Weeks of Lent

by

Sunday, 24 March 2024 : Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord (Passion Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Mark 14 : 1 – Mark 15 : 47

It was now two days before the Feast of the Passover and Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were looking for a way to arrest Jesus on a false charge, and put Him to death; but they said, “Not during the Festival, for there might be trouble among the people.”

Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper. As He was reclining at dinner, a woman entered carrying an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfumed oil on Jesus’ head. Then some of them became angry and said, “What a useless waste of perfume. It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor.” And they criticised her.

But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why are you troubling her? What she has just done for Me is a very charitable work. At any time you can help the poor, for you always have them with you; but you will not have Me forever. This woman did what she had to do : she anointed My Body for burial, before I die. Truly, I say to you, wherever the Good News is proclaimed, and this will be throughout the world, what she has done will be told in praise of her.”

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests, in order to betray Jesus to them. On hearing him, they were excited and promised to give him money. So Judas started planning the best way to hand Jesus over to them.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the day when the Passover Lamb was killed, disciples asked Him, “Where would you have us to go to prepare the Passover meal for You?” So Jesus sent two of His disciples with these instructions, “Go into the city, and there, a man will come to you carrying a jar of water.”

“Follow him to the house he enters and say to the owner, ‘The Master says, Where is the room where I may eat the Passover meal with My disciples?’ Then He will show you a large room upstairs, already arranged and furnished. There, you will prepare for us.”

The disciples went off. When they reached the city, they found everything just as Jesus had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were at table eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me, one who shares My meal.”

They were deeply distressed at hearing this and asked Him, one after the other, “You do not mean me, do You?” And Jesus answered, “It is one of you Twelve, one who dips his bread in the dish with Me. The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures say He will. But alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed; better for him if he had never been born.”

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to them. And He said, “Take this. It is My Body.” Then He took a cup, and after He had given thanks, He passed it to them and they all drank from it. And He said, “This is My Blood, the Blood of the Covenant, poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not taste the fruit of the vine again, until that day when I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.”

After singing psalms of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “All of you will be dismayed and fall away; for the Scripture says : I will strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. But after I am raised, I will go to Galilee ahead of you.”

Then Peter said to Him, “Even though all the others fall away, I will not.” And Jesus replied, “Truly I say to you, today, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” But Peter insisted, “Though I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all of them said the same.

They came to a place which is called Gethsemane; and Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” But He took Peter, James and John along with Him, and, becoming filled with fear and distress, He said to them, “My soul is full of sorrow, even to death. Remain here and stay awake.”

Then He went a little further on and fell on the ground, praying that, if possible, this hour might pass Him by. Jesus said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Yet, not what I want, but what You want.” Then He came and found them asleep; and He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not stay awake for one hour? Stay awake and pray, all of you, so that you may not slip into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the body is weak.”

And, going away, He prayed, saying the same words. When He came back to the disciples, He found them asleep again. They could not keep their eyes open; and they did not know what to say to Him. When He came back the third time, He said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is all over, the time has come : the Son of Man is now given into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us go! Look : the one who betrays Me is approaching.”

While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, who had been sent by the chief priests, the teachers of the Law and the elders. The traitor had arranged a signal for them, “The One I kiss, He is the Man. Arrest Him, and take Him away under guard.”

So, when He came, He went directly to Jesus, and said, “Master! Master!” and kissed Him. Then they seized Jesus and arrested Him. One of the bystanders drew his sword and struck out at the High Priest’s servant, cutting off his ear. Jesus turned to them and said, “So, you have set out against a robber! Did you need swords and clubs to arrest Me? Day after day, I was among you, teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest Me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.”

Then they all deserted Him and fled. A young man, covered by nothing but a linen cloth, followed Jesus. When they took hold of him, he left the cloth in their hands and fled away naked. They led Jesus to the High Priest; and all the chief priests assembled, with the elders and the teachers of the Law. Peter had followed Him at a distance; and went right into the courtyard of the High Priest, where he sat with the guards, warming himself at the fire.

