March 23 Monday (St. Turibius of Mogrovejo, Bishop):
Catholic online video: https://youtu.be/qsbldkd-xSo Jn 4:43-54: 43
After the two days he departed to Galilee. 44 For Jesus himself testified that
a prophet has no honor in his own country. 45 So when he came to Galilee, the
Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the
feast, for they too had gone to the feast. 46 So he came again to Cana in
Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was a royal
official whose son was ill.
47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to
Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at
the point of death. 48 Jesus therefore said to him, “Unless you see signs and
wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down
before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man
believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. . [51]
As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was living.
[52] So he asked them the hour when he began to mend, and they said to him,
“Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” [53] The father knew that
was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live”; and he himself
believed, and all his household. [54] This was now the second sign that Jesus
did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. USCCB video reflections:
.The context: According to John’s Gospel,
after facing rejection by his hometown, Nazareth, Jesus went to Jerusalem in
Judea for the Passover feast. From Jerusalem, Jesus returned to Galilee and to
his headquarters, Capernaum, where people received him as a miracle-working
preacher and prophet. Today’s Gospel describes how Jesus did a
long-distance (telepathic) healing for the dying son of an official employed in
the royal court of king Herod.
Jesus was preaching at Cana, twenty miles away
from Capernaum. Herod’s officer came on horseback from
Capernaum to Cana urgently seeking Jesus’ presence for the healing of his dying
son. He was desperate enough to swallow his pride and make a public
request to a wandering preacher for this healing. Jesus’ critical
comment on the lack of belief in the Pharisees did not discourage the
official. With expectant Faith he pleaded with Jesus, reminding him
of the seriousness of the illness. So, Jesus told him, “Go; your
son will live.” With trusting Faith in the assurance Jesus had
given him, the officer rushed back toward his house. On the way there, he
received the good news that his son had been healed at the very time Jesus gave
his assurance. The officer was so grateful that he and the other
members of his family accepted Jesus as the promised Messiah without fearing
the ridicule of fellow-officers and friends.
Life message: 1) Miraculous healings can
take place in our lives, too, if we approach Jesus the healer with true
humility, trusting Faith, earnest prayer and the willingness to surrender
ourselves to God’s will. We have the unfailing word of Jesus to rely on,
nothing less. (Fr. Tony) (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
March 24 Tuesday: Jn 5:1-16: 1 After this
there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is
in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, which has
five porticoes. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame,
paralyzed.5 One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When
Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to
him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no
man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going
another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your
pallet, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet
and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who
was cured, “It is the Sabbath, it is not lawful for you to carry your pallet.”
11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me said to me, `Take up your
pallet, and walk.'” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, `Take
up your pallet, and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who
it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14
Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you are well!
Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you.” 15 The man went away and told the
Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews
persecuted Jesus, because he did this on the Sabbath. USCCB video
reflections:
The context: The Jews had three major feasts –
the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of Passover and the Feast of
Pentecost. Although only adult male Jews living within a 15
mile-radius of Jerusalem were bound to participate in the Passover feast, Jesus
went to Jerusalem as a practicing Jew. Today’s Gospel passage
describes how Jesus healed a paralyzed man who had been lying near the “Probatic”
pool of Bethesda (also called Bethzatha), for 38 years, hoping for a
healing when the water was miraculously stirred by an angel. Before granting
the healing, Jesus asked the paralytic if he wanted to be healed. The man
expressed his intense desire for healing and confessed his inability to crawl
to the pond in time. At once, Jesus gave the healing command, “Take up your
pallet, and walk,” and the man obeyed. The Pharisees
sternly told the healed man that he shouldn’t be carrying his mat as that the
day was the Sabbath. The man responded that his healer had told him to but
was unable to identify Jesus as that healer when they asked. Later,
when Jesus caught up with former paralytic in the Temple and warned him, “See,
you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you!” the former
paralytic recognized that it was Jesus who had healed him and reported the fact
to the Jews who had earlier questioned him about carrying his mat.
Life message: 1) We too will experience miracles
in our lives when we approach God with trusting Faith in His power to do the
impossible and in His mercy for His children. But we need to express our desire
to Him with persevering and fervent prayers (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 26 Thursday: Jn 5:31-47: If I testify
on my own behalf, my testimony cannot be verified. But there is another who
bears witness to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears to me is
true. 33 You sent emissaries to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34
Not that the testimony which I receive is from man; but I say this that you may
be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice
for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony which I have is greater than
that of John; for the works which the Father has granted me to accomplish,
these very works which I am doing, bear me witness that the Father has
sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His
voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen; 38 and you do not
have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe him whom he has sent. 39
You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal
life; and it is they that bear witness to me; 40 yet you refuse to
come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from men. 42 But I
know that you have not the love of God within you. 43 … ..47 USCCB
video reflections:
The context: In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus
defends His Messianic claims. The Jews demanded proofs for Jesus’
Messianic claims, quoting Dt 19:15 which requires two or three witnesses to
substantiate a person’s claims. Hence, Jesus presents four witnesses who
approved His Messianic and Divine claims: John the Baptist, his own
miracles, his Heavenly Father, and the Sacred Scriptures of the Old
Testament.
