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 will raise up your son after you, the one born of you and I will make his reign secure. He shall build a house for my name and I will firmly establish his kingship forever. I will be a father to him and he shall be my son. If he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod, as men do.
Your house and your reign shall last forever before me, and your throne shall be forever firm."

Responsorial Psalm:
Jer 31:10, 11-12abcd, 13
The Lord will guard us, as a shepherd guards his flock.

Second Reading: Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22

If God promised Abraham, or rather his descendants, that the world would belong to him, this was not because of his obeying the Law, but because he was just and a friend of God through faith.
For that reason, faith is the way and all is given by grace; and the promises of Abraham are fulfilled for all his descendants, not only for his children according to the Law, but also for all the others who have believed.
Abraham is the father of all of us, as it is written: I will make you father of many nations. He is our father in the eyes of Him who gives life to the dead, and calls into existence what does not yet exist, for this is the God in whom he believed.
Abraham believed and hoped against all expectation, thus becoming father of many nations, as he had been told: See how many will be your descendants.
This was taken into account for him to attain righteousness.

Gospel Reading: Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and from her came Jesus who is called the Christ-the Messiah.
This is how Jesus Christ was born. Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Then Joseph, her husband, made plans to divorce her in all secrecy. He was an upright man, and in no way did he want to discredit her.
While he was pondering over this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, descendant of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She has conceived by the Holy Spirit, and now she will bear a son. You shall call him 'Jesus' for he will save his people from their sins."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do and he took his wife to his home.

Commentary
St. Joseph stands as a model husband and father, and an example of faith for all Christians. The patron of the Universal Church, the foster father of our Lord exemplifies the virtue of fidelity to the Word of God. The Lord commands, St. Joseph obeys.
Though not a single word of St. Joseph is recorded in the scriptures, His steadfast devotion to our Lord and the Blessed Mother speaks volumes. May we rely upon the intercession of St. Joseph as we strive to place our trust in the Lord. And at the end of our lives, may the prayers of St. Joseph grant us the grace of a happy death.

March 16
Sunday

Palm Sunday
(Sunday of the Lord's Passion)

First Reading: Is 50:4-7

The Lord Yahweh has taught me so I speak as his disciple and I know how to sustain the weary. Morning after morning he wakes me up to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn. I offered my back to those who strike me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace. I have not despaired, for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Second Reading: Phil 2:6-11

Though being divine in nature, Christ Jesus did not claim in fact equality with God, but emptied himself, taking on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness, and in his appearance found as a man. He humbled himself by being obedient to death, death on the cross. That is why God exalted him and gave him the Name which outshines all names, so that at the Name of Jesus all knees should bend in heaven, on earth and among the dead, and all tongues proclaim that Christ Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel Reading: Mt 27:11-54

Jesus stood before the governor who questioned him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "You say so."
The chief priests and the Elders accused him, but he made no answer. Pilate said to him, "Do you hear all the charges they bring against you?" But he did not answer even a single question, so that the governor wondered.
It was customary for the governor to release any prisoner the people asked for on the occasion of the Passover. Now there was a well-known prisoner called Barabbas. As the people had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Whom do you want me to set free: Barabbas, or Jesus called the Messiah?" For he realized that Jesus had been handed over to him out of envy.
As Pilate was sitting in court, his wife sent him this message, "Have nothing to do with that holy man. Because of him I had a dream last night that disturbed me greatly."
But the chief priests and the Elders stirred the crowds to ask for the release of Barabbas and the death of Jesus. When the governor asked them again, "Which of the two do you want me to set free?" they answered, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "And what shall I do with Jesus called the Messiah?" All answered, "Crucify him!" Pilate insisted, "What evil has he done?" But they shouted louder, "Crucify him!"
Pilate realized that he was getting nowhere and that instead there could be a riot. He then asked for water and washed his hands before the people, saying, "I am not responsible for his blood. It is your doing." And all the people answered, "Let his blood be upon us and upon our children."
Then Pilate set Barabbas free, but had Jesus scourged, and handed him over to be crucified.
The Roman soldiers took Jesus into the palace of the governor and the whole troop gathered around him. They stripped him and dressed him in a purple military cloak. Then, twisting a crown of thorns, they forced it onto his head, and placed a reed in his right hand. They knelt before Jesus and mocked him, saying, "Long life to the King of the Jews!" They spat on him, took the reed from his hand and struck him on the head with it.
When they had finished mocking him, they pulled off the purple cloak and dressed him in his own clothes again, and led him out to be crucified.
On the way they met a man from Cyrene called Simon, and forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. When they reached the place called Golgotha (or Calvary) which means the Skull, they offered him wine mixed with gall. Jesus tasted it but would not take it.
There they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves, casting lots to decide what each should take. Then they sat down to guard him. The statement of his offense was displayed above his head and it read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." They also crucified two bandits with him, one on his right and one on his left.
People passing by shook their heads and insulted him, saying, "Aha! So you will destroy the Temple and build it up again in three days. Now save yourself and come down from the cross, if you are Son of God."
In the same way the chief priests, the Elders and the teachers of the Law mocked him. They said, "The man who saved others cannot save himself. Let the King of Israel now come down from his cross and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let God rescue him if God wants to, since he himself said: I am the Son of God."
Even the robbers who were crucified with him insulted him.
From midday darkness fell over the whole land until mid-afternoon. At about three o'clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lamma Sabbacthani?" which means: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? As soon as they heard this, some of the bystanders said, "He is calling for Elijah." And one of them went quickly, took a sponge and soaked it in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave him to drink. Others said, "Leave him alone, let us see whether Elijah comes to his rescue."
Then Jesus cried out again in a loud voice and gave up his spirit.
Just then the curtain of the Temple sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and several holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after the resurrection of Jesus, entered the Holy City and appeared to many.
The captain and the soldiers who guarded Jesus were greatly terrified when they saw the earthquake and all that had happened, and said, "Truly, this man was a Son of God."

