March 1
Saturday

3rd Week of Lent

First Reading: Hos 6:1-6

Come, let us return to Yahweh.
He who shattered us to pieces, will heal us as well;
he has struck us down, but he will bind up our wounds.
Two days later he will bring us back to life;
on the third day, he will raise us up,
and we shall live in his presence.
Let us strive to know Yahweh.
His coming is as certain as the dawn;
his judgment will burst forth like the light;
he will come to us as showers come,
like spring rain that waters the earth.
O Ephraim, what shall I do with you?
O Judah, how shall I deal with you?
This love of yours is like morning mist,
like morning dew that quickly disappears.
This is why I smote you through the prophets,
and have slain you by the words of my mouth.
For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice;
it is knowledge of God, not burnt offerings.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab
It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice.

Gospel Reading: Lk 18:9-14

Jesus told another parable to some persons fully convinced of their own righteousness, who looked down on others, "Two men went up to the Temple to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and said: 'I thank you, God, that I am not like other people, grasping, crooked, adulterous, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give the tenth of all my income to the Temple.'
"In the meantime the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast saying: 'O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'
"I tell you, when this man went down to his house, he had been set right with God, but not the other. For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be raised."

Commentary
Being humble means being "down to earth," well aware of who you are and where you stand before God. One who admits that he is a sinner and in need of God's mercy is much closer to heaven than the one who is self-righteous.
The "Jesus Prayer" is a proven remedy against self-righteousness. "Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner." This simple prayer can be prayed as a mantra throughout the day, and is a way of remembering where we stand before God. If we admit our sins and cry out for God's mercy we will never be disappointed.

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March 2
Sunday

4th Sunday of Lent

First Reading: 1 S 16:1, 6-7, 10-13

In those days Yahweh asked Samuel, "How long will you be grieving over Saul whom I have rejected as king of Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way to Jesse the Bethlehemite for I have chosen my king from among his sons."
As they came, Samuel looked at Eliab the older and thought, "This must be Yahweh's anointed." But Yahweh told Samuel, "Do not judge by his looks or his stature for I have rejected him. Yahweh does not judge as man judges; humans see with the eyes; Yahweh sees the heart."
Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel who said, "Yahweh has chosen none of them. But are all your sons here?" Jesse replied, "There is still the youngest, tending the flock just now." Samuel said to him, "Send for him and bring him to me; we shall not sit down to eat until he arrives." So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him to Samuel. He was a handsome lad with ruddy complexion and beautiful eyes. And Yahweh spoke, "Go, anoint him for he is the one." Samuel then took the horn of oil and anointed him in his brothers' presence. From that day onwards, Yahweh's Spirit took hold of David.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Second Reading: Eph 5:8-14

Brothers and sisters, you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Behave as children of light; the fruits of light are kindness, justice and truth in every form.
You yourselves search out what pleases the Lord, and take no part in works of darkness that are of no benefit; expose them instead. Indeed it is a shame even to speak of what those people do in secret, but as soon as it is exposed to the light, everything becomes clear. And what has become clear becomes light. Therefore it is said: "Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead that the light of Christ may shine on you."

Gospel Reading: Jn 9:1-41 (or 1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38)

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. He made paste with spittle and clay and rubbed it on the eyes of the blind man. Then he said, "Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam." (This name means sent.) So he went and washed and came back able to see.
His neighbors and all the people who used to see him begging, wondered. They said, "Isn't this the beggar who used to sit here?" Some said, "It's the one." Others said, "No, but he looks like him." But the man himself said, "I am the one."
The people brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made mud paste and opened his eyes. The Pharisees asked him again, "How did you recover your sight?" And he said, "He put paste on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he works on the sabbath"; but others wondered, "How can a sinner perform such miraculous signs?" They were divided and they questioned the blind man again, "What do you think of this man who opened your eyes?" And he answered, "He is a prophet."
They answered him, "You were born a sinner and now you teach us!" And they expelled him.
Jesus heard that they had expelled him. He found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "Who is he, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said, "You have seen him and he is speaking to you." He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him.

