. They retaliated by selling him into slavery. Jesus incurred the wrath of his fellow Jews because he was the Son of God and told them so. They retaliated by getting him crucified. Great good came out of the evil done to Joseph and Jesus. God used Joseph to save his people from famine. The same God used the death of Jesus for the salvation of the world. That is what always happens when we are made to suffer unjustly, and we refuse to respond with hatred or bitterness. God always writes straight on crooked lines.

Readings and Reflection for March 4 Thursday of the Second Week in Lent

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Readings and Reflection for March 4 Thursday of the Second Week in Lent

FIRST READING
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man, blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.”
A reading from the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 17:5-10)

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the mind and try the heart, to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM  Psalm1:1-2.3.4 and 6 (Psalm 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 THEGOSPEL   Luke 8:15
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. Blessed are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL               
Good things came to you and bad things to Lazarus, now he is comforted while you are in agony.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 16:19-31)

At that time: Jesus said to the Pharisees, “There was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you in your life time received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.”’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection
“No man is an island”. That is the title of one of the many books of the renowned Cistercian monk, Father Thomas Merton. We humans depend on one another on a lot of things in the physical world to come into existence and to function. The prophet Jeremiah, however, cautions against putting too much trust in people and the things of this world. God is the only one who can and who should be trusted a hundred percent. That is because God can never let us down, whereas people and things can let us down, even when they don’t want to or mean to. The rich man in the Gospel story let Lazarus down by not caring for him and was, in time, made to pay for it very dearly. As far as it lies in our power we should not let down those who look up to us for a helping hand.

Readings and Reflection for March 3 Wednesday of the Second Week in Lent

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Readings and Reflection for March 3 Wednesday of the Second Week in Lent

FIRST READING   
“Come, let us strike him.”
A reading from the Book of Jeremiah 18: 18-20

They said, “Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not heed any of his words.” Give heed to me, O Lord, and listen to my plea. Is evil a recompense for good? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM  Psalm 31:5-6.14.15-16 (R. see17b)
R/. Save me, O Lord, in your merciful love.

Release me from the snare they have hidden,
For you indeed are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
You will redeem me, O Lord, O faithful God. R/.

I have heard the slander of the crowd;
terror all around me,
as they plot together against me,
as they plan to take my life. R/.

R/. Save me, O Lord, in your merciful love.

But as for me, I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.
My lot is in your hands, deliver me
from the hands of my enemies and those
who pursue me.” R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL John 8:12
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; he who follows me will have the light of life. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“They will condemn him to death.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 20: 17-28

At that time: As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him, with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the chalice that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my chalice, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the Ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection
Jesus is going to Jerusalem where he will accomplish his mission. He has been through all the surrounding districts of Jerusalem and especially in his native Galilee whence he began his ministry. He also preached outside of Jewish cities such as the Decapolis, Tyre and Sidon. Everybody comes to know about him. Now it is time for Jerusalem where he will be crucified. And he intimates his disciples about that. Those teachers of the Law and the Pharisees he denounced would be the ones to condemn him and hand him over to foreigners (Roman authorities) for torture and eventual death. But, for the mother of James and John, the opportunity for elevation of her sons had come. So she made the demand that they both sit by his side, one at his left and the other on his right. This is raw ambition. The other disciples were but naturally indignant. However, this provided Jesus the platform to talk about Christian leadership, which he summed up as service. If you are a leader, serve.

Readings and Reflection for March 2 Tuesday of the Second Week in Lent

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Readings and Reflection for March 2 Tuesday of the Second Week in Lent

FIRST READING
“Learn to do good, seek justice.”
A reading from the Book of Isaiah 1:10.16-20

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 50:8-9.16bc-17.21 and 23 (R. 23bc)
R/.  To one whose way is blameless,
        I will show the salvation of God.

“I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices;
your offerings are always before me.
I do not take more bullocks from your farms,
nor goats from among your herds.” R/.

“How can you recite my commandments,
and take my covenant on your lips,
you who despise correction,
and cast my words behind you.” R/.

R/.  To one whose way is blameless,
        I will show the salvation of God.

“You do this, and should I keep silence?
Do you think that I am like you?
I accuse you, lay the charge before you.
A sacrifice of praise gives me honour,
and to one whose way is blameless,
I will show the salvation of God.” R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Ezekiel18:31
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
“They preach, but do not practice.”
A reading from the ho y Gospel according to Matthew 23:1-l2

At that time: Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honour at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

Today, Jesus goes straight against the teachers of the Law and Pharisees who parade themselves as models, and demand public recognition. They love teaching others but do not practice what they teach. He does not condemn their teaching, because he knows they are true, but he does condemn their conduct because it is false, erroneous. True piety or religion is conforming our actions to our faith perception. We cannot believe in one thing and do exactly the opposite. For instance, one cannot say one believe in one God and then make use of fetish charms. Some Christians do precisely that. Being proficient by their training, they can explain the faith very well, but are largely found lacking in practice. Jesus condemns this attitude.