Commentary
With palms held aloft we acclaim the Lord with cheers of "Hosanna!" We join the children of Jerusalem in honoring Him as the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
In but a few days our cheers will become tears as we behold our King wearing a crown not of gold but of thorns. He is the suffering servant, the one who will endure great agony that we might know everlasting peace.
May this most holy of weeks deepen our faith and make us truly grateful for all that our God does to show us His love.

March 17
Monday

Holy Monday

First Reading: Is 42:1-7

Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight.
I have put my spirit upon him,
and he will bring justice to the nations.
He does not shout or raise his voice
proclamations are not heard in the streets.
A broken reed he will not crush,
nor will he snuff out the light
of the wavering wick.
He will make justice appear in truth.
He will not waver or be broken
until he has established justice on earth;
the islands are waiting for his law.
Thus says God, Yahweh,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread the earth and all that comes from it,
who gives life and breath to those who walk on it:
I, Yahweh, have called you for the sake of justice;
I will hold your hand to make you firm;
I will make you as a covenant to the people,
and as a light to the nations,
to open eyes that do not see,
to free captives from prison,
to bring out to light those who sit in darkness.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14
The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Gospel Reading: Jn 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where he had raised Lazarus, the dead man, to life. Now they gave a dinner for him, and while Martha waited on them, Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus.
Then Mary took a pound of costly perfume made from genuine nard and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Judas, son of Simon Iscariot-the disciple who was to betray Jesus-remarked, "This perfume could have been sold for three hundred silver coins and turned over to the poor." Judas, indeed, had no concern for the poor; he was a thief and as he held the common purse, he used to help himself to the funds.
But Jesus spoke up, "Leave her alone. Was she not keeping it for the day of my burial? (The poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me.)"
Many Jews heard that Jesus was there and they came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests thought about killing Lazarus as well, for many of the Jews were drifting away because of him and believing in Jesus.

Commentary
By this time the love of money and power had consumed Judas, so much so that he was incapable of understanding the purpose of honoring the feet of Jesus, the very feet that would soon be pierced with a nail.
The love of money is the root of all evil. Judas was consumed with greed, the same sin that has been known to distract many people from seeking true and lasting riches.
Mary's extravagance in honoring Jesus is a model for all who seek to live good and holy lives. We can never give the Lord too much devotion.

March 18
Tuesday

Holy Tuesday

First Reading: Is 49:1-6

Listen to me, O islands,
pay attention, peoples from distant lands.
Yahweh called me from my mother's womb;
he pronounced my name before I was born.
He made my mouth like a sharpened sword.
He hid me in the shadow of his hand.
He made me into a polished arrow
set apart in his quiver.
He said to me, "You are Israel, my servant,
Through you I will be known."
"I have labored in vain," I thought
and spent my strength for nothing."
Yet what is due me was in the hand of Yahweh,
and my reward was with my God.
I am important in the sight of Yahweh,
and my God is my strength….
He said: "It is not enough
that you be my servant,
to restore the tribes of Jacob,
to bring back the remnant of Israel.
I will make you the light of the nations,
that my salvation will reach to the ends of the earth."

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17
I will sing of your salvation.

Gospel Reading: Jn 13:21-33, 36-38

Jesus was distressed in spirit and said plainly, "Truly, one of you will betray me." The disciples then looked at one another, wondering who he meant. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining near Jesus; so Simon Peter signaled him to ask Jesus whom he meant.
And the disciple who was reclining near Jesus asked him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "I shall dip a piece of bread in the dish, and he to whom I give it, is the one."
So Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And as Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus then said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly."
None of the others reclining at table understood why Jesus said this to Judas. As he had the common purse, they may have thought that Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast." Judas left as soon as he had eaten the bread. It was night.
Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. God will glorify him, and he will glorify him very soon. My children, I am with you for only a little while; you will look for me, but, as I already told the Jews, so now I tell you: where I am going you cannot come."
Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but afterwards you will." Peter said, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I am ready to give my life for you." Jesus answered, "To give your life for me! Truly, I tell you, the cock will not crow before you have denied me three times."

Commentary
St. Peter would one day stand as the unshakeable rock of faith, giving his very life upon an inverted cross in the circus of Nero in Rome. But this day Peter would experience an unfathomable weakness that would have him deny Jesus three times.
Courage in standing up for the Lord would be lacking in Peter that cold, damp evening, but that was before the resurrection would solidify his faith. May courage in standing up for our belief in the Lord never be lacking in us. May the risen Lord whom we meet in the Holy Eucharist keep us steadfast in our faith.