Now the chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some evidence against Jesus so that they might put Him to death; but they were unable to find anything. Even though many came up to speak falsely against Him, their evidence did not agree. At last, some stood up and gave this false witness : “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple made by human hands, and, in three days, I will build another, not made by human hands.” But even so, their evidence did not agree.

The High Priest then stood up in the midst of them and asked Jesus, “Have You no answer at all? What about this evidence against You?” But Jesus was silent and made no reply. The High Priest put a second question to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Then Jesus answered, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Most Powerful, and coming with the clouds of heaven around Him.”

Then the High Priest, tearing his garments to show his horror, said, “What more evidence do we need? You have just heard His blasphemous words. What is your decision?” They all condemned Jesus, saying, “He must die.” Some of them began to spit on Jesus; and, blindfolding Him, they struck Him and said, “Play the prophet!” And the guards set upon Him with blows.

While Peter was below, in the courtyard, a servant girl of the High Priest came by. Noticing Peter beside the fire, she looked straight at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the Nazarene.” But he denied it, “I do not know or understand what you are talking about.” And he went out through the gateway, and a cock crowed.

The servant girl saw him there and told the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But Peter denied it again. After a little while, those standing nearby said to Peter, “Of course you are one of them; you are a Galilean, are you not?” And Peter began to justify himself with curses and oaths, “I do not know the Man you are talking about.”

Just then a cock crowed a second time, and Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Early in the morning, the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the Law (that is, the whole Council or Sanhedrin) had their plan ready. They put Jesus in chains, led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate. Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “You say so.” As the chief priests accused Jesus of many things, Pilate asked Him again, “Have You no answer at all? See how many charges they bring against You.”

But Jesus gave no further answers, much to Pilate’s surprise. At every Passover festival, Pilate used to free any prisoner the people asked for. Now there was a man called Barabbas, jailed with the rioters who had committed murder in the uprising. When the crowd went up to ask Pilate the usual favour, he said to them, “Do you want me to set free the King of the Jews?” for he realised that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him out of envy.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask, instead, for the release of Barabbas. Pilate replied, “And what shall I do with the Man you call King of the Jews?” The crowd shouted back, “Crucify Him!” Pilate asked, “What evil has He done?” But they shouted the louder, “Crucify Him!”

As Pilate wanted to please the people, He freed Barabbas, and, having had Jesus flogged, Pilate handed Him over to be crucified. The soldiers took Him inside the courtyard, known as the Praetorium, and called the rest of their companions. They clothed Him in a purple cloak, and twisting a crown of thorns, they forced it onto His head. Then they began saluting Him, “Long life to the King of the Jews!” With a stick they gave Him blows on the head and spat on Him; then they knelt down, pretending to worship Him.

When they had finished mocking Him, they pulled off the purple cloak and put His own clothes on Him. The soldiers led Him out of the city to crucify Him. On the way, they met Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country; and forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. When they had led Him to the place called Golgotha, which means the Skull, they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He would not take it.

Then they nailed Him to the cross, and divided His clothes among themselves, casting lots to decide what every man should take. It was about nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified Him. The statements of His offence was displayed above His head, and it read, “The King of the Jews.” They also crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says : ‘And with lawless ones He was numbered.’

People passing by laughed at Him, shook their heads and jeered, “Aha! So, You are able to tear down the Temple and build it up in three days? Save Yourself now, and come down from the cross!” In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the Law mocked Him, saying to one another, “The Man Who saved others cannot save Himself. Let us see the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from His cross, and then we will believe in Him.” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus insulted Him.

When noon came, darkness fell over the whole land and lasted until three o’clock; and at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You deserted Me?” As soon as they heard these words, some of the bystanders said, “Listen! He is calling for Elijah.” And one of them went quickly to fill a sponge with bitter wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to Him to drink, saying, “Now let us see whether Elijah comes to take Him down.”

But Jesus uttered a loud cry and gave up His Spirit. And immediately, the curtain that enclosed the Temple Sanctuary was torn in two, from top to bottom. The captain, who was standing in front of Him, saw how Jesus died and heard the cry He gave; and he said, “Truly, this Man was the Son of God.”

