Day: April 1, 2020

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(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 5 April 2020 : Entry into the Church

Liturgical Colour : Red

Responsory

Ingredente Domino in sanctam civitatem, Hebraeorum pueri resurrectionem vitae pronuntiantes, Cum ramis palmarum : Hosanna, clamabant, in excelsis.

Priest : Cumque audisset populus, quod Jesus veniret Jerosolymam, exierunt obviam ei. Cum ramis palmarum : Hosanna, clamabant, in excelsis.

Priest : Dominus vobiscum.

Response : Et cum spiritu tuo.

Oremus.

Domine Jesu Christe, Rex ac Redemptor noster, in cujus honorem, hos ramos gestantes, solemnes laudes decantavimus : concede propitius : ut, quocumque hi rami deportati fuerint, ibi tuae benedictionis gratia descendat, et, quavis daemonum iniquitate vel illusione profligata, dextera tua protegat, quos redemit. Qui vivis et regnas cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

 

English translation

Responsory

As our Lord entered the holy city, the Hebrew children, declaring the resurrection of life, with palm branches cried out, “Hosanna in the highest!”

Priest : When the people heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they went forth to meet Him, with palm branches cried out, “Hosanna in the highest!”

Priest : The Lord be with you.

Response : And with your spirit.

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, our King and Redeemer, in whose honour we have borne these palms and gone on praising You with song and solemnity, mercifully grant that wherever that these palms are taken, there the grace of Your blessing may descend. May every wickedness and trick of the demons be frustrated, and may Your right hand protect those it had redeemed. You who lives and reigns with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

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(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 5 April 2020 : Procession with Blessed Palms

Liturgical Colour : Red

Procedamus in pace.

Response : In Nomine Christi. Amen.

 

English translation

Let us go forth in peace.

Response : In the Name of Christ. Amen.

 

First Antiphon

Occurrunt turbae cum floribus et palmis Redemptori obviam : et victori triumphanti digna dant obsequia : Filium Dei ore gentes praedicant : et in laudem Christi voces tonant per nubila : Hosanna in excelsis!

 

English translation

The multitude goes forth to meet our Redeemer with flowers and palms, and pays the homage due to a triumphant conqueror : the Gentiles proclaim the Son of God, and their voices thunder through the skies in praise of Christ. Hosanna in the highest!

 

Second Antiphon

Cum angelis et pueris fideles inveniamur, triumphatori mortis clamantes : Hosanna in excelsis!

 

English translation

Let the faithful join with the angels and children, singing to the conqueror of death, “Hosanna in the highest!”

 

Third Antiphon

Turba multa quae convenerat ad diem festum, clamabat Domino : Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini : Hosanna in excelsis!

 

English translation

A great multitude that was met together at the festival cried out to the Lord, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!”

 

Fourth Antiphon

Coeperunt omnes turbae descendentium gaudentes laudare Deum voce magna, super omnibus quas viderant virtutibus, dicentes : Benedictus qui venit Rex in Nomine Domini; pax in terra et gloria in excelsis.

Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Israel es Tu Rex, Davidis et inclita proles : Nomine qui in Domini, Rex benedicte, venis.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Caetus in excelsis Te laudat caelicus omnis, et mortalis homo, et cuncta creata simul.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Plebs Hebraea tibi cum palmis obvia venit : Cum prece, voto, hymnis, adsumus ecce tibi.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Hi tibi passuro solvebant munia laudis : Nos tibi regnanti pangimus ecce melos.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

Hi placuere tibi placeat devotio nostra : Rex bone, Rex clemens, cui bona cuncta placent.

Response : Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor : Cui puerile decus prompsit Hosanna pium.

 

English translation

Near the descent the whole multitude began with joy to praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying, “Blessed be the King who comes in the Name of the Lord, peace on earth and glory on high!”

Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

Hail, King of Israel, David’s Son of royal fame! He who comes in the Name of the Lord, o blessed King.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

The Angel host laud You on high, on earth mankind, with all created things.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

With palms the Jews went forth to meet You. We greet You now with prayers and hymns.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

On Your way to die, they crowned You with praise. We raise our song to You, now King on high.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

Their poor homage pleased You, o gracious King! O clement King, accept ours too, the best that we can bring.

Response : Glory, praise and honour to You, o Christ the King, the Redeemer, to whom children poured their glad and sweet Hosanna’s song.

 

Fifth Antiphon

Omnes collaudant Nomen Tuum et dicunt : Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini : Hosanna in excelsis.

Psalm 147

Lauda, Jerusalem, Dominum : lauda Deum tuum, Sion.