March 19
Wednesday

Holy Wednesday

First Reading: Is 50:4-9a

The Lord Yahweh has taught me
so I speak as his disciple
and I know how to sustain the weary.
Morning after morning he wakes me up
to hear, to listen like a disciple.
The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear.
I have not rebelled,
nor have I withdrawn.
I offered my back to those who strike me,
my cheeks to those who pulled my beard;
neither did I shield my face
from blows, spittle and disgrace.
I have not despaired,
for the Lord Yahweh comes to my help.
So, like a flint I set my face,
knowing that I will not be disgraced.
He who avenges me is near.
Who then will accuse me?
Let us confront each other.
Who is now my accuser?
Let him approach.
If the Lord Yahweh is my help.
who will condemn me?
All of them will wear out like cloth;
the moth will devour them.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34
Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Gospel Reading: Mt 26:14-25

Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went off to the chief priests and said, "How much will you give me if I hand him over to you?" They promised to give him thirty pieces of silver, and from then on he kept looking for the best way to hand him over to them.
On the first day of the Festival of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said to him, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?" Jesus answered, "Go into the city, to the house of a certain man, and tell him: 'The Master says: My hour is near, and I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples in your house."
The disciples did as Jesus had ordered and prepared the Passover meal.
When it was evening, Jesus sat at table with the Twelve. While they were eating, Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you: one of you will betray me." They were deeply distressed and asked him in turn, "You do not mean me, do you, Lord?"
He answered, "He who will betray me is one of those who dips his bread in the dish with me. The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures say he will. But alas for that one who betrays the Son of Man; better for him not to have been born." Judas, who was betraying him, also asked, "You do not mean me, Master, do you?" Jesus replied, "You have said it."

Commentary
The coins given to Judas could be used to obtain many possessions, but they would never assuage the guilt he incurred by betraying the Lord. Money can buy many things, but it cannot purchase the lasting happiness that comes from doing what is right, good, noble and true.
The Lord gives us His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist. Such is His love that He gives to us everything that He has to give in the perfect sacrifice at Calvary, the sacrifice represented in every Mass. May we learn to prefer nothing to the treasures worth infinitely more than silver or gold.

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March 20
Thursday

Holy Thursday

First Reading: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14

Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt and said, "This month is to be the beginning of all months, the first month of your year. Speak to the community of Israel and say to them:
On the tenth day of this month let each family take a lamb, a lamb for each house. If the family is too small for a lamb, they must join with a neighbor, the nearest to the house, according to the number of persons and to what each one can eat.
You will select a perfect lamb without blemish, a male born during the present year, taken from the sheep or goats. Then you will keep it until the fourteenth day of the month.
On that evening all the people will slaughter their lambs and take some of the blood to put on the doorposts and on top of the doorframes of the houses where you eat.
That night you will eat the flesh roasted at the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
And this is how you will eat: with a belt round your waist, sandals on your feet and a staff in your hand. You shall eat hastily for it is a passover in honor of Yahweh. On that night I shall go through Egypt and strike every firstborn in Egypt, men and animals; and I will even bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt, I, Yahweh! The blood on your houses will be the sign that you are there. I will see the blood and pass over you; and you will escape the mortal plague when I strike Egypt.
This is a day you are to remember and celebrate in honor of Yahweh. It is to be kept as a festival day for all generations forever.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.

Second Reading: 1 Cor 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Gospel Reading: Jn 13:1-15

It was before the feast of the Passover. Jesus realized that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father, and as he had loved those who were his own in the world, he would love them with perfect love.
They were at supper and the devil had already put into the mind of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray. Jesus knew that the Father had entrusted all things to him, and as he had come from God, he was going to God. So he got up from table, removed his garment and taking a towel, wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing.
When he came to Simon Peter, Simon said to him, "Why, Lord, you want to wash my feet!" Jesus said, "What I am doing you cannot understand now, but afterwards you will understand it." Peter replied, "You shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you can have no part with me." Then Simon Peter said, "Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!"
Jesus replied, "Whoever has taken a bath does not need to wash (except the feet), for he is clean all over. You are clean, though not all of you." Jesus knew who was to betray him; because of this he said, "Not all of you are clean."
When Jesus had finished washing their feet, he put on his garment again, went back to the table and said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also must wash one another's feet. I have just given you an example that as I have done, you also may do."

Commentary
The richness of the Holy Thursday liturgy is beyond compare. The joyous bells that ring out from the Church at the beginning of Mass are silenced as the mystery of this holy night is unfolded. The celebration that begins in joy becomes a solemn procession to the altar of repose.
On Holy Thursday we take our place with Jesus at the first Eucharist, the solemn breaking of the bread that would anticipate the Lord's body being given for the sins of the world upon the cross, the sharing of the cup that would prefigure the pouring forth of His blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.
May we never forget the true meaning of this holy night.

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March 21
Friday

Good Friday

First Reading: Is 52:13-53:12

It is now when my servant will succeed;
he will be exalted and highly praised.
Just as many have been horrified
at his disfigured appearance:
"Is this a man? He does not look like one,"
so will nations be astounded,
kings will stand speechless,
for they will see something never told,
they will witness something never heard of.

Who could believe what we have heard,
and to whom has Yahweh revealed his feat?
Like a root out of dry ground,
like a sapling he grew up before us,
with nothing attractive in his appearance,
no beauty, no majesty.