There were also some women watching from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome, who had followed Jesus when He was in Galilee and saw to His needs. There were also others who had come up with Him to Jerusalem.

It was now evening, and, as it was Preparation Day, that is the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea boldly went to Pilate and asked for the Body of Jesus. Joseph was a respected member of the Council, who was, himself, waiting for the kingdom of God. Pilate was surprised that Jesus should have died so soon; so he summoned the captain and inquired if Jesus was already dead. After hearing the captain, he let Joseph have the Body.

Joseph took it down and wrapped it in the linen sheet he had brought. He laid the Body in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone across the entrance to the tomb. Now Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joses took note of where the Body had been laid.

Alternative reading (shorter version)

Mark 15 : 1-39

Early in the morning, the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the Law (that is, the whole Council or Sanhedrin) had their plan ready. They put Jesus in chains, led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate. Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “You say so.” As the chief priests accused Jesus of many things, Pilate asked Him again, “Have You no answer at all? See how many charges they bring against You.”

But Jesus gave no further answers, much to Pilate’s surprise. At every Passover festival, Pilate used to free any prisoner the people asked for. Now there was a man called Barabbas, jailed with the rioters who had committed murder in the uprising. When the crowd went up to ask Pilate the usual favour, he said to them, “Do you want me to set free the King of the Jews?” for he realised that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him out of envy.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask, instead, for the release of Barabbas. Pilate replied, “And what shall I do with the Man you call King of the Jews?” The crowd shouted back, “Crucify Him!” Pilate asked, “What evil has He done?” But they shouted the louder, “Crucify Him!”

As Pilate wanted to please the people, He freed Barabbas, and, having had Jesus flogged, Pilate handed Him over to be crucified. The soldiers took Him inside the courtyard, known as the Praetorium, and called the rest of their companions. They clothed Him in a purple cloak, and twisting a crown of thorns, they forced it onto His head. Then they began saluting Him, “Long life to the King of the Jews!” With a stick they gave Him blows on the head and spat on Him; then they knelt down, pretending to worship Him.

When they had finished mocking Him, they pulled off the purple cloak and put His own clothes on Him. The soldiers led Him out of the city to crucify Him. On the way, they met Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country; and forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. When they had led Him to the place called Golgotha, which means the Skull, they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He would not take it.

Then they nailed Him to the cross, and divided His clothes among themselves, casting lots to decide what every man should take. It was about nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified Him. The statements of His offence was displayed above His head, and it read, “The King of the Jews.” They also crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says : ‘And with lawless ones He was numbered.’

People passing by laughed at Him, shook their heads and jeered, “Aha! So, You are able to tear down the Temple and build it up in three days? Save Yourself now, and come down from the cross!” In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the Law mocked Him, saying to one another, “The Man Who saved others cannot save Himself. Let us see the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from His cross, and then we will believe in Him.” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus insulted Him.

When noon came, darkness fell over the whole land and lasted until three o’clock; and at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You deserted Me?” As soon as they heard these words, some of the bystanders said, “Listen! He is calling for Elijah.” And one of them went quickly to fill a sponge with bitter wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to Him to drink, saying, “Now let us see whether Elijah comes to take Him down.”

But Jesus uttered a loud cry and gave up His Spirit. And immediately, the curtain that enclosed the Temple Sanctuary was torn in two, from top to bottom. The captain, who was standing in front of Him, saw how Jesus died and heard the cry He gave; and he said, “Truly, this Man was the Son of God.”

by

Sunday, 24 March 2024 : Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Philippians 2 : 6-11

Though He was in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness, and in His appearance found as a Man.

He humbled Himself by being obedient to death, death on the cross. That is why God exalted Him and gave Him the Name which outshines all names, so that at the Name of Jesus all knees should bend in heaven, on earth and among the dead, and all tongues proclaim that Christ Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father.

by

Sunday, 24 March 2024 : Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Psalm 21 : 8-9, 17-18a, 19-20, 23-24

All who see Me make a jest of Me; they sneer and shake their heads. “He put His trust in the Lord, let the Lord rescue Him! If the Lord is His friend, let Him help Him!”