Commentary
Scientists tell us that seeing is a learned activity. The rods and cones in the eyes of a baby slowly adjust themselves so that the outside world is seen with increasing clarity.
The restoration of sight to the man born blind is a miracle of a high order. Jesus takes away the physical impediment to the man's sight, and also teaches him how to see.
This gift of sight is something for which we pray during the Lenten season. We pray for greater insight into the will of the Lord, and for the ability to see more clearly the needs of other people in our lives.

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March 3
Monday

4th Week of Lent
Katharine Drexel

First Reading: Is 65:17-21

I now create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind again.
Be glad forever and rejoice in what I create; for I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people.
The sound of distress and the voice of weeping will not be heard in it any more.
You will no longer know of dead children or of adults who do not live out a lifetime. One who reaches a hundred years will have died a mere youth, but one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.
They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant crops and eat their fruit.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 30:2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12a and 13b
I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Gospel Reading: Jn 4:43-54

In those days Jesus left Samaria for Galilee. Jesus himself said that no prophet is recognized in his own country. Yet the Galileans welcomed him when he arrived, because of all the things he had done in Jerusalem during the Festival and which they had seen. For they, too, had gone to the feast.
Jesus went back to Cana of Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. At Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill, and when he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked him to come and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.
Jesus said, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe!" The official said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." And Jesus replied, "Go, your son is living."
The man had faith in the word that Jesus spoke to him and went his way. He was already going down the hilly road when his servants met him with this news, "Your son has recovered!" So he asked them at what hour the child had begun to recover and they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday in the afternoon about one o'clock." And the father realized that it was the time when Jesus told him, "Your son is living." And he became a believer, he and all his family.
Jesus performed this second miraculous sign when he returned from Judea to Galilee.

Commentary
This second sign or miracle that Jesus performs is closely related to his first, the changing of water into wine. In the first miracle, Jesus effects a great change upon the substance of water. In the second, Jesus changes the body of a dying child into one that is full of life and vigor.
We rightly ask the Lord to effect such a change upon us: giving life to our drooping spirits, restoring health to our souls through the forgiveness of our sins. The Lord, who changed water into wine, is more than capable of effecting great change within our hearts.

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March 4
Tuesday

4th Week of Lent
Casimir

First Reading: Ezk 47:1-9, 12

The man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple and I saw water coming out from the threshold of the Temple and flowing eastwards. The Temple faced the east and the water flowed from the south side of the Temple, from the south side of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing the east and there I saw the stream coming from the south side.
The man had a measuring cord in his hand. As he went towards the east he measured off a thousand cubits and led me across the water which was up to my ankles. He measured off another thousand cubits and made me cross the water which came to my knees. He measured off another thousand cubits and we crossed the water which was up to my waist. When he had again measured a thousand cubits, I could not cross the torrent for it had swollen to a depth which was impossible to cross without swimming.
The man then said to me, "Son of man, did you see?" He led me on further and then brought me back to the bank of the river. There I saw a number of trees on both sides of the river. He said to me, "This water goes to the east, down to the Arabah, and when it flows into the sea of foul-smelling water, the water will become wholesome. Wherever the river flows, swarms of creatures will live in it; fish will be plentiful and the sea water will become fresh. Wherever it flows, life will abound.
Near the river on both banks there will be all kinds of fruit trees with foliage that will not wither and fruit that will never fail; each month they will bear a fresh crop because the water comes from the Temple. The fruit will be good to eat and the leaves will be used for healing.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

Gospel Reading: Jn 5:1-16 (or 5:1-3, 5-16)

There was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now, by the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, there is a pool (called Bethzatha in Hebrew) surrounded by five galleries. In these galleries lay a multitude of sick people-blind, lame and paralyzed.
There was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him, and since he knew how long this man had been lying there, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" And the sick man answered, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; so while I am still on my way, another steps down before me."
Jesus then said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his mat and walked.
Now that day happened to be the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had just been healed, "It is the Sabbath and the Law doesn't allow you to carry your mat." He answered them, "The one who healed me said to me: Take up your mat and walk." They asked him, "Who is the one who said to you: Take up your mat and walk?" But the sick man had no idea who it was who had cured him, for Jesus had slipped away among the crowd that filled the place.
Afterwards Jesus met him in the Temple court and told him, "Now you are well; don't sin again, lest something worse happen to you." And the man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. So the Jews persecuted Jesus because he performed healings like that on the Sabbath.