He was despised and rejected,
a man of sorrows familiar with grief,
a man from whom people hide their face,
spurned and considered of no account.
Yet ours were the sorrows he bore,
ours were the sufferings he endured,
although we considered him as one
punished by God, stricken and brought low.

Destroyed because of our sins,
he was crushed for our wickedness.
Through his punishment we are made whole;
by his wounds we are healed.
Like sheep we had all gone astray,
each following his own way;
but Yahweh laid upon him all our guilt.

He was harshly treated,
but unresisting and silent, he humbly submitted.
Like a lamb led to the slaughter
or a sheep before the shearer
he did not open his mouth.

He was taken away to detention and judgment -
what an unthinkable fate!
He was cut off from the land of the living,
stricken for his people's sin.
They made his tomb with the wicked,
they put him in the graveyard of the oppressors,
though he had done no violence nor spoken in deceit.

Yet it was the will of Yahweh to crush him with grief.
When he makes himself an offering for sin,
he will have a long life and see his descendants.
Through him the will of Yahweh is done.
For the anguish he suffered,
he will see the light and obtain perfect knowledge.
My just servant will justify the multitude;
he will bear and take away their guilt.

Therefore I will give him his portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong.
For he surrendered himself to death
and was even counted among the wicked,
bearing the sins of the multitude
and interceding for sinners.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit.

Second Reading: Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9

We have a great High Priest, Jesus, the Son of God, who has entered heaven. Let us, then, hold fast to the faith we profess. Our high priest is not indifferent to our weaknesses, for he was tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sinning. Let us, then, with confidence approach the throne of grace; we will obtain mercy and, through his favor, help in due time.
Christ, in the days of his mortal life, offered his sacrifice with tears and cries. He prayed to him who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his humble submission. Although he was Son, he learned through suffering what obedience was, and once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for those who obey him.

Gospel Reading: John 18:1-19:42

In the beginning, when God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth had no form and was void; darkness was over the deep and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters.
God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. God saw that the light was good and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light 'Day' and the darkness 'Night'. There was evening and there was morning: the first day.
God said, "Let there be a firm ceiling between the waters and let it separate waters from waters." So God made the ceiling and separated the waters below it from the waters above it. And so it was. God called the firm ceiling 'Sky'. There was evening and there was morning: the second day.
God said, "Let the waters below the sky be gathered together in one place and let dry land appear." And so it was. God called the dry land 'Earth', and the waters gathered together he called 'Seas'. God saw that it was good.
God said, "Let the earth produce vegetation, seed-bearing plants, fruit-trees bearing fruit with seed, each according to its kind, upon the earth." And so it was. The earth produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kind and trees producing fruit which has seed, according to their kind. God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning: the third day.
God said, "Let there be lights in the ceiling of the sky to separate day from night and to serve as signs for the seasons, days and years; and let these lights in the sky shine above the earth." And so it was. God therefore made two great lights, the greater light to govern the day and the smaller light to govern the night; and God made the stars as well. God placed them in the ceiling of the sky to give light on the earth and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning: the fourth day.
God said, "Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth under the ceiling of the sky." God created the great monsters of the sea and all living animals, those that teem in the waters, according to their kind, and every winged bird, according to its kind. God saw that it was good. God blessed them saying, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the waters of the sea, and let the birds increase on the earth." There was evening and there was morning: the fifth day.
God said, "Let the earth produce living animals according to their kind: cattle, creatures that move along the ground, wild animals according to their kind." So it was. God created the wild animals according to their kind, and everything that creeps along the ground according to its kind. God saw that it was good.
God said, "Let us make man in our image, to our likeness. Let them rule over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over the wild animals, and over all creeping things that crawl along the ground." So God created man in his image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it, rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky, over every living creature that moves on the ground."
God said, "I have given you every seed-bearing plant which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree that bears fruit with seed. It will be for your food. To every wild animal, to every bird of the sky, to everything that creeps along the ground, to everything that has the breath of life, I give every green plant for food." So it was.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. There was evening and there was morning: the sixth day.
That was the way the sky and earth were created and all their vast array. By the seventh day the work God had done was completed, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had done.

Commentary
At the foot of the cross stood the faithful disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and His Blessed Mother. Both received a solemn command from the Lord, the disciple to care for His mother, His Blessed Mother to regard the disciple as a son. The commands continue to be obeyed to this very day, every disciple honoring Mary as his or her mother according to the world of grace, and Holy Mary praying for every disciple, now and at the hour of our death.
Love pours forth from the cross this day, love that finds expression this day through every disciple who takes seriously the wood of the cross.

