March 23-28: March 23 Monday: St. Turibius of Mogrovejo, Bishop: https://saint-of-the-day-saint-turIbius-of-mogrovejo-bishop

Jn 8:1-11: [They went each to his own house] 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.”

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, (but not her partner), 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 refused, 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 anymore, 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 (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26 For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/

March 24 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. Additional reflections: Click on https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections.

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 Moses’ bronze serpent, a symbol of God’s benevolent saving will, exercised toward His wayward, now repentant, children. Just as the complaining Israelites in the desert were healed and saved from the serpent bites by looking at the bronze serpent lifted on the pole, Jesus, too, would be lifted on a cross 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, for to do so would be a violation of our free will. He gave us free will so that we might love Him and each other freely, or, sadly and foolisly, reject Him and each other in equal freedom. Hence, let us cooperate in the fulfilment 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 (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L-26.

Additional reflections: Click on https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections.

March 25 Wednesday: The Annunciation of the Lord: For a brief account, click here: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/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…

The Solemnity of the Annunciation is celebrated nine months before the Nativity of the Lord, a feast which came about earlier historically. The Annunciation recalls the day when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary and revealed God’s will that she become the Mother of the Son of God, and she consented. At that moment, the “Word became Flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). This Solemnity is called “Little Christmas” because it commemorates the great day when God entered our world through the Incarnation. This is a joyful annunciation because it is aimed towards our salvation. Ven. Fulton J. Sheen in his book, Life of Christ, says, “Divinity is always where one least expects to find it” (Life of Christ, p. 27). It was Mother Mary’s humility and sincere heart that made her worthy to be the mother of the creator. Every day, similar annunciations happen. Usually, doctors make an announcement of pregnancy of would-be mothers. Then, mothers will announce the news to their husbands and other relatives. Usually, this is a moment of joy and excitement.

Historical note: The Eastern Church started celebrating the feast of the Annunciation in the 5th century, probably about the time of the Council of Ephesus in AD 431. It is mentioned between AD 530 and 533 by Abraham of Ephesus. In the Western Church the first authentic reference is found in the 7th century, fixing it on March 25th, exactly nine months before Christmas.

Today’s readings explain how God began to keep His promises: 1) to Adam and Eve, (Gen 3-15), that He would send them a redeemer, 2) to King David through the prophet Nathan (II Sam 7:12-16) that his lineal descendant would rule the world in an everlasting kingdom, and 3) to King Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah (Is 7:10-14, 8:10,; today’s first reading) that a virgin would bear a son whose name would be Emmanuel God-with-us). The second reading (Heb 10:4-10) explains the purpose of the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the only-begotten Son of God, as Jesus, the Christ (Messiah) of God, doing, in the most perfect obedience, the will of God his Father by suffering the torture and shameful death of the worst criminals, Roman crucifixion, which would result in the glory of Jesus’ Resurrection. The Gospel shows us the Annunciation scene and Mary’s obedient “Yes” to the will of God. We need to be doers of the Word, respondint to God through His messengers as Mary did: This feast is a reminder to us of the importance of following God’s will. It is His will which should prevail more than our own or anyone else’s will. God knows what is best for us. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph all lived by following God’s will, and we need to do the same. Reflecting on the Annunciation event, St. Augustine reminds us, “God created us without our permission, but He will save us only with our consent and permission, by co-operating with His Holy will,” through obedient co-operation in all things.

2) We need to be grateful to God for His love and Mercy as Mary was. As we are created in the image and likeness of God through His creative Word speaking us into being, so we have become God’s adopted children through Jesus Christ through the grace of Baptism and not by our own unaided efforts. For this reason we, too, step back and recognize God as GOD, and humbly, gratefully, give Him all our thanks and love for the great privilege of being, and living as, His adopted childen

3) We need to be humble instruments in the hands of God by allowing Jesus to be reborn in us, to radiate Jesus goodness and love all around us as agape love, and to ask for (and use!) the great grace of always saying a generous and courageous “Yes!” to God in our everyday choices, and, at the same time, appreciating God’s plan for us in every event of our life.

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

March 26 Thursday; Jn 8:51-59: 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if any one keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, `If any one keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you claim to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is your God. 55 But you have not known him; I know him. If I said, I do not know him, I should be a liar like you; but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he was to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” 57 The Jews then said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they took up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.

The context: In today’s Gospel, Jesus surprises and infuriates the Jews by the blinding lightning and deafening thunder of his Divine claims. First, Jesus claimed that one who kept his words would not die because his words were God’s words. But the Jews responded, arguing that even a great man of Faith, like Abraham who kept God’s words, had died. Next Jesus claimed that he had unique knowledge of God because he came from God. But the Jews believed that God had revealed everything about Himself through the Torah. Third, Jesus claimed a unique obedience to God, his Father, because he thought, spoke, and acted as God wished. But the Jews believed that their fathers and prophets had obeyed God perfectly. Fourth, Jesus claimed that he was not limited by time and, hence, that he was there with God even before Abraham, and that Abraham had seen Jesus’ “day, and he was glad.” But the Jews believed that Abraham had been given a vision of the entire history of Israel including the vision of the Messiah. At this last claim, the Jews attempted to stone Jesus for blasphemy. But Jesus escaped.

Life message: 1) We need to put our trust in Jesus because of His claims of Divinity. If we believe that we will receive eternal life by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we need to live out our belief by obeying him. 2) As God, Jesus is present in all areas of our lives, so we need to talk to him about everything and listen to him always. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L/26For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

March 27 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.

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 (Mt 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 as proof that the Lord God is working through him in his miraculouir actions and accept him as God’s Man on that account, 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 God, through our Baptism, to bear witness to Jesus’ Divinity by living out Jesus’ teachings and displaying Jesus’ ideals. Fr. Tony (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L-26

For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections

March 28 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?”

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 session of the Council to consider the matter. [Lectio
Divina: To understand this reaction of one part of the population, it is
necessary to become aware that half of the population of Jerusalem depended
completely on the Temple for their lives and survival. Because of this, it
would have been difficult for them to support an unknown prophet from
Galilee who criticized the Temple and the religious authorities. This also
explains why some were ready even to inform the authorities. They were afraid
of the Romans, because in the past it had been shown many times, by the Roman
invasions in the year 64 before Christ until the time of Jesus, that the Romans
repressed with great violence any attempt at popular rebellion. (Cf. Acts
5:35-37). In the case of Jesus, the Roman reaction could have led to the loss
of everything, even of the Temple, of the privileged position and monitary
benefits (Temple coinage; money changing) that came to  the priests and those  benefits they had negotiated for their young
men (no military servicem among them)]. Caiaphas, who led the Council, had 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 Jesus’ death 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 Jesus’ 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 all things to himself” 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) These are days given us by God so 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 (https://frtonyshomilies.com/) L-26 For additional reflections, click on: https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video; https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/daily-reflections/; https://www.epriest.com/reflections