Commentary
How ironic that the man asks to be put in the waters that might possibly heal his affliction, without knowing that he was speaking with the One who would most definitely restore his ability to walk.
The Lord Jesus stands ready to heal the wounds that sin has caused us and to restore us to spiritual health. We need only to turn away from the false promises of this world and to trust that He is indeed the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Freed from sin through the grace of the Lord, we can truly walk as sons and daughters of God.

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March 5
Wednesday

4th Week of Lent

First Reading: Is 49:8-15

This is what Yahweh says:
"At a favorable time I have answered you, on the day of salvation I have been your help; I have formed you and made you to be my covenant with the people.
You will restore the land, and allot its abandoned farms. You will say to the captives: Come out; and to those in darkness: Show yourselves.
They will feed along the road; they will find pasture on barren hills. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the scorching wind or the sun beat upon them; for he who has mercy on them will guide them and lead them to springs of water.
I will will turn all my mountains into roads and raise up my highways.
See, they come from afar, some from the north and west, others from the land of Sinim."
Sing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth;
break forth into song, O mountains:
for Yahweh has comforted his people
and taken pity on those who are afflicted.
But Zion said: "Yahweh has forsaken me,
my Lord has forgotten me."
Can a woman forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child of her womb?
Yet though she forget, I will never forget you.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 145:8-9, 13cd-14, 17-18
The Lord is gracious and merciful.

Gospel Reading: Jn 5:17-30

Jesus said to the Jews, "My Father goes on working and so do I." And the Jews tried all the harder to kill him, for Jesus not only broke the Sabbath observance, but also made himself equal with God, calling him his own Father.
Jesus said to them, "Truly, I assure you, the Son cannot do anything by himself, but only what he sees the Father do. And whatever he does, the Son also does. The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does; and he will show him even greater things than these, so that you will be amazed.
"As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to whom he wills. In the same way the Father judges no one, for he has entrusted all judgment to the Son, and he wants all to honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever ignores the Son, ignores as well the Father who sent him.
"Truly, I say to you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; and there is no judgment for him because he has passed from death to life. Truly, the hour is coming and has indeed come, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and, on hearing it, will live. For the Father has life in himself and he has given to the Son also to have life in himself. And he has empowered him as well to carry out Judgment, for he is a son of man.
"Do not be surprised at this: the hour is coming when all those lying in tombs will hear my voice and come out; those who have done good shall rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.
"I can do nothing of myself, and I need to hear Another One to judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will, but the will of him who sent me."

Commentary
Death is the great unknown. Even the mention of the subject makes many of us uncomfortable. We simply cannot know from our own experience what will await us on the other side of this life.
Those who follow Jesus know from Him that we need not fear death. He is the Lord of life, and death has no power over Him, nor does it have power over those who trust in Him.
We do well to remember that this life will pass all too quickly, and that we all must face the inevitable moment of death. With Jesus in our lives, we need not fear.