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March 22
Saturday

Holy Saturday
Vigil of the Solemnity of Easter

First Reading: Gen 1:1-2:2

In the beginning, when God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth had no form and was void; darkness was over the deep and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters.
God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. God saw that the light was good and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light 'Day' and the darkness 'Night'. There was evening and there was morning: the first day.
God said, "Let there be a firm ceiling between the waters and let it separate waters from waters." So God made the ceiling and separated the waters below it from the waters above it. And so it was. God called the firm ceiling 'Sky'. There was evening and there was morning: the second day.
God said, "Let the waters below the sky be gathered together in one place and let dry land appear." And so it was. God called the dry land 'Earth', and the waters gathered together he called 'Seas'. God saw that it was good.
God said, "Let the earth produce vegetation, seed-bearing plants, fruit-trees bearing fruit with seed, each according to its kind, upon the earth." And so it was. The earth produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kind and trees producing fruit which has seed, according to their kind. God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning: the third day.
God said, "Let there be lights in the ceiling of the sky to separate day from night and to serve as signs for the seasons, days and years; and let these lights in the sky shine above the earth." And so it was. God therefore made two great lights, the greater light to govern the day and the smaller light to govern the night; and God made the stars as well. God placed them in the ceiling of the sky to give light on the earth and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning: the fourth day.
God said, "Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth under the ceiling of the sky." God created the great monsters of the sea and all living animals, those that teem in the waters, according to their kind, and every winged bird, according to its kind. God saw that it was good. God blessed them saying, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the waters of the sea, and let the birds increase on the earth." There was evening and there was morning: the fifth day.
God said, "Let the earth produce living animals according to their kind: cattle, creatures that move along the ground, wild animals according to their kind." So it was. God created the wild animals according to their kind, and everything that creeps along the ground according to its kind. God saw that it was good.
God said, "Let us make man in our image, to our likeness. Let them rule over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over the wild animals, and over all creeping things that crawl along the ground." So God created man in his image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it, rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the sky, over every living creature that moves on the ground."
God said, "I have given you every seed-bearing plant which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree that bears fruit with seed. It will be for your food. To every wild animal, to every bird of the sky, to everything that creeps along the ground, to everything that has the breath of life, I give every green plant for food." So it was.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. There was evening and there was morning: the sixth day.
That was the way the sky and earth were created and all their vast array. By the seventh day the work God had done was completed, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had done.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35
Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.

Second Reading: Gen 22:1-18

Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he answered, "Here I am." Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I shall point out to you."
Abraham rose early next morning and saddled his donkey and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He chopped wood for the burnt offering and set out for the place to which God had directed him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance, and he said to the young men, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship and then we will come back to you."
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He carried in his hand the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke to Abraham, his father, "Father!" And Abraham replied, "Yes, my son?" Isaac said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?" Abraham replied, "God himself will provide the lamb for the sacrifice."
They went on, the two of them together, until they came to the place to which God had directed them. When Abraham had built the altar and set the wood on it, he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the wood placed on the altar. He then stretched out his hand to seize the knife and slay his son. But the Angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
And he said, "Here I am." "Do not lay your hand on the boy; do not harm him, for now I know that you fear God, and you have not held back from me your only son."
Abraham looked around and saw behind him a ram caught by its horns in a bush. He offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place 'The Lord will provide.' And the saying has lasted to this day.
And the Angel of Yahweh called from heaven a second time, "By myself I have sworn, it is Yahweh who speaks, because you have done this and not held back your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the lands of their enemies. All the nations of the earth will be blessed through your descendants because you have obeyed me."

Gospel Reading: Matthew 28:1-10

After the sabbath, at the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake: an angel of the Lord descending from heaven, came to the stone, rolled it from the entrance of the tomb, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his garment white as snow. The guards trembled in fear and became like dead men when they saw the angel.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him; then go at once and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead and is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. This is my message for you."
They left the tomb at once in holy fear, yet with great joy, and they ran to tell the news to the disciples.
Suddenly, Jesus met them on the way and said, "Peace." The women approached him, embraced his feet and worshiped him. But Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to set out for Galilee; there they will see me."

Commentary
Out of the shadows comes invincible light, from the darkness comes the brightness of God's glory.
The resurrection of Jesus is God's victory over the sin and death that has held mankind captive since the fall of Adam and Eve. And by our baptism into the death of the Lord we share in the glory of the resurrection.
We must never give up as we face our earthly trials. We are children of the light. "We know that Christ, once risen from the dead, will not die again and death has no more dominion over him," (Rom 6:9) nor does death have power over those who believe in Him.
Alleluia!

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March 23
Sunday

Easter Sunday

First Reading: Acts 10:34, 37-43

Peter spoke to the people, "Truly, I realize that God does not show partiality. No doubt you have heard of the event that occurred throughout the whole country of the Jews, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism John preached. You know how God anointed Jesus the Nazarean with Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all who were under the devil's power, because God was with him; we are witnesses of all that he did throughout the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem itself. Yet they put him to death by hanging him on a wooden cross.
"But God raised him to life on the third day and let him manifest himself, not to all the people, but to the witnesses that were chosen beforehand by God-to us who ate and drank with him after his resurrection from death. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to bear witness that he is the one appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. All the prophets say of him, that everyone who believes in him has forgiveness of sins through his Name."

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

Second Reading: Col 3:1-4

Sisters and brothers, if you are risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on earthly things. For you have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, reveals himself, you also will be revealed with him in Glory.

Gospel Reading: Jn 20:1-9

On the first day after the sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark and she saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved away. She ran to Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. And she said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have laid him."
Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying flat, but he did not enter.
Then Simon Peter came following him and entered the tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head was not lying flat like the other linen cloths but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and believed. Scripture clearly said that he must rise from the dead, but they had not yet understood that.

Commentary
If not for the bodily resurrection of Jesus, how could St. Peter and the other apostles find the courage to stand in the streets of Jerusalem and proclaim their belief that a man who was crucified is now risen from the dead? Something must have happened on that first Easter Sunday, something so powerful as to turn a mere fisherman into a compelling preacher of the truth.
We believe not in a rumor, nor in the product of mass delusion, nor in a myth fabricated by those who would seek to deceive. We believe the eyewitness testimony of those who saw with their own eyes the risen Lord. May we always hold fast to our Easter faith.