Quod firmavit seras portarum tuarum : benedixit filiis tuis in te.

Composuit fines tuos in pace : medulla tritici satiat te.

Emittit eloquium suum in terram : velociter currit verbum ejus.

Dat nivem sicut lanam : pruinam sicut cinerem spargit.

Projicit glaciem siam ut frustula panis : coram frigore ejus aquae rigescunt.

Emittit verbum suum et liquefacit eas : flare jubet ventum suum et fluunt aquae.

Annuntiavit verbum suum Jacob : statuta et praecepta sua Israel.

Non fecit ita ulli nationi : praecepta sua non manifestavit eis.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Omnes collaudant Nomen Tuum et dicunt : Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini : Hosanna in excelsis.

 

English translation

All praise Your Name highly and say, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!”

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord, o Jerusalem, praise your God, o Zion.

Because He had strengthened the bolts of your gates, He had blessed your children within you.

Who had placed peace in your borders and filled you with the fat of corn.

Who sends forth His speech to the earth, His word runs swiftly.

Who gives snow like wool, scatters frost like ashes.

He sends His crystal like morsels, who shall stand before the face of His cold?

He shall send out His word and shall melt them, His wind shall blow and the waters shall run.

Who declares His word to Jacob, His justices and His judgments to Israel.

He had not done in like manner to every nation, and His judgments He had not made manifest to them.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

All praise Your Name highly and say, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest!”

 

Sixth Antiphon

Fulgentibus palmis prosternimur advenienti Domino; huic omnes occurramus cum hymnis et canticis, glorificantes et dicentes : Benedictus Dominus!

 

English translation

We are strewn with the shining palms before the Lord as He approaches, let us all run to meet Him with hymns and songs, glorify Him and say, “Blessed be the Lord!”

 

Seventh Antiphon

Ave, Rex noster, Fili David, Redemptor mundi, quem prophetae praedixerunt Salvatorem domui Israel esse venturum. Te enim ad salutarem victimam Pater misit in mundum, quem exspectabant omnes sancti ab origine mundi, et nunc : Hosanna Filio David. Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis!

 

English translation

Hail, our King, o Son of David, o world’s Redeemer, whom prophets did foretell as the Saviour to come of the house of Israel. For the Father sent You into the world as victim for salvation, from the beginning of the world all the saints awaited You. Hosanna now to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

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(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 5 April 2020 : Holy Gospel

Liturgical Colour : Red

Sequentia Sancti Evangelii secundum Matthaeum – Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew

Matthew 21 : 1-9

In illo tempore : Cum appropinquasset Jesus Jerosolymis, et venisset Bethphage ad montem Oliveti : tunc misit duos discipulos suos, dicens eis : Ite in castellum, quod contra vos est, et statim invenietis asinam alligatam, et pullum cum ea : solvite, et adducite mihi : si quis vobis aliquid dixerit, dicite quia Dominus his opus habet, et confestim dimittet eos.

Hoc autem totum factum est, ut adimpleretur quod dictum est per prophetam, dicentem : Dicite filiae Sion : Ecce Rex tuus venit tibi mansuetus, sedens super asinam et pullum, filium subjugalis.

Euntes autem discipuli, fecerunt sicut praecepit illis Jesus. Et adduxerunt asinam et pullum : et imposuerunt super eos vestimenta sua, et cum desuper sedere fecerunt. Plurima autem turba straverunt vestimenta sua in via : alii autem caedebant ramos de arboribus, et sternebant in via : turbae autem, quae praecedebant, et quae sequebantur, clamabant, dicentes : Hosanna Filio David : Benedictus qui venit in Nomine Domini.

 

English translation

At that time, when Jesus drew nigh to Jerusalem, and had come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, He then sent two disciples, and said to them, “Go to the village that is over there against you, and immediately you shall find a donkey tied, and a colt with her, loosen them and bring them to Me, and if anyone shall say anything to you, say that the Lord had need of them, and forthwith He shall let them go.”

Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, which says, “Tell to the daughter of Zion, behold your King comes to you meekly, and sitting upon a donkey, and the colt that is her foal who is used to the yoke.”

And the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. And they brought the donkey and its colt, and laid their garments upon them, and made Him to sit upon them. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way, and others cut boughs from the trees and strewed them along the way, and the multitudes who went before and those who followed after cried, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!”

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(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 5 April 2020 : Distribution of the Palms

Liturgical Colour : Red

First Antiphon

John 12 : 13 and Mark 11 : 9

Pueri Hebraeorum, portantes ramos olivarum, obviaverunt Domino, clamantes, et dicentes : Hosanna in excelsis.

