Mar 22nd, Monday:
John 8: 1-11: 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in
the morning he came again to the temple; all the people came to him, and he sat
down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had
been caught in adultery and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him,
“Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the law
Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?”
6 This they said
to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent
down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask
him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the
first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote with his
finger on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away, one by one,
beginning with the eldest, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing
before him. 10 Jesus looked up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no
one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I
condemn you; go, and do not sin again.” USCCB video homily: https://youtu.be/GvfoYwZR-5k?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAoMqHc4moKtTJSI6gsth32
The context: The
Jewish civil and criminal code considered three grave sins as punishable by
death, namely idolatry, murder, and adultery. The Law (Lv 18:20; 20:10; Dt
22:22), prescribes death for both the married woman and her partner if they are
caught in adultery. If the guilty woman is betrothed and she and her partner
are within the city, both are to be taken outside the City gate and stoned to
death (Dt 22-23). In both cases they have violated God’s sixth commandment and
have destroyed the fidelity and unity of marriage. In today’s Gospel, we
find the Pharisees preparing a trap for Jesus by bringing to him a woman caught
in adultery. The trap and the escape: If Jesus consented to her death by
strangulation or stoning, he would be violating the Roman law which forbade
killing by private citizens. In addition, he would lose his reputation as a
merciful rabbi. If Jesus said “no,” he would violate the Mosaic Law. Hence,
Jesus ingeniously escaped from the trap by leaving the judgment to the
conscience of the accusers. St. Augustine puts Jesus’ stand as follows: “Let
this woman be punished, but not by sinners; let the law be applied, but not by
its transgressors.” Jesus condemned sin, but not the sinner. He gave her a
stern warning not to sin, but showed her mercy, compassion and forgiveness.
Life messages: 1)
We too should learn to hate sin and love the sinners showing them mercy and
compassion, sympathy and acceptance, and leading them to noble ways by our own
exemplary lives. 2) We should show mercy and compassion to those who sin
because we ourselves are sinners in need of God’s forgiveness. 3) We have no
right to judge others because we often commit the very faults we condemn, we
are often partial and prejudiced in our judgment, and we do not know the
circumstances which led someone to sin. (Fr. Tony) (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
March 23 Tuesday:
John 8:21-30: 21 Again he said to them, “I go away, and you will
seek me and die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 Then said
the Jews, “Will he kill himself, since he says, `Where I am going, you cannot
come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of
this world, I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your
sins, for you will die in your sins unless
you believe that I am he.”
25 They said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Even what I have told
you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge; but
he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.”
27 They did not understand that he spoke to them of the Father. 28 So Jesus
said, “When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he,
and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught
me. 29 And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do
what is pleasing to him.” 30 As he spoke thus, many believed in him. USCCB video homily: https://youtu.be/AGwJ53xDlSs?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DAoMqHc4moKtTJSI6gsth32;
The context: Through
his teaching and healing ministry, Jesus tried to convince his listeners that
he was the promised Messiah. But only a few of his followers acknowledged him
as the Messiah. The pride and the prejudice of the scribes and the Pharisees
prevented them from seeing anything Divine in Jesus. Hence, Jesus gave them the
warning that he was going to the place where he had come from, and they would
not be able to go there. They misunderstood Jesus’ statement about his going
home to Heaven as planning suicide.
So, Jesus gave the Jews the warning that they would die in
their sins unless they believed in him as the saving Messiah and accepted his
teaching. Then Jesus clarified how he was going to save those who believed in
him by referring to the story of the bronze serpent. Just as the complaining
Israelites in the desert were healed and saved from the serpent bites by
looking at the bronze serpent, impaled and lifted on the pole, Jesus, would be
lifted on a cross to which he had been nailed, for the salvation and freedom
from sin of all mankind. Jesus further explained that his cross would defeat
sin and death, and that he would give everlasting life to those who believed in
him as the Messiah. Jesus declared his Divinity when he said, “I am He.
Life messages: 1)
We need to be humble instruments in the hand of God, trusting in His power and
goodness. St. Augustine reminds us that God Who created us without our
permission cannot save us without our active cooperation. Hence, let us
cooperate in the fulfillment of God’s plan for us with Mary’s trusting Faith
and humility. 2) Like Mary who brought God to us as Jesus our Savior, we
are called to carry Jesus and bring him to the lives of others around us in
love, mercy, forgiveness and service. “Let the soul of Mary be in each one of
you to magnify the Lord. Let the spirit of Mary be in each one to exult
in Christ.” (St. Ambrose).