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March 6
Thursday

4th Week of Lent

First Reading: Ex 32:7-14

Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them and have made for themselves a molten calf; they have bowed down before it and sacrificed to it and said: 'These are your gods, Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.'" And Yahweh said to Moses, "I see that these people are a stiff-necked people. Now just leave me that my anger may blaze against them. I will destroy them, but of you I will make a great nation."
But Moses calmed the anger of Yahweh, his God, and said, "Why, O Yahweh, should your anger burst against your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with a mighty hand? Let not the Egyptians say: 'Yahweh brought them out with evil intent, for he wanted to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth.' Turn away from the heat of your anger and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the promise you yourself swore: I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land I spoke about I will give to them as an everlasting inheritance." Yahweh then changed his mind and would not yet harm his people.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 106:19-20, 21-22, 23
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Gospel Reading: Jn 5:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews, "If I bore witness to myself, my testimony would be worthless. But Another One is bearing witness to me and I know that his testimony is true when he bears witness to me. John also bore witness to the truth when you sent messengers to him, but I do not seek such human testimony; I recall this for you, so that you may be saved.
"John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were willing to enjoy his light. But I have greater evidence than that of John-the works which the Father entrusted to me to carry out. The very works I do bear witness: the Father has sent me. Thus he who bears witness to me is the Father who sent me. You have never heard his voice and have never seen his likeness; then, as long as you do not believe his messenger, his word is not in you.
"You search in the Scriptures thinking that in them you will find life; yet Scripture bears witness to me. But you refuse to come to me, that you may live. I am not seeking human praise; but I have known that love of God is not within you, for I have come in my Father's name and you do not accept me. If another comes in his own name, you will accept him. As long as you seek praise from one another instead of seeking the glory coming from the only God, how can you believe?"
"Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father. Moses himself in whom you placed your hope, accuses you. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?"

Commentary
We believe a person only if he or she is trustworthy. Someone who has betrayed our trust in the past will probably find us skeptical of anything that person might say.
We believe that the words of Jesus are true because He has proven Himself to be altogether reliable. We have no reason to doubt His promises, because He never leaves disappointed anyone who believes in Him.
Place your trust in the things of this world and you will find disappointment and sadness. Trust in the Lord in all things and find peace, for His word can be trusted beyond a shadow of a doubt.

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March 7
Friday

4th Week of Lent
Perpetua and Felicity

First Reading: Wis 2:1a, 12-22

Led by mistaken reasons they think, "Life is short and sad and there is no cure for death. It was never heard that anyone came back from the netherworld.
Let us set a trap for the righteous, for he annoys us and opposes our way of life; he reproaches us for our breaches of the Law and accuses us of being false to our upbringing.
He claims knowledge of God and calls himself son of the Lord. He has become a reproach to our way of thinking; even to meet him is burdensome to us. He does not live like others and behaves strangely.
According to him we have low standards, so he keeps aloof from us as if we were unclean. He emphasizes the happy end of the righteous and boasts of having God as father.
Let us see the truth of what he says and find out what his end will be. If the righteous is a son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from his adversaries.
Let us humble and torture him to prove his self-control and test his patience. When we have condemned him to a shameful death, we may test his words."
This is the way they reason, but they are mistaken, blinded by their malice. They do not know the mysteries of God nor do they hope for the reward of a holy life; they do not believe that the blameless will be recompensed.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

Gospel Reading: Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Jesus went around Galilee; he would not go about in Judea because the Jews wanted to kill him. Now the Jewish feast of the Tents was at hand.
But after his brothers had gone to the festival, he also went up, not publicly but in secret.
Some of the people of Jerusalem said, "Is this not the man they want to kill? And here he is speaking freely, and they don't say a word to him? Can it be that the rulers know that this is really the Christ? Yet we know where this man comes from; but when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from."
So Jesus announced in a loud voice in the Temple court where he was teaching, "You say that you know me and know where I come from! I have not come of myself; I was sent by the One who is true, and you don't know him. I know him for I come from him and he sent me."
They would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him because his time had not yet come.

Commentary
As the season of Lent moves forward, the scripture readings focus more attentively upon the Passion that awaits the Lord in Jerusalem. The leaders of the people are plotting to kill Jesus, and they will not rest until that is accomplished.
Jesus, for His part, continues His mission in spite of the risks. He knows that His life is all about accomplishing the purpose for which His Father sent Him: to offer His life as the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. Nothing will stop Him from His mission. He moves forward to the cross with determination, such is His great love for each of us.