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March 24
Monday

Octave of Easter

First Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-23

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and, with a loud voice, addressed them, "Fellow Jews and all foreigners now staying in Jerusalem, listen to what I have to say.
"Fellow Israelites, listen to what I am going to tell you about Jesus of Nazareth. God accredited him and through him did powerful deeds and wonders and signs in your midst, as you well know. You delivered him to sinners to be crucified and killed, and in this way the purpose of God from all times was fulfilled."

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

Gospel Reading: Mt 28:8-15

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, left the tomb at once in holy fear, yet with great joy, and they ran to tell the news to the disciples.
Suddenly, Jesus met them on the way and said, "Peace." The women approached him, embraced his feet and worshiped him. But Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to set out for Galilee; there they will see me."
While the women were on their way, the guards returned to the city and some of them reported to the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests met with the Jewish authorities and decided to give the soldiers a good sum of money, with this instruction, "Say that his disciples came by night while you were asleep, and stole the body of Jesus. If Pilate comes to know of this, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." The soldiers accepted the money and did as they were told. This story has circulated among the Jews until this day.

Commentary
The Roman army was the most well disciplined army of its day, and continues to serve as a model of military precision. A soldier who posted guard faced not only severe punishment, but in fact execution if he were to fall asleep at his post.
It is possible, but highly unlikely that two soldiers would have risked death by failing to keep watch over the tomb. We know that there is a far more plausible explanation for the empty tomb, indeed if Christ Jesus did not rise from the dead then our faith is vain.

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March 25
Tuesday

Octave of Easter

First Reading: Acts 2:36-41

Peter said to the people, "Let Israel then know for sure that God has made Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified."
When they heard this, they were deeply troubled. And they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What shall we do, brothers?"
Peter answered: "Each of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise of God was made to you and your children, and to all those from afar whom our God may call."
With many other words Peter gave the message and appealed to them saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who accepted his word were baptized; some three thousand persons were added to their number that day.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Gospel Reading: Jn 20:11-18

Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she bent down to look inside; she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, and the other at the feet. They said, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She answered, "Because they have taken my Lord and I don't know where they have put him."
As she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and answered him, "Lord, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him."
Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him, "Rabboni"-which means, Master. Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me; you see I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them: I am ascending to my Father, who is your Father, to my God, who is your God."
So Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord, and this is what he said to me."

Commentary
The Lord instructs Mary Magdalene, and he instructs us to go and tell others the good news of His bodily resurrection. In spite of the reaction of incredulity she knew she would face, Mary goes with haste to the apostles and tells them all she has seen and heard.
Evangelization is the word we use to describe a follower of Jesus telling others the good news by our words and deeds. We know that we risk a reaction that is skeptical at best. Still, how can we contain the message to ourselves? Evangelization is the Christian imperative.

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March 26
Wednesday

Octave of Easter

First Reading: Acts 3:1-10

Once when Peter and John were going up to the Temple at three in the after-noon, the hour for prayer, a man crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day they would bring him and put him at the temple gate called "Beautiful"; there he begged from those who entered the Temple.
When he saw Peter and John on their way into the Temple, he asked for alms. Then Peter with John at his side looked straight at him and said, "Look at us." So he looked at them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, walk!"
Then he took the beggar by his right hand and helped him up. At once his feet and ankles became firm, and jumping up he stood on his feet and began to walk. And he went with them into the Temple walking and leaping and praising God.
All the people saw him walking and praising God; they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were all astonished and amazed at what had happened to him.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9
Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.

Gospel Reading: Lk 24:13-35

That same day, two of them were going to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem, and they talked about what had happened. While they were talking and wondering, Jesus came up and walked with them, but their eyes were held and they did not recognize him.
He asked, "What is this you are talking about?" The two stood still, looking sad. Then one named Cleophas answered, "Why, it seems you are the only traveler in Jerusalem who doesn't know what has happened there these past- few days." And he asked, "What is it?"
They replied, "It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, you know, mighty in word and deed before God and the people. But the chief priests and our rulers sentenced him to death. They handed him over to be crucified. We had hoped that he would redeem Israel.
It is now the third day since all this took place. It is true that some women of our group have disturbed us. When they went to the tomb at dawn, they did not find his body; they came to tell us that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that Jesus was alive. Some friends of our group went to the tomb and found everything just as the women had said, but they did not see him."
He said to them, "How dull you are, how slow of understanding! You fail to believe the message of the prophets. Is it not written that the Christ should suffer all this and then enter his glory?" Then starting with Moses and going through the prophets, he explained to them every-thing in the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they drew near the village they were heading for, Jesus made as if to go farther. But they prevailed upon him, "Stay with us, for night comes quickly. The day is now almost over." So he went in to stay with them. When they were at table, he took the bread, said a blessing, broke it and gave each a piece.
Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; but he vanished out of their sight. And they said to each other, "Were not our hearts filled with ardent yearning when he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?"
They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and their companions gathered together. They were greeted by these words: "Yes, it is true, the Lord is risen! He has appeared to Simon!" Then the two told what had happened on the road and how Jesus made himself known when he broke bread with them.