(Fr. Tony) (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
March 24 Wednesday: Jn
8:1-42: 31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If
you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the
truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are
descendants of Abraham, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How is it
that you say, `You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly,
I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not
continue in the house for ever; the son continues for ever. 36 So if the Son
makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are descendants of
Abraham; yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. 38 I
speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from
your father.” 39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to
them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do what Abraham did, 40 but
now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from
God; this is not what Abraham did. 41 You do what your father did.” They said
to him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.” 42
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I
proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he sent
me. USCCB video homily: https://youtu.be/R3JSvXSqdlM?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DBazRWSYfhGFvBAEXHvO0Cq
The context: Today’s
first reading, taken from the book of the prophet Daniel, tells us how King
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a golden statue built and commanded all his
subjects to bow down in adoration before it as a test of loyalty. Many Jews did
so, fearing persecution and death. But three young Jewish men, who were
favorites of the king and were employed by the King in the royal court, refused
to worship the statue because of their religious belief in one God, Yahweh.
Hence, they were thrown into a fiery furnace to die. There, Yahweh their God
protected them, as they were ready to sacrifice their lives rather than turn
their backs on Him. It was their Faith, their loyal allegiance to God and their
obedience to His will that saved them.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus told the unbelieving Jews that it
was such loyal Faith and obedience to his teachings that would make them his
disciples. Jesus explained to them that true freedom is freedom from sin,
submitting their hearts and wills to God their Father speaking through His Son
Jesus. The Jews argued that they had never been slaves to foreign gods,
although they had been under Persian, Babylonian, Greek and Roman rulers. They
claimed they had always kept the Faith of Abraham their father. Jesus plainly
told them that they were slaves of sin and the devil because they not only
refused to accept him as the Son of God and obey his words but were also
planning to kill him.
Life messages: 1)
Let us become true disciples of Christ by believing in Christ’s teachings,
studying and mediating on his words in Holy Scripture and obeying his
commandment of love in our daily lives. 2) Let us seek Jesus’ help and the
guidance of the Holy Spirit that we may be freed from slavery to sins, evil
habits, attachments and addictions. 3) Let us grow in true Christian
discipleship by freely submitting our heart, mind, and will to an all-merciful,
all-loving, and all-wise God. (Fr. Tony) (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
March 25 Wednesday (The Annunciation of the Lord): (Lk 1: 26-38: 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 ..38… USCCB video reflections:
The context: Today’s Gospel tells us the story of the Annunciation, explaining how God began to keep the promise He had made to King David through the prophet Nathan, that David’s descendant would rule the world in an everlasting Kingdom.
The angel’s salutation to Mary: “Hail, full of grace,” reminds us of God’s words to Moses at the burning bush (Ex 3:12), and the angel’s salutation to Gideon, (Jgs 6:12). Mary is described as “full of grace,” filled with God’s favor and graciousness. She is the new Ark, a tent and temple. God is literally and physically in her, and, thus, she is the greater House of God promised to David. Mary’s question, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” is natural. That is why the angel reminds Mary, “Nothing is impossible with God.” The Lord God will “empower” her (“the Spirit will come upon you“), and “protect” her (“overshadow you“). In Luke’s narrative, Gabriel points out that the Child would not only be a distant grandson of David — he would be God’s own Son: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.” Mary does not require confirmation but responds in Faith. She agrees to carry out the Word Gabriel has addressed to her. Since Mary is really a true hearer and doer of the Word of God, she immediately makes a response with faith and trust. Mary thus became the virgin-mother who fulfills Isaiah 7:14 in a way that Isaiah could not have imagined. She is united with her son in carrying out the will of God (Psalm 40:8-9; Hebrews 10:7-9; Luke 1:38). The Annunciation touches both the Good News that God has become one like us so that we might become as God is, and the greater news that God, in the person of Jesus, has “paid the price” for achieving this end. When we pray the “Angelus” prayer three times a day, we gratefully remember the great gift of God’s Incarnation. When we pray the Rosary, we refer to the Incarnation fifty-three times — each time we pray the “Hail Mary” — and the first of the “Joyful mysteries” is the Annunciation, the Incarnation of Our Lord.