Round about Me are vicious dogs, villainous rogues encircling Me. They have tied up My hands and feet. They can count all My bones.

Dividing My garments among them and casting lots for My raiment. O Lord, be not far from Me! O My strength, come quickly to My help.

I will proclaim Your Name to My brothers. I will praise You in the assembly. “All you who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify Him! All you sons of Israel, revere Him!

by

Sunday, 24 March 2024 : Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Isaiah 50 : 4-7

The Lord YHVH has taught Me so I speak as His disciple and I know how to sustain the weary. Morning after morning He wakes Me up to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord YHVH has opened My ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn.

I offered My back to those who strike Me, My cheeks to those who pulled My beard; neither did I shield My face from blows, spittle and disgrace. I have not despaired, for the Lord YHVH comes to My help. So, like a flint I set My face, knowing that I will not be disgraced.

by

Sunday, 24 March 2024 : Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Mark 11 : 1-10

At that time, when Jesus and His disciples drew near to Jerusalem and arrived at Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples with these instructions, “Go to the village ahead of you and, as you enter it, you will find there a colt tied up that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, ‘What are you doing?’ give this answer, ‘The Lord needs it, but He will send it back immediately.”

They went off and found the colt, out in the street, tied at the door. As they were untying it, some of the bystander asked, “Why are you untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them, and the people allowed them to continue. They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks on its back, and Jesus sat upon it. Many people also spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread leafy branches from the fields.

Then the people who walked ahead, and those who followed behind Jesus, began to shout, “Hosannah! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David, which comes! Hosannah in the highest!”

Alternative reading

John 12 : 12-16

At that time, the next day, many people who had come for the festival heard that Jesus was to enter Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him. And they cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Jesus found a donkey and sat upon it, as Scripture says : ‘Do not fear, city of Zion! See, your King is coming, sitting on the colt of a donkey!’ The disciples were not aware of this at first, but after Jesus was glorified, they realised that this had been written about Him, and that this was what had happened to Him.

by

Saturday, 23 March 2024 : 5th Week of Lent, Memorial of St. Turibius de Mogrovejo, Bishop (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today as we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are all reminded that despite all of our disobedience, rebelliousness, our waywardness and evils, God’s love for us still endures nonetheless, and He still cares for each and every one of us. That was why He went through all the trouble of sending down to us none other than His own Beloved Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, to be the means through which we are all brought together to His salvation, grace and eternal life, reassuring us all of His constant love, providence and protection.

In our first reading today, we heard of the words of the Lord and His reassurances that He made to all of His people, that He had made through the prophet Ezekiel, reminding them all that despite of their many sins, wickedness and rebelliousness, in the end, He still truly cares for each and every one of them nonetheless. At that time, when the prophet Ezekiel was active, he was ministering to the exiles of the people of God in the distant lands of Babylon, where many of the people had ended up in after they had disobeyed the Lord and thus, facing hardships and destruction of their homeland when the Babylonians came to conquer and destroy their land, their city of Jerusalem and its Temple, carrying many of the people to the distant lands.

All those were caused by the stubborn attitudes of the people of God, who have preferred to follow their own ways and paths, not heeding or listening to the message of God’s reminders and truths which He had given them all through His many prophets and messengers. They thought that they were better and more knowledgeable than others, and they refused to admit their mistakes and flawed way of life when the prophets and messengers of God pointed out their errors before them. They instead persecuted those whom the Lord had sent to them in order to help and guide them along, leading to the murder of innocents and the holy servants of God, because the people refused to admit their weakness and sinfulness.

It was these same attitudes that we have also seen exhibited by many of the leaders of the Jewish people, the members of the Jewish High Council or also known as the Sanhedrin, which members were composed of the powerful and influential members of the Pharisees and also the Sadducees. They had different points of contentions and disagreements with the Lord, but essentially, all of them refused to believe in the Lord or to listen to the words and the revelations which He Himself had brought to them, or to trust in Him through the signs and miracles that He had shown them, as proofs that He was indeed the One that God had promised to send to His beloved ones that He might save all of them from damnation and destruction.