English translation

The children of the Hebrews, carrying olive branches went forth to meet the Lord, crying aloud and repeating, “Hosanna in the highest!”

 

Psalm 23

Domini est terra, et plenitudo ejus : orbis terrarum et universi qui habitant in eo.

Quia ipse super maria fundavit eum : et super flumina praeparavit eum.

(First Antiphon)

Attollite portas, principes, vestras, et elevamini portae aeternales : et introibit Rex gloriae.

Quis est iste Rex gloriae? Dominus fortis et potens : Dominus potens in proelio.

(First Antiphon)

Attollite portas principes vestras, et elevamini portae aeternales : et introibit Rex gloriae.

Quis est iste Rex gloriae? Dominus virtutum ipse est Rex gloriae.

(First Antiphon)

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

(First Antiphon)

English translation

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all those who dwell in it.

For He had founded it upon the seas, and had prepared it upon the rivers.

(First Antiphon)

Lift up your gates, o you princes, and may you be lifted up, o eternal gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in.

Who is the King of Glory? The Lord who is strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

(First Antiphon)

Lift up your gates, o you princes, and may you be lifted up, o eternal gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in.

Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory.

(First Antiphon)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

(First Antiphon)

 

Second Antiphon

Matthew 21 : 8-9

Pueri Hebraeorum vestimenta prosternebant in via et clamabant, dicentes : Hosanna Filio David : Benedictus, qui venit in Nomine Domini.

English translation

The children of the Hebrews strewed their garments in the way and cried aloud, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!”

 

Psalm 46

Omnes Gentes, plaudite manibus : jubilate Deo in voce exsultationis.

Quoniam Dominus excelsus, terribilis : Rex magnus super omnem terram.

(Second Antiphon)

Subjecit populos nobis : et Gentes sub pedibus nostris.

Elegit nobis hereditatem suam : speciem Jacob, quam dilexit.

(Second Antiphon)

Ascendit Deus in jubilo : et Dominus in voce tubae.

Psallite Deo nostro, psallite : psallite Regi nostro, psallite.

(Second Antiphon)

Quoniam Rex omnis terrae Deus : psallite sapienter.

Regnabit Deus super Gentes : Deus sedet super sedem sanctam suam.

(Second Antiphon)

Principes populorum congregati sunt cum Deo Abraham : quoniam dii fortes terrae vehementer elevati sunt.

(Second Antiphon)

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

(Second Antiphon)

English translation

O clap your hands, all you nations. Shout unto God with the voice of joy.

For the Lord is high, terrible, a great King over all the earth.

(Second Antiphon)

He had subdued the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

He had chosen for us His inheritance, the beauty of Jacob which He had loved.

(Second Antiphon)

God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet.

Sing praises to our God, sing all of you, sing praises to our King, sing all of you.

(Second Antiphon)

For God is the King of all the earth, sing all of you wisely.

God shall reign over the nations, God sits on His holy throne.

(Second Antiphon)

The princes of the people are gathered together, with the God of Abraham, for the strong gods of the earth are exceedingly exalted.

(Second Antiphon)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

(Second Antiphon)

(Second Antiphon)

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(Usus Antiquior) Palm Sunday (I Classis) – Sunday, 5 April 2020 : Blessing of the Palms

Liturgical Colour : Red

Antiphon

Matthew 21 : 9

Hosanna Filio David : benedictus, qui venit in Nomine Domini. Rex Israel : Hosanna in excelsis.

Priest : Dominus vobiscum.

Response : Et cum spiritu tuo.

Oremus :

Benedic +, quaesumus, Domine, hos palmarum ramos : et praesta; ut quod populus Tuus in Tui venerationem hodierna die corporaliter agit, hoc spiritualiter summa devotione perficiat, de hoste victoriam reportando et opus misericordiae summopere diligendo. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

 

English translation

Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord. O King of Israel : Hosanna in the highest!

Priest : The Lord be with you.

Response : And with your spirit.

Let us pray :

Bless +, we beseech You, o Lord, these palm branches, and grant that what Your people this day do in the flesh in Your honour, it may do in spirit with uttermost devotion, winning the victory over the enemy, and loving with all its heart the exercise of mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Saturday, 4 April 2020 : 5th Week of Lent, Memorial of St. Isidore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day as we are about to enter into the time of the Holy Week beginning tomorrow on Palm Sunday, we heard of the promises of God’s salvation as He spoke to them through the prophet Ezekiel, as well as the conspiracies and efforts that were being raised up against the Lord in our Gospel passage, preparing ourselves for what we are going to celebrate during the Holy Week.