Life message: 1) We need to be humble instruments in the hand of God, trusting in His power and goodness, and Mary shows how an ordinary human being can reflect God in the ordinary circumstances of life. St. Augustine reminds us that God who created us without our permission cannot save us without our active cooperation. Hence, let us cooperate in the fulfillment of God’s plan for us with Mary’s trusting Faith and humility, through which she brought Jesus to the world, giving Him flesh and blood. Can we also bring Jesus to others in our day-to-day lives? Like Mary who brought God to us as Jesus our Savior, it is our duty to carry Jesus and bring him to the lives of others around us in love, mercy, forgiveness and service. “Let the soul of Mary be in each one of you to magnify the Lord. Let the spirit of Mary be in each one to exult in Christ.” (St. Ambrose). (Fr. Tony) (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
March 26th Friday: Jn
10:31-42: 31 The Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus
answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of
these do you stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work
that we stone you but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself
God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, `I said, you are
Gods’? 35 If he called them Gods to whom the word of God came (and scripture
cannot be broken), 36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent
into the world, `You are blaspheming,’ because I said, `I am the Son of God’?
37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if
I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may
know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39
Again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. 40 He went
away again across the Jordan to the place where John at first baptized, and
there he remained. 41 And many came to him; and they said, “John did no sign,
but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in
him there. USCCB video
homily:
The context: In
the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah laments over the false accusations
leveled against him by his friends and enemies. In the Gospel, Jesus refutes
the accusation of blasphemy and avoids the attempt at stoning him to death (the
Jewish punishment for blasphemy), by giving two proofs of his Divinity and
equality with God as the Son of God. Jesus was called a blasphemer when he
forgave the sins of the paralytic (Matthew 9:1-8). Later during his trial
before the Sanhedrin, the High Priest would do the same when Jesus solemnly
confessed his Divinity.
Two arguments supporting Jesus’ Divinity: 1) The Book of
Psalms, a book of Jewish Holy Scripture, reminds the Jewish judges of their high
dignity and consequent responsibility saying: “You are gods, sons of the
Most High” (Ps 82: 6) because they are commissioned by God to act in
the place of God in promoting His Justice. (God is reprimanding unjust judges
reminding them of their position and role). If they can be called sons of God,
Jesus argues, his saying, “I am consecrated and sent by God (meaning,
“Hence, I share the Divinity of God and claim it”), is not blasphemy but truth.
2) The truth that Jesus is the Son of God is supported also by the credentials
of his miracles. Jesus claims that it is his Father who does these miracles
through him. Hence, Jesus challenges his accusers to accept his deeds even if
they cannot accept his claim.
Life messages: 1)
By Baptism we are made children of God, heirs of Heaven and members of the
Trinitarian family of God. 2) We, too, are consecrated and commissioned by our
Baptism to bear witness to Jesus and his ideals.
(Fr. Tony) (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
March 27 Saturday: Jn 11: 45-56: 45 Many
of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did,
believed in him; 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what
Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council,
and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let
him go on thus, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and
destroy both our holy place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who
was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all; 50 you do
not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the
people, and that the whole nation should not perish.” 51 He did not say this of
his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus should
die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the
children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they took
counsel how to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore no longer went about openly
among the Jews but went from there to the country near the wilderness, to a
town called Ephraim; and there he stayed with the disciples. 55 Now the
Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to
Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for
Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you
think? That he will not come to the feast?” USCCB video homily; https://youtu.be/oFRjdMqH-vo?list=PLpTzvCOJa7DBazRWSYfhGFvBAEXHvO0Cq
The context: Today’s
Gospel gives the reaction of the High Priest and his associates when the news
about Jesus’ raising of Lazarus reached their ears. They convened a joint
council of priests and Pharisees to discuss the reaction of the people in favor
of Jesus.
Caiaphas held the High Priesthood from the year 18 to the
year 36 AD. It was the popular belief that when a High Priest asked for God’s
counsel for the nation of Israel, God would speak through him. God used
Caiaphas to prophesy the redemptive death of Jesus for the whole world when
Caiaphas said: “It is expedient for you that One Man should die instead
of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” Here,
Caiaphas’ words have two meanings: 1) Caiaphas meant he wanted to put Christ to
death on the pretext that that would ensure the political peace and survival of
Israel. 2) The Holy Spirit meant that the new Israel, the Kingdom of God, the
Church, would be founded through the death of Christ on the Cross, and that His
death would save not only Israel but “all the children of God who are scattered
abroad.” The prophets had already announced that the future assembly of
Israelites faithful to God would form the new people of Israel. These
prophecies were fulfilled by the death of Christ, Who, when raised up on the
cross, drew and gathered together the true people of God, composed of all
believers, whether Israelites or not.
Life messages: 1)
We are entering Holy Week tomorrow. It is in Holy Week that we gratefully
remember how Jesus died for the whole world. 2) Hence, these are days given us
that we may express our gratitude to Christ who died for our sins, by
repentance, by the renewal of our lives and by our preparation to celebrate
resurrection of our Lord. (Fr. Tony) (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