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March 8
Saturday

4th Week of Lent
John of God

First Reading: Jer 11:18-20

Yahweh made it known to me and so I know! And you let me see their scheming: "Take care, even your kinsfolk and your own family are false with you and behind your back they freely criticize you. Do not trust them when they approach you in a friendly way."
But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me that they were plotting, "Let us feed him with trials and remove him from the land of the living and let his name never be mentioned again."
Yahweh, God of hosts, you who judge with justice and know everyone's heart and intentions, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12
O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

Gospel Reading: Jn 7:40-53

Many who had been listening to these words began to say, "This is the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some wondered, "Would the Christ come from Galilee? Doesn't Scripture say that the Christ is a descendant of David and from Bethlehem, the city of David?" The crowd was divided over him. Some wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
The officers of the Temple went back to the chief priests who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him?" The officers answered, "No one ever spoke like this man." The Pharisees then said, "So you, too, have been led astray! Have any of the rulers or any of the Pharisees believed in him? Only these cursed people, who have no knowledge of the Law!"
Yet one of them, Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier, spoke out, "Does our law condemn people without first hearing them and knowing the facts?" They replied, "Do you, too, come from Galilee? Look it up and see for yourself that no prophet is to come from Galilee."
And they all went home.

Commentary
Those who would do Jesus harm lie in wait, plotting their evil schemes against Him. Their hearts are hardened and they will not rest until their work is complete.
When reading this passage from the Bible, we are reminded that we are players in the story. Our sinful words and deeds make us active participants in the crucifixion of Jesus, for He dies not only at the hands of Pharisees and Romans, but through our own sinfulness.
May we repent of our sins and ask for the mercy of the Lord, mercy that is freely given in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

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March 9
Sunday

5th Sunday of Lent

First Reading: Ezk 37:12-14

This is what Yahweh says, "I am going to open your tombs, I shall bring you out of your tombs, my people, and lead you back to the land of Israel. You will know that I am Yahweh, O my people! when I open your graves and bring you out of your graves, when I put my spirit in you and you live. I shall settle you in your land and you will know that I, Yahweh, have done what I said I would do."

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

Second Reading: Rom 8:8-11

Brothers and sisters, those walking according to the flesh cannot please God.
Yet your existence is not in the flesh, but in the spirit, because the Spirit of God is within you. If you did not have the Spirit of Christ, you would not belong to him. But Christ is within you; though the body is branded by death as a consequence of sin, the spirit is life and holiness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is within you, He who raised Jesus Christ from among the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies. Yes, he will do it through his Spirit who dwells within you.

Gospel Reading: Jn 11:1-45 (or 3-7, 17, 20-27, 33-45)

There was a sick man named Lazarus who was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was the same Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was sick.
So the sisters sent this message to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." On hearing this Jesus said, "This illness will not end in death; rather it is for God's glory and the Son of God will be glorified through it."
It is a fact that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus; yet, after he heard of the illness of Lazarus, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Only then did he say to his disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." They replied, "Master, recently the Jews wanted to stone you. Are you going there again?" Jesus said to them, "Are not twelve working hours needed to complete a day? Those who walk in the daytime shall not stumble, for they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, for there is no light in them."
After that Jesus said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going to wake him." The disciples replied, "Lord, a sick person who sleeps will recover." But Jesus had referred to Lazarus' death, while they thought that he had meant the repose of sleep. So Jesus said plainly, "Lazarus is dead and for your sake I am glad I was not there, for now you may believe. But let us go there, where he is." Then Thomas called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go that we may die with him."
When Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. As Bethany is near Jerusalem, about two miles away, many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to offer consolation at their brother's death.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him while Mary remained sitting in the house. And she said to Jesus, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus said, "Your brother will rise again."
Martha replied, "I know that he will rise in the resurrection, at the last day." But Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection; whoever believes in me, though he die, shall live. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
Martha then answered, "Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world." After that Martha went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, "The Master is here and is calling for you." As soon as Mary heard this, she rose and went to him. Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him….
As for Mary, when she came…fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." …Then he asked, "Where have you laid him?" They answered, "Lord, come and see." And Jesus wept. The Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "If he could open the eyes of the blind man, could he not have kept this man from dying?"
Jesus was deeply moved again and drew near to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across it. Jesus ordered, "Take the stone away." Martha said to him, "Lord, by now he will smell, for this is the fourth day." Jesus replied, "Have I not told you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" So they removed the stone. Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you for you have heard me. I knew that you hear me always; but my prayer was for the sake of these people, that they may believe that you sent me." When Jesus had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"
The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips and his face wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, "Untie him and let him go."
Many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw what he did.

