FEAST OF ST PATRICK, BISHOP AND MISSIONARY.
DO YOU WANT TO BE WELL?
"There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.
"In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
"When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?”
"The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.”
"Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.
Now that day was a sabbath.
"So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’”
"They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there.
"After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.”
"The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well.
"Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath." (John 5: 1 - 16).
Tuesday 17th March 2026 in the 4th Week in Lent. Today is the feast of St Patrick, Bishop and Missionary.
St Patrick lived between 389 and 461. His nationality is British-Irish. St Patrick was a Bishop and a great Missionary. He is the Patron saint of Ireland and Nigeria.
St Patrick teaches us that persistence in prayer breaks resistance. St Patrick had a great desire to become a priest. He was opposed by powerful clerics because he was considered too old and not able to withstand the rigors of the studies involved. Convinced by the intensity of his desire to become a priest, he persisted. Result: St Patrick is one of the most powerful priests that ascended the Altar of God. Not just that, St Patrick was consecrated the Bishop of all Ireland.
Prayer for healing is the most common type of prayer.
We desperately pray for our