Readings and Reflection for March 1 Monday of the Second Week in Lent

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Readings and Reflection for March 1 Monday of the Second Week in Lent

FIRST READING
“We have sinned and done wrong.”
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel (Daniel 9:4b-10)

O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and merciful love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and ordinances; we have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us confusion of face, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those that are near and those that are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery which they have committed against you. To us, O Lord, belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness; because we have rebelled against him, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by following his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.     

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM   Ps79:8.9.11.13(R.seePs103:10a)
R/.  O Lord, do not treat us according to our sins.

Do not remember against us the guilt of former times.
Let your compassion hasten to meet us;
For we have been brought very low. R/.

Help us, O God our saviour,
for the sake of the glory of your name.
Free us and forgive us our sins,
Because of your name. R/.

R/.  O Lord, do not treat us according to our sins.

Let the groans of the prisoners come before you,
Your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die. R/.

Then we, your people, the flock of your pasture,
will give you thanks forever and ever.
From age to age we will recount your praise. R/.

VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL John 6:63c.68c
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of eternal life. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

GOSPEL
“Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 6:36-38

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection
It is yet again lesson time for Jesus and his disciples. Jesus brings an enviable quality of the Father to bear on their minds: The Father is merciful; God is merciful. The disciples are to be merciful like the Father, Jesus contradicts the teaching of vengefulness especially against one’s enemies which for the Jews is considered alright. He goes on to show other kinds of kindness that the disciples ought to show, such as tolerance and permissiveness, instead of condemnation and being judgemental; forgiveness and acceptance, instead of vengeance and rejection, and generosity, instead of stinginess. All these acts of goodness and goodwill, when taken for granted or overlooked, have their consequences. The disciple should rather do things in accordance with the desires of the loving Father – “For the measure you use for others will be the measure God will use for you.” They will not say they have not been instructed, likewise, be kind to everyone because of the loving God.

Readings and Reflection for Sunday February 28, Second Sunday of Lent

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Readings and Reflection for Sunday February 28, Second Sunday of Lent

FIRST READING
“The sacrifice of Abraham, our Father in faith. ”
A reading from the Book of Genesis (Genesis 22: 1-2.9a.10-13.15-18)

In those days: God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Take your son, your only- begotten son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order. Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only-begotten son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only-begotten son, I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.”

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 116: 10 and 15.16-17.18-19 (R. 9)
R/. I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

I trusted, even when I said,
“I am sorely afflicted.”
How precious in the eyes of the Lord
is the death of his faithful. R.

Your servant, Lord, your servant am I,
the son of your handmaid;
you have loosened my bonds.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;
I will call on the name of the Lord. R.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfil
before all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem. R.

SECOND READING          
God did not spare his own Son.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (Romans 8: 31b-34)

Brethren: If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us?

The word of the Lord.


VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
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                                             
“This is my beloved Son.”
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (Mark 9:2-10)

At that time: Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Today’s Reflection

Every year the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Lent recounts Jesus’ Transfiguration and someone called this particular Sunday the “Sunday of the three mountains.”  We have Abraham on Mount Moriah, the Redeemer Christ on Mount Calvery, and the Transfigured Christ on Mount Tabor.  We are invited to climb these mountains during Lent. Mountain climbing is hard but, when we reach the top, we see things in a different way. The air is cleaner, the light is clearer, we come closer to God, and are changed by the effort.  Mount Moriah calls us to serve the true God alone.  Mount Calvery shows us Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life, and His saving death and Resurrection.  Mount Tabor calls us to trust in the glory that awaits us. You may climb any one of these to discover that you have come closer to God and are changed deeply.

Readings and Reflection for February 27 Saturday of the First Week of Lent

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Readings and Reflection for February 27 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 119:1-2.4-5.7-8 (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/.

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 (Matthew 5:43-48)

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

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.

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.

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 thing just as Jesus would do if He were to walk this earth again.

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 to benefit or not from his rain.

Readings and Reflection for February 26 Friday of the First Week of Lent

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Readings and Reflection for February 26 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 Gospel of today is a challenge to the conventional understanding of the Commandments of God. The Jews held tenaciously to the letter of the law. Jesus, however, throws more light on the commandments, speaking more on the spirit of the law than the letter. Thus anger, insult and humiliation of another, all these are not listed in the law, but are offences against the commandments of God, and have dire consequences. For the Christian faithful Jesus’ directives are a revolution on the law. His advice is that one should be willing to reconcile with his/her neighbour, no matter what. And that worship without love is a dirty practice before God. Love, though not mentioned in this text, is the basis for the worship of God. Sins against love are unnecessary anger, backbiting, insult, humiliation of another, blackmailing etc. accordingly, all these constitute the murder of another. Shun them!

Readings and Reflection for February 25 Thursday of the First Week of Lent

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Readings and Reflection for February 25 Thursday of the First Week of Lent

Entrance Antiphon 
To my words give ear, O Lord; give heed to my sighs. Attend to the sound of my cry, my King and my God.


Collect
Bestow on us, we pray, O Lord, a spirit of always pondering on what is right and of hastening to carry it out, and since without you we cannot exist, may we be enabled to live according to your will. Through our Lord. . .

FIRST READING
I have no helper but you, Lord.
A reading from the Book of Esther (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         
“Every one 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.

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