Commentary
Jesus liberates Lazarus from the darkness of the tomb and restores him to the loving arms of his family. Yet Lazarus is not spared the finality of death. He lives, only to face the inevitability of death sometime in the future.
Through His resurrection, Jesus gives to us something far greater than the gift He gave to Lazarus. By rising victorious over sin and death, Jesus extends to us the promise of eternal life. Death has no more power over Him. And death has no more power over those who believe that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

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March 10
Monday

5th Week of Lent

First Reading: Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62

There lived in Babylon a man named Joakim, married to a very beautiful God-fearing woman, Susanna. A very rich man and greatly respected by all the Jews, Joakim was frequently visited, in his house adjoining a garden.
After the people had left at noon, Susanna would go into her husband's garden for a walk. The two old men began to lust for her as they watched her enter the garden every day. Their lust grew all the more.
One day, Susanna entered the garden, with two maids. She decided to bathe. Nobody else was there except the two elders where they had hidden themselves. She said to the maids, "Bring me oil and ointments, and shut the garden doors while I bathe."
When the maids had left, the two elders hurried to her and said, "Look, the garden doors are shut and no one sees us. We desire to possess you. If you refuse to give in, we will testify that you sent your maids away for there was a young man here with you."
Susanna moaned, "Whatever I do, I am trapped. I would rather be persecuted than sin in the eyes of the Lord." Susanna shrieked, but the old men shouted, putting the blame on her. The household servants rushed in.
The next day a meeting was held at Joakim's house. They ordered, "Send for Susanna, Hilkiah's daughter and Joakim's wife."
The elders started making their accusation." The assembly took their word, since they were elders and judges of the people. Susanna was condemned to death. She cried aloud, "Eternal God, nothing is hidden from you. Would you let me die, though I am not guilty?"
The Lord heard her. God aroused the holy spirit residing in a young lad named Daniel. He shouted, "I will have no part in the death of this woman!" Those present turned to him, "What did you say?"

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

Gospel Reading: Jn 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak Jesus appeared in the Temple again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them.
Then the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They made her stand in front of everyone. "Master," they said, "this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now the Law of Moses orders that such women be stoned to death; but you, what do you say?" They said this to test Jesus, in order to have some charge against him.
Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. And as they continued to ask him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who has no sin be the first to throw a stone at her." And he bent down again, writing on the ground.
As a result of these words, they went away, one by one, starting with the elders, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Then Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go away and don't sin again."

Commentary
Some speculate that Our Lord was writing the words, "Where is the man?" She had been singled out as a public sinner, while a man shared in the guilt of that sin. In fact, everyone in the group was guilty of violating God's law in some manner.
Jesus extends His mercy to this poor woman, just as He freely grants His forgiveness and pardon to every poor sinner who calls upon His name. May we never shy away from the Lord, who gives us the beautiful Sacrament of Penance through which we can find forgiveness for our sins.