The prophet Ezekiel spoke of God’s assurance that He would save His people and deliver them from all of their troubles then, as at that time they were all troubled after having been humiliated by the destruction of their kingdom and homeland, both the northern kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians and the southern kingdom of Judah by the Babylonians. The city of Jerusalem and its Temple were destroyed and most of the people carried off into exile in far-off lands.

God promised His people that He would restore them and bring them back to the lands of their ancestors, and He fulfilled this promise later on when the descendants of Israel were allowed to return to their homeland by the king of Persia, Cyrus. God restored their honour as a nation and showed them once again that He has loved them all the while despite the disobedience and sins they have committed. Nonetheless, He still wanted them to change and to repent from their sinful ways.

Then in the Gospel today, we heard of the discussions and plans among the members of the Sanhedrin, or the Jewish High Council to arrest Jesus and hand Him over to the Romans. And as many of the members of the Sanhedrin belonged to the Pharisees, most of whom were opposed to Jesus, the voices of those who called for the arrest and punishment for Jesus easily overcome those who wanted to listen to Him more carefully and those who supported Him.

This reading is setting us up for the coming of the Holy Week in which the final moments of the Lord’s most important mission was about to be celebrated, beginning with His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and later on, how the plans of the Sanhedrin came to fruition with the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, His arrest and trial before the Sanhedrin, and eventually how He was handed over to the Romans, sentenced to death by crucifixion and died on the Cross which we celebrate on Good Friday. And finally He rose from the dead in glory, and we celebrate this gloriously in Easter.

This is how the Lord showed us His salvation and fulfilled all the promises He had made to us earlier on, that by enduring the immense suffering of the Cross and by dying for us, He restored us all into a new life, no longer bound by the tyranny of sin, but through Him we become eligible of the wonderful inheritance of God’s grace. This is the fulfilment of God’s love and promise to all of us which He has made to us and reminded us again and again through time.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, as we have heard in these readings today, we have seen how fortunate we are to have such a wonderful and loving God by our side. God has been so patient with us and so caring and loving, willing to forgive us our trespasses and sins although they may be so plenty. But we need to be willing to receive God’s forgiveness too, for unless we are open to God’s mercy working in our lives, we will not enjoy the fullness of God’s forgiveness and redemption.

Are we able to prepare ourselves well to celebrate the upcoming mysteries of the Holy Week? Are we willing to make this Holy Week a meaningful one by living through it with openness to God’s mercy and through our renewed faith and obedience to God’s will? Let us all spend some time to reflect on how we can better live through our upcoming few days, as we enter into the most sacred time of the year, so that we may truly grow in our spiritual beings, and draw ever closer to God in all things.

Today, we also should look at the examples set by one of our holy predecessors, St. Isidore of Seville, who was the Bishop of Seville in what is now southern part of Spain, renowned for his great piety and dedication to God. St. Isidore championed the efforts to propagate the faith through education and purification of the faith. He convened several Church councils to overcome the falsehoods of heresies, particularly Arianism, and he did his best to help the spiritual growth of his flock. We can definitely learn from his dedication and commitment to God.

May God bless us all and may He strengthen us in faith, and may He guide us in our journey, now and forevermore. May all of us be strong in our faith like that of St. Isidore of Seville, holy servant of God and defender of the faith. Amen.

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Saturday, 4 April 2020 : 5th Week of Lent, Memorial of St. Isidore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

John 11 : 45-56

At that time, many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw what He did; but some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Council.

They said, “What are we to do? For this Man keeps on giving miraculous signs. If we let Him go on like this, all the people will believe in Him and, as a result of this, the Romans will come and destroy our Holy Place and our nation.”

Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all, nor do you see clearly what you need. It is better to have one Man die for the people than to let the whole nation be destroyed.” In saying this Caiaphas did not speak for himself, but being High Priest that year, he foretold like a prophet that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also would die to gather into one the scattered children of God. So, from that day on, they were determined to kill Him.

Because of this, Jesus no longer moved about freely among the Jews. He withdrew instead to the country near the wilderness, and stayed with His disciples in a town called Ephraim. The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and people from everywhere were coming to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover. They looked for Jesus and, as they stood in the Temple, they talked with one another, “What do you think? Will He come to the festival?”

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Saturday, 4 April 2020 : 5th Week of Lent, Memorial of St. Isidore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Jeremiah 31 : 10, 11-12ab, 13

Hear the word of YHVH, o nations, proclaim it on distant coastlands : He Who scattered Israel will gather them and guard them as a shepherd guard his flock.

For YHVH has ransomed Jacob and redeemed him from the hand of his conqueror. They shall come shouting for joy, while ascending Zion; they will come streaming to YHVH’s blessings.