1) John the Baptist, whom many Jews considered a prophet,
bore witness to Jesus as the “Lamb of God” and the Holy One whose paths he had
come to prepare. 2) The miracles Jesus worked could only have been
done by the power of God his Father. 3) God the Father attested to the
Divinity of Jesus at Jesus’ Baptism (cfr. Jn 1:31-34); at the Transfiguration
(cfr. Matthew 17:1-8), and later, in the presence of the whole crowd (cfr. John
12:28-30). 4) The books of the Old Testament, namely the Law and the
Prophets, bear testimony to Jesus’ Divine and Messianic claims. It was the
Spirit of God Who prompted the prophets of the Old Testament to write their
Messianic prophecies. Then Jesus identifies three obstacles which
prevented the Jews from recognizing him as the Messiah and Son of God: 1) their
lack of love of God, 2) their striving after human glory, and 3) their
prejudiced interpretation of Sacred texts and lack of faith in Moses and the
prophets.
Life message: When we have doubts about Faith
and the Church’s teachings we need to 1) read the Bible with trusting Faith;
2) pray for an increase of Faith; 3) learn the teachings of
the Church, starting with the Catechism of the Catholic Church and
the official documents of the Church; 4) accept the mysteries of our Faith,
relying on the Divine Authority and veracity of Jesus; and
5) examine how strong our own Christian testimony is.
Does our life reflect the light of Christ so much that it brings light to the
darkness in others? (Fr. Tony) (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
March 27 Friday: Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30: Judea,
because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jews’ feast of Tabernacles was
at hand. 10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went
up, not publicly but in private. 25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore
said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking
openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know
that this is the Christ? 27 Yet we know where this man comes from; and when the
Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” 28 So Jesus proclaimed,
as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from? But I
have not come of my own accord; he who sent me is true, and him you do not
know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” 30 So they sought to
arrest him; but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet
come. USCCB video reflections:
The context: Today’s Gospel passage describes
Jesus’ secret journey to Jerusalem to participate in the Feast of Tabernacles
(Booths), amid rumors of his possible arrest. But Jesus courageously
made his public appearance in the crowd in Jerusalem and started teaching in
the Temple. Naturally, people started wondering why the authorities
did not arrest him.
Jesus’ Messianic claim and the Jewish reaction: Jesus
made two unique and seemingly blasphemous claims. 1) He claimed that he was the
Messiah, God’s Anointed One. 2) Jesus made the additional claim that
only he knew God as He is because Jesus had come from God. By this
claim Jesus contradicted the Jewish belief that they had the perfect and final
revelation of God given through Moses and the prophets. In addition,
Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah, and the “Son of Man” prophesied by Daniel, with
exclusive and intimate knowledge of God was, they thought, nothing but
blasphemy. The Jews argued that a mere carpenter-turned- wandering-preacher
from Nazareth could not be the Messiah because nobody was supposed to know
where the Messiah would come from. According to Jewish belief, the
Messiah would emerge quite unexpectedly from Mount Olivet, cross the Kedron
Valley, enter the city of Jerusalem, be anointed by Elijah the prophet, take
possession of the City and the Temple and establish His Messianic kingdom.
Life messages: 1) Like the Jews, we, too,
can be prejudiced and occasionally refuse to accept and follow the
teachings of the Church. We need to have the humility to honor the
teaching authority of the Church and its guidance by the Holy
Spirit. 2) We need to accept Jesus as our Lord and personal
Savior, experience him through prayer and the Sacramental life and surrender
our lives to him. 3) Like the Jews who expected the surprise
appearance of a super-human Messiah we, too, show the tendency to seek God only
in miraculous and extraordinary events, ignoring His presence within us and in
everyone around us. (Fr. Tony) (http://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/20
March 28 Saturday: Jn 7:40-53: 40 When they
heard these words, some of the people said, “This is really the prophet.” 41
Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from
Galilee? 42 Has not the scripture said that the Christ is descended from David,
and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” 43 So there was a
division among the people over him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but
no one laid hands on him. 45 The officers then went back to the chief priests
and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” 46 The officers
answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!” 47 The Pharisees answered them,
“Are you led astray, you also? 48 Have any of the authorities or of the
Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, who do not know the law, are
accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them,
said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing
and learning what he does?” 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search
and you will see that no prophet is to rise from Galilee.” 53 They went each to
his own house. USCCB video reflections:
The context: Today’s Gospel describes the
reaction of the people, the Pharisees, the Temple police, and Nicodemus, the
Sanhedrin member, to Jesus’ pubic claim to be the promised Messiah and
the “Son of Man” prophesied by Daniel.
The common people say that Jesus probably is the expected
Messiah because of His authoritative teaching and authentic miracles. But the
Pharisees, the Scribes and the Jewish priests can only see Jesus as a Galilean
from Nazareth, and they argue from Scripture that the real Messiah must be born
in David’s family in Bethlehem. The Temple police, whom they have
sent to arrest Jesus, report that they have not arrested Jesus because, “nobody
ever spoke like Him.” They are impressed by Jesus’ wisdom and
authoritative teaching. Nicodemus, a prominent member of the supreme council of
the Jews defends Jesus, demanding that the Sanhedrin give Jesus a fair trial
before they have Him punished for blasphemy on unfounded claims.
Life messages: 1) We believe in Jesus’ teachings
based on His authority as God. We believe in the Sacred Scriptures based on the
teaching authority Jesus gave to Peter and his successors. Since
Jesus and His Apostles believed in the Old Testament Books as the inspired word
of God, and since the Church teaches the same thing, we, too, believe them to
be the real word of God, and we follow the instructions given in the Bible.
Hence, we need to follow the Bible as the guide of our Christian life and
accept the traditional interpretation given to the word of God by the teaching
authority in the Church.
2) Today we Christians are also “a sign of contradiction,”
as Simeon described Jesus, because we are different and challenging when we
stand for Christ and choose His teachings while others reject
them. We need to have, and act on, the courage of our Christian
convictions.
(Fr. Tony) (http://frtonyshomilies.com/)