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March 11
Tuesday

5th Week of Lent

First Reading: Num 21:4-9

From Mount Hor the Israelites set out by the Red Sea road to go around the land of Edom. The people were discouraged by the journey and began to complain against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is neither bread nor water here and we are disgusted with this tasteless manna."
Yahweh then sent fiery serpents against them. They bit the people and many of the Israelites died. Then the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, speaking against Yahweh and against you. Plead with Yahweh to take the serpents away."
Moses pleaded for the people and Yahweh said to him, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a standard; whoever has been bitten and then looks at it shall live."
So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a standard. Whenever a man was bitten, he looked towards the bronze serpent and he lived.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

Gospel Reading: Jn 8:21-30

Jesus said to the Pharisees, "I am going away, and though you look for me, you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come." The Jews wondered, "Why does he say that we can't come where he is going? Will he kill himself?"
But Jesus said, "You are from below and I am from above; you are of this world and I am not of this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. And you shall die in your sins unless you believe that I am He."
They asked him, "Who are you?"; and Jesus said, "Just what I have told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the One who sent me is truthful and everything I learned from him, I proclaim to the world."
They didn't understand that Jesus was speaking to them about the Father. 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 of myself, but I say just what the Father taught me. He who sent me is with me and has not left me alone; because I always do what pleases him." As Jesus spoke like this, many believed in him.

Commentary
Though the Son of God is not of this world, He would become incarnate so as to share in our human experience. He proclaims through His very life the love and mercy of God, and He shows us by being lifted up on the cross just how far our God will go to show us His compassion and forgiveness.
Jesus does the will of His heavenly Father, especially by accepting the cross. May we count as a blessing our participation in the sufferings of Jesus. May we always be open to the will of the Lord in our lives.

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March 12
Wednesday

5th Week of Lent

First Reading: Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95

King Nebuchadnezzar questioned them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up? If you hear now the sound of horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and other instruments, will you fall down and worship the statue I made? If you won't, you know the punishment: you will immediately be thrown into a burning furnace. And then what god can deliver you out of my hands?"
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego answered, "King Ne-buchad-nez-zar, we need not defend ourselves before you on this matter. If you order us to be thrown into the furnace, the God we serve will rescue us. But even if he won't, we would like you to know, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up."
Nebuchadnezzar's face reddened with fury as he looked at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of his strongest soldiers to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the burning furnace.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar suddenly rose up in great amazement and asked his counselors, "Did we not throw three men bound into the fire?" They answered, "Certainly." The king said, "But I can see four men walking about freely through the fire without suffering any harm, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who sent his angel to free his servants who, trusting in him, disobeyed the king's order and preferred to give their bodies to the fire rather than serve and worship any other god but their God.

Responsorial Psalm:
Dn 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
Glory and praise for ever!

Gospel Reading: Jn 8:31-42

Jesus went on to say to the Jews who believed in him: "You will be my true disciples if you keep my word. Then you will know the truth and the truth will make you free." They answered him, "We are the descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves of anyone. What do you mean by saying: You will be free?"
Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave. But the slave doesn't stay in the house forever; the son stays forever. So, if the Son makes you free, you will be really free.
"I know that you are the descendants of Abraham; yet you want to kill me because my word finds no place in you. For my part I speak of what I have seen in the Father's presence, but you do what you have learned from your father."
They answered him, "Our father is Abraham." Then Jesus said, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do as Abraham did. But now you want to kill me, the one who tells you the truth-the truth that I have learned from God. That is not what Abraham did; what you are doing are the works of your father."
The Jews said to him, "We are not illegitimate children; we have one Father, God." Jesus replied, "If God were your Father you would love me, for I came forth from God, and I am here. And I didn't come by my own decision, but it was he himself who sent me."

Commentary
Truth sets us free. The truth that we are children of God and forever united to Him through His covenant can liberate us from attraction to the seductive attraction of the things of this world. The truth that we are guilty of sin can bring us back into the loving arms of His mercy. The truth that we are connected with one another through the mystery of the Body of Christ can inspire us to lives of loving service for our neighbor. The truth of the resurrection can imbue us with great hope for the world to come.
May we always embrace the Truth who sets us free.