That was why we heard the discussions and disagreements among the members of the Sanhedrin, and many of them, including the High Priest, Caiaphas, wanted to eliminate the threat that the Lord Jesus posed to them, because His teachings and activities were not just in accordance or agreement with how the Pharisees and the Sadducees often did their observances of the Law and the commandments of God, but they were also afraid that His activities could lead to the Romans destroying and cancelling the privileges and good life that those Jewish elites had been enjoying, and thus, they agreed that they should condemn the Lord Jesus and hand Him to the Romans to be condemned to death. Thus, on this last day before the commencement of Holy Week, the stage has been sent for the events that would soon transpire during that most momentous week.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of St. Turibius de Mogrovejo, a great and holy servant of God who was renowned for his efforts and works as the Archbishop of Lima in what is today part of Peru, during the time of the Spanish rule of the territory. He was very active in his many missions and works among the people throughout his diocese, carrying out his duties faithfully and caring for his flock with dedication, defending the rights of the poor, the weak and the less privileged against the powerful, the landowners and nobles who often took advantage against them. St. Turibius campaigned bravely against the exploitations and the efforts from those who greedily sought to expand their worldly gains on the expense of others.

St. Turibius de Mogrovejo spent a lot of time ministering to the people entrusted to him, often going around his diocese on foot, preaching the word of God to the natives of the region, baptising many people who have been convinced of the truth and salvation in God through his works. According to records and Church tradition, he baptised no less than one and a half million people personally throughout his ministry, and called many people to come closer to God. St. Turibius helped to establish many facilities and places for the benefit and good of the faithful, such as roads and schools, chapels and hospitals among other things. Through his efforts, many of the less privileged, the poor and the sick got well taken care of, and shown God’s great love.

St. Turibius also spent a lot of time in reforming his diocese and clergy, uprooting many scandals and corruptions that had plagued the Church at that time. He enforced and introduced the decrees and reforms from the Ecumenical Council of Trent to his diocese and helped to reestablish discipline among the clergy and the members of the Church, and through his great dedication and works, he had brought about many good changes and improvement to the Church, and brought many souls and people of God ever closer to His Presence and to salvation in Him. As contrasted to the attitudes of those who have not obeyed the Lord as highlighted in the Scriptures today, St. Turibius de Mogrovejo showed us all what it truly means to be followers and disciples of the Lord, and showed God’s great love for us through his works and missions.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, are we all therefore capable of following the good examples and inspirations shown to us by St. Turibius de Mogrovejo, and keep in mind how we all should live our lives with faith, with commitment and obedience to God? Are we all capable of following the Lord wholeheartedly once again, dedicating ourselves thoroughly to Him, so that we may continue to glorify Him at each and every moments of our lives? As we all enter into the most solemn occasion and commemoration of Holy Week tomorrow, let us all remind ourselves of our sinfulness, unworthiness and all the things which have kept us away from God and His love, and let us all seek His forgiveness, with the resolve to cast aside our sins and wickedness, so that we may once again be truly worthy of God and His love. May the Lord bless us always, now and forevermore. Amen.

by

Saturday, 23 March 2024 : 5th Week of Lent, Memorial of St. Turibius de Mogrovejo, Bishop (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?”

by

Saturday, 23 March 2024 : 5th Week of Lent, Memorial of St. Turibius de Mogrovejo, Bishop (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.

by

Saturday, 23 March 2024 : 5th Week of Lent, Memorial of St. Turibius de Mogrovejo, Bishop (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.

by

Friday, 22 March 2024 : 5th Week of Lent (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Purple/Violet