Commentary
St. Luke's description of the encounter with Jesus along the road to Emmaus closely resembles the structure of the Holy Mass. First, there is a Liturgy of the Word: Jesus opens the scriptures to the disciples, telling them that He had to suffer and then rise from the dead. Second, there is a Liturgy of the Eucharist: Jesus blesses and breaks the bread, thereby allowing His disciples to recognize His true identity.
May our hearts yearn ardently for our next encounter with the Risen Lord Jesus in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

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March 27
Thursday

Octave of Easter

First Reading: Acts 3:11-26

When Peter saw the people, he said to them, "Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if it was by some power or holiness of our own that we made this man walk? The God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus whom you handed over to death and denied before Pilate. You rejected the Holy and Just One, and insisted that a murderer be released to you. You killed the Master of life, but God raised him from the dead and we are witnesses to this. It is his Name, and faith in his Name, that has healed this man whom you see and recognize.
Yet I know that you acted out of ignorance, as did your leaders. God has fulfilled in this way what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.
Repent, then, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out and the time of refreshment may come by the mercy of God, when he sends the Messiah appointed for you, Jesus.
Moses foretold this when he said: The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall listen to him in all that he says to you. Whoever does not listen to that prophet is to be cut off from among his people.
In fact, all the prophets who have spoken have announced the events of these days. You are the children of the prophets and heirs of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors when he said to Abraham: All the families of the earth will be blessed through your descendant."

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

Gospel Reading: Lk 24:35-48

Then the two told what had happened on the road and how Jesus made himself known when he broke bread with them.
As they went on talking about this, Jesus himself stood in their midst. (And he said to them, "Peace to you.") In their panic and fright they thought they were seeing a ghost, but he said to them, "Why are you upset and why do such ideas cross your mind? Look at my hands and feet and see that it is I myself. Touch me and see for yourselves that a ghost has no flesh and bones as I have." As he said this, he showed his hands and feet.)
In their joy they didn't dare believe and were still astonished. So he said to them, "Have you any--thing to eat?" and they gave him a piece of broiled fish. He took it and ate it before them.
Then Jesus said to them, "Remember the words I spoke to you when I was still with you: Everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
And he went on, "You see what was written: the Messiah had to suffer and on the third day rise from the dead. Then repentance and forgiveness in his name would be proclaimed to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Now you shall be?witnesses to this.

Commentary
When Jesus tells His apostles that they will be witnesses, He is also talking to us. Jesus invites us to participate in His mission of spreading the Good News to the world. Some do this through lives of dedicated service for the Kingdom. Most accomplish this by simple but important acts of mercy and charity. Showing concern for those in need is a beautiful way to witness to the resurrection of Jesus. How else will cynical hearts be melted and skeptical minds be opened than by the concrete acts of kindness that should typify the follower of Jesus.

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March 28
Friday

Octave of Easter

First Reading: Acts 4:1-12

While Peter and John were ?still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming that resurrection from the dead had been proved in the case of Jesus. Since it was already evening, they arrested them and put them in custody until the following day. But despite this, many of those who heard the Message believed and their number increased to about five thousand.
The next day, the Jewish leaders, elders and teachers of the Law assembled in Jerusalem. Annas, the High Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high priestly class were there. They brought Peter and John before them and began to question them, "How did you do this? Whose name did you use?"
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke up, "Leaders of the people! Elders! It is a fact that we are being examined today for a good deed done to a cripple. How was he healed? You and all the people of Israel must know that this man stands before you cured through the Name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean. You had him crucified, but God raised him from the dead. Jesus is the stone rejected by you the builders which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other Name given to humankind all over the world by which we may be saved."

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a
The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.

Gospel Reading: Jn 21:1-14

Jesus revealed himself to the disciples by the Lake of Tiberias. He appeared to them in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas who was called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples were togoether; and Simon Peter said to them, "I'm going fishing." They replied, "We will come with you" and they went out and got into the boat. But they caught nothing that night.
When day had already broken, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus called them, "Children, have you anything to eat?" They answered, "Nothing." Then he said to them, "Throw the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they had lowered the net, they were not able to pull it in because of the great number of fish.
Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord!" At these words, "It's the Lord," Simon Peter put on his clothes, for he was stripped for work, and jumped into the water. The other disciples came in the boat dragging the net full of fish they were not far from land, about a hundred meters.
When they landed, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you've just caught." So Simon Peter climbed into the boat and pulled the net to shore. It was full of big fish-one hundred and fifty-three-but, in spite of this, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." and not one of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" for they knew it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and he did the same with the fish.
This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after rising from the dead.

Commentary
We labor on our own and find that our results are less than satisfactory. Then by God's grace we open our hearts and minds to the wisdom of the Lord and find that the results are greater than we had ever dared to hope for.
We pray that throughout our lives we will never lose the childlike trust in the Lord that the apostles experienced as they tossed their net into the sea. When we allow the Lord to direct our lives we not only want for nothing, we find ourselves in a state of abundance. Those who trust in the Lord are never disappointed.

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March 29
Saturday

Octave of Easter

First Reading: Acts 4:13-21

The leaders, elders, and scribes were astonished at the boldness of Peter and John, considering that they were uneducated and untrained men. They recognized, also, that they had been with Jesus, but, as the man who had been cured stood beside them, they could make no reply.
So they ordered them to leave the council room while they consulted with one another. They asked, "What shall we do with these men? Everyone who lives in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign has been given through them, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them never again to speak to anyone in the name of Jesus." So they called them back and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John answered them, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's eyes for us to obey you rather than God. We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." Then the council threatened them once more and let them go. They could find no way of punishing them because of the people who glorified God for what had happened.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.