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March 13
Thursday

5th Week of Lent

First Reading: Gen 17:3-9

Abram fell face down and God said to him, "This is my covenant with you: you will be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer will you be called Abram, but Abraham, because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you more and more famous; I will multiply your descendants; nations shall spring from you, kings shall be among your descendants. And I will establish a covenant, an everlasting covenant between myself and you and your descendants after you; from now on I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you, for generations to come. I will give to you and your descendants after you the land you are living in, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession and I will be the God of your race."
God said to Abraham, "For your part, you shall keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you, generation after generation.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Gospel Reading: Jn 8:51-59

Jesus said to the Jews, "Truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never experience death." The Jews replied, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died and the prophets as well, but you say: 'Whoever keeps my word will never experience death.' Who do you claim to be? Do you claim to be greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets also died."
Then Jesus said, "If I were to praise myself, it would count for nothing. But he who gives glory to me is the Father, the very one you claim as your God, although you don't know him. I know him and if I were to say that I don't know him, I would be a liar like you. But I know him and I keep his word. As for Abraham, your ancestor, he looked forward to the day when I would come; and he rejoiced when he saw it."
The Jews then said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?" And Jesus said "Truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." They then picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

Commentary
Who is Jesus? There are only three possible answers: Either Jesus is trying to deceive others through false claims (and therefore possessed by a demon,) or He is delusional (like someone who would claim to be Napoleon,) or He is exactly who He claims to be, the Son of God (for in saying "I am" Jesus makes a claim for divinity).
The question "Who is Jesus?" lays claim to our minds and our hearts. Because our answer affirms His identity as God's only begotten Son, our lives must then conform to that answer. Anything short of that puts us on a par with the hypocrites whom Jesus rightly condemned.

March 14
Friday

5th Week of Lent

First Reading: Jer 20:10-13

I hear many people whispering,
"Terror is all around!
Denounce him! Yes, denounce him!"
All my friends watch me to see if I will slip:
"Perhaps he can be deceived," they say;
"then we can get the better of him
and have our revenge."
But Yahweh, a mighty warrior, is with me.
My persecutors will stumble and not prevail;
that failure will be their shame
and their disgrace will never be forgotten.
Yahweh, God of hosts, you test the just
and probe the heart and mind.
Let me see your revenge on them,
for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to Yahweh! Praise Yahweh and say:
he has rescued the poor from the clutches of the wicked!

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

Gospel Reading: Jn 10:31-42

The Jews picked up stones to throw at Jesus; so he said, "I have openly done many good works among you which the Father gave me to do. For which of these do you stone me?"
The Jews answered, "We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for insulting God; you are only a man and you make yourself God."
Then Jesus replied, "Is this not written in your Law: I said: you are gods? So those who received this word of God were called gods and the Scripture is always true. Then what should be said of the one anointed and sent into the world by the Father? Am I insulting God when I say: 'I am the Son of God'?
"If I am not doing the works of my Father, do not believe me. But if I do them, even if you have no faith in me, believe because of the works I do, and know that the Father is in me and I in the Father."
Again they tried to arrest him, but Jesus escaped from their hands. He went away again to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John had baptized, and there he stayed.
Many people came to him and said, "John showed no miraculous signs, but he spoke of this man and everything he said was true." And many became believers in that place.

Commentary
From their tranquil life upon the Sea of Galilee, Simon, Andrew, James and John entered into an adventure that would take them to the ends of the earth. They would experience a new way of life that they had never before imagined. They would walk with the Lord and learn first hand what it means to live the good life. And in teaching others about Jesus would they become "fishers of people" as the Lord had predicted.
May we never shrink from the Lord's call to leave our nets behind and follow Him. Such a choice can never leave us disappointed.

March 15
Saturday

5th Week of Lent
Joseph, Husband of Mary

First Reading: 2 S 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16

But that very night, Yahweh's word came to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, this is what Yahweh says: Are you able to build a house for me to live in?
When the time comes for you to rest with your ancestors, I