Maidens will make merry and dance, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness, I will give them comfort and joy for sorrow.

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Saturday, 4 April 2020 : 5th Week of Lent, Memorial of St. Isidore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Ezekiel 37 : 21-28

You will then say to them : Thus says YHVH : I am about to withdraw the Israelites from where they were among the nations. I shall gather them from all around and bring them back to their land. I shall make them into one people on the mountains of Israel and one king is to be the king of them all.

They will no longer form two nations or be two separate kingdoms, nor will they defile themselves again with their idols, their detestable practices and their sins. I shall free them from the guilt of their treachery; I shall cleanse them and they will be for Me a people and I shall be God for them.

My servant David will reign over them, one shepherd for all. They will live according to My laws and follow and practice My decrees. They will settle in the land I gave to My servant Jacob where their ancestors lived. There they will live forever, their children and their children’s children. David My servant will be their prince forever.

I shall establish a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I shall settle them and they will increase and I shall put My sanctuary in their midst forever. I shall make My home at their side; I shall be their God and they will be My people. Then the nations will know that I am YHVH Who makes Israel holy, having My sanctuary among them forever.

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Friday, 3 April 2020 : 5th Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we listened to the words of the Lord showing us even more of the frictions and tensions that existed before the Lord Jesus was to go through His Passion in Jerusalem, suffering and eventually death, as we are really near now to the commencement of the Holy Week, which begins this coming Sunday on Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. This brings into our attention what we have been spending time in this season of Lent for, that is to prepare ourselves to celebrate the glorious and solemn mysteries of the Holy Week and Easter.

In our first reading today, we heard of the lamentations and words of the prophet Jeremiah for all those who have persecuted and plotted against him. For at that time, there were many people who despised Jeremiah for all the ominous words and prophecies that he brought to the people, especially the false prophets who tried to persuade the king of Judah and the people otherwise, that they were all doing fine in their state of sin and disobedience against God.

Jeremiah was persecuted terribly and he suffered much during all those years. Had it not been for some help among the few allies he still had, he would have been killed by his enemies. But he trusted in God and remained committed to the mission which the Lord had entrusted him, that he braved the challenges and difficulties in order to carry out the works of evangelisation among the people of God.

Jeremiah’s faith and trust was indeed truly evident, as he remained confident in God’s guidance and help as shown in the first reading today, that God, as a mighty Warrior who is ever faithful will be with His people, and He has devoted Himself to them and would not abandon them in their time of distress. It was this faith which allowed Jeremiah to remain strong in his ministry despite all the trials and difficulties that he had encountered in Judah and beyond.

Then, in our Gospel passage today we heard of the immense difficulties and challenges that were mounting against Jesus, as the Jews in Judea, particularly the Pharisees and the members of the Jewish High Council or the Sanhedrin as these took issues with the Lord’s ministry and teachings, and they had done a lot in trying to oppose Him and challenge Him publicly in many opportunities. And in today’s Gospel passage, we heard how the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law, with many of the Jews opposed the Lord and took great issue with His claim being the Son of God.

The Lord had told them the truth and revealed everything to them plainly, but they refused to believe in Him and they did not have faith in Him, and that was why they hardened their hearts against Him and wanted to have Him arrested and killed, as they considered Him as blaspheming against God. Since they were also already deeply biased and prejudiced against Jesus, it was difficult for any words of truth or reason to change their minds, and hence, they persecuted the Lord just as their ancestors had persecuted Jeremiah and the other prophets.

Today, as we approach the beginning of the Holy Week and as we continue to proceed through this season of Lent, we are called to reflect on all that we have heard in today’s Scripture passages. We are all just like those who have persecuted the prophets and also refused to listen to the truth of the Lord. Through our disobedience and sins we have committed, we have acted just like those who rejected the Lord and His prophets and persecuted them.

Yet, God is always merciful and He is always ever willing to forgive us our sins, if we are willing to turn back to Him and embrace once again the fullness of His grace and love. He wants us to get rid of our hardened and stone-like hearts, and exchange it for a new heart of love, filled with renewed faith and desire to love God as well as our fellow brothers and sisters, that we may indeed be more like our Lord in how He has loved us and in being so patient with us despite our constant rejections and refusal to listen to Him.

Let us all proceed into the blessed moments of the Holy Week with this new heart of faith, and open our minds and our whole beings to God to welcome Him into our hearts and minds that we may truly experience a most wonderful and life-changing time in this upcoming Holy Week and also the glorious Easter season. And let us also not forget to continue to pray for the world, especially for all those who are now sick and suffering. May God bless us all, now and always. Amen.