Gospel Reading: Mk 16:9-15

After Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary of Magdala from whom he had driven out seven demons. She went and reported the news to his followers, who were now mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he lived and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
After this he showed himself in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. These men too went back and told the others, but they did not believe them.
Later Jesus showed himself to the Eleven while they were at table. He reproached them for their unbelief and stubbornness in refusing to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
Then he told them, "Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation."

Commentary
St. Mark recounts briefly the several appearances of Risen Lord. Though he omits many of the colorful details recorded by the other evangelists, the message is no less clear. The Risen Lord commands His apostles to take the message of His resurrection to the world so that all might believe.
The potency of His command would be demonstrated by the millions of Christians throughout history who have committed their lives to faith in His resurrection, some even to the point of winning the crown of martyrdom. May we never be ashamed of our Easter faith.

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March 30
Sunday

Epiphany of the Lord

First Reading: Acts 2:42-47

The whole community were faithful to the teaching of the apostles, the common life of sharing, the breaking of bread and the prayers.
A holy fear came upon all the people, for many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. Now all the believers lived together and shared all their belongings. They would sell their property and all they had and distribute the proceeds to others according to their need. Each day they met together in the Temple area; they broke bread in their homes; they shared their food with great joy and simplicity of heart; they praised God and won the people's favor. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.

Second Reading: 1 P 1:3-9

Let us praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for his great mercy. In raising Jesus Christ from the dead he has given us new life and a living hope. The inheritance which does not corrupt nor goes bad nor passes away was reserved to you in heavens, since God's power shall keep you faithful until salvation is revealed in the last days.
There is cause for joy, then, even though you may, for a time, have to suffer many trials. Thus will your faith be tested, like gold in a furnace. Gold, however, passes away but faith, worth so much more, will bring you in the end praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ appears.
You have not yet seen him and yet you love him; even without seeing him, you believe in him and experience a heavenly joy beyond all words, for you are reaching the goal of your faith: the salvation of your souls.

Gospel Reading: Jn 20:19-31

On the evening of that day, the first day after the Sabbath, the doors were locked where the disciples were, because of their fear of the Jews, but Jesus came and stood in their midst. He said to them, "Peace be with you"; then he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples kept looking at the Lord and were full of joy.
Again Jesus said to them, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." After saying this he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit; for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained."
Thomas, the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he replied, "Until I have seen in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
Eight days later, the disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands; stretch out your hand and put it into my side. Resist no longer and be a believer."
Thomas then said, "You are my Lord and my God." Jesus replied, "You believe because you see me, don't you? Happy are those who have not seen and believe."
There were many other signs that Jesus gave in the presence of his disciples, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; believe and you will have life through his Name.

Commentary
On this Feast of Divine Mercy we consider the side of the Lord from which blood and water flowed, symbolizing the sacramental life of the Church. The water of Baptism and the Precious Blood of the Holy Eucharist allow us to enter into the mystery of the Lord's life, death and glorious resurrection.
Jesus invites St. Thomas to place his hand into His pierced side, the channel of His Divine Mercy. May we, like St. Thomas, be moved during the Holy Eucharist this day to express at the consecration, "My Lord and my God."

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March 31
Monday

Annunciation of the Lord

First Reading: Is 7:10-14; 8:10

Once again Yahweh addressed Ahaz, "Ask for a sign from Yahweh your God, let it come either from the deepest depths or from the heights of heaven."
But Ahaz answered, "I will not ask, I will not put Yahweh to the test."
Then Isaiah said, "Now listen, descendants of David. Have you not been satisfied trying the patience of people, that you also try the patience of my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The Virgin is with child and bears a son and calls his name Immanuel.
Devise a plan and it will be thwarted,
make a resolve and it will not stand,
for God-is-with-us.

Responsorial Psalm:
Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29
The Son of David will live for ever.

Second Reading: Heb 10:4-10

And never will the blood of bulls and goats take away these sins.
This is why on entering the world, Christ says: You did not desire sacrifice and offering; you were not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. Then I said: "Here I am. It was written of me in the scroll. I will do your will, O God."
First he says: Sacrifice, offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire nor were you pleased with them-although they were required by the Law. Then he says: Here I am to do your will.
This is enough to nullify the first will and establish the new. Now, by this will of God, we are sanctified once and for all by the sacrifice of the body of Christ Jesus.

Gospel Reading: Lk 1:26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
The angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you." Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.
But the angel said, "Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever and his reign shall have no end."
Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be if I am a virgin?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of God. Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible."
Then Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." And the angel left her.

Commentary
Mary is the wonderful steward of the Word of God. She receives the most precious gift ever given to a human being, the gift of the only begotten Son of God. This Gift is given to her to take care of and to nurture as He grows in wisdom and stature. Furthermore, she is called to share this Gift generously with others as Jesus begins His public ministry.
Mary's stewardship is a model for all of us. We are given so much by our God, especially the gift of faith in the Lord Jesus. May we take care of that precious gift, and may we, like Mary, share our faith generously with others.

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