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we heard from the Scripture passages today, we are reminded of just how imminent Holy Week is, which will begin this Sunday with Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. On this day we heard how the Lord faced a lot of opposition, rejection and persecution from those who have refused to believe in Him, as those people to whom He has shown Himself to hardened their hearts and minds against Him, thinking that they all knew it better than the Lord Himself, refusing to listen to the words of Wisdom that He has spoken. That was why despite many of them having known the Law, the words of the Prophets and the many prophecies concerning the Messiah, but they still failed to believe in Him even after they had witnessed and heard everything.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah in which the plight of Jeremiah was again highlighted to us, showing us all the persecutions and hardships that this prophet had to endure amidst his ministry and works, as he faced a lot of opposition, rejection and hardships from those who refused to believe in him or in the words of warning that he had brought to them from God. At that time the people of Israel and their descendants had long disobeyed the Lord and rebelled against Him, refusing to follow His Law and commandments, choosing to do their own agenda and pursuit of worldly glory, betraying their Lord and God for pagan and false idols that they worshipped and offered sacrifices to.

Despite the Lord having sent to His people many servants and messengers, namely the prophets to help remind and guide them all in their paths, but those people still hardened their hearts and minds, refusing to listen to the truth and the reminders which those prophets had delivered to them. Like Jeremiah, those prophets from earlier times had been persecuted and oppressed, and not few were even killed for their efforts and ministry among the people of God. As such, God’s anger was stoked against His people, and they had to face the consequences of their many sins and evil deeds, that first of all, the northern kingdom of Israel had been conquered and destroyed by the Assyrians, and later on, during the time of the prophet Jeremiah, the southern kingdom of Judah was also under imminent threat of destruction from the Babylonians.

Yet, the people still stubbornly resisted the Lord, preferring to do as they please and trusting in the false prophets and leaders who gave them false assurances and promises, and made them to depend on earthly powers instead of on the Lord and His providence. They persecuted Jeremiah, made his life and ministry difficult, shut him out and rejecting his message, and even almost managed to kill him, if not for the help and intervention from all those who were still sympathetic to him. This is a reminder for all of us that often times, staying faithful to God and doing His will can be quite challenging and difficult for us, and we may realise that as we listen to the Lord and obey His will, we may encounter the similar kind of challenges in our path as well.

These same sufferings and hardships had been encountered by the Lord Jesus Himself, Who had to face persecution and rejection from the people whom He had come to proclaim God’s love and salvation to. As we heard in the Gospel passage today, the Lord continued facing the stubborn attitude and rejections from many among the Jewish people, particularly and likely by those who belonged to the group of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the elites of the Jewish community, many of whom refused to believe in Jesus and in the things which He had brought to the midst of the community of the people of God. They disagreed with the Lord and disapproved how He dealt and acted with those whom the Pharisees often considered as sinful and unworthy of God, like tax collectors and prostitutes, or those afflicted with diseases.

As such, they accused Him of wrongdoing and even blasphemy against God, rejecting Him and the words which He had spoken in their midst. And despite having seen and witnessed all the miracles and wonders that the prophets and messengers of God had spoken about, they still refused to believe that He is the Messiah and the One Whom God had sent to bring His people to His salvation and grace. This is why the Lord told them all of His frustrations at just how dull their thoughts and how hardened their hearts have been, that just like their ancestors had done, they continued to resist the Lord’s efforts in loving them and reaching out to them with His love and patience, shown in all sincerity and perfection through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Yet, the Lord still went all out to help them, reaching out to them and loving them, as He would show all of us in the moment of His Passion, His suffering and death on the Cross. When the Lord willingly took up His Cross and carried upon Himself all the punishments, consequences and trials on our behalf, taking up all of our sins and the weight of them all to His own shoulders, He did it all not just for the righteous and the worthy, but He did it for everyone all the same. Yes, this means that the Lord suffered and died even for all those who have rejected and refused to believe in Him, and just as He had done from His Cross, He forgave all those who have persecuted Him and condemned Him to death, asking His Heavenly Father not to hold their sins against them.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all live our lives faithfully to the Lord from now on, and do our part so that our lives may ever be more worthy of the Lord, for all the love and kindness, the compassion and grace which He has always shown us all these while. Let us all be truly Christ-like in all of our every words, actions and deeds, so that through our good examples and inspirations, we may help lead many others to the Lord as well. Let our lives truly glorify the Lord, and let us make good use of the opportunities provided to us so that our Lenten journey may truly be enriching for all of us, and everyone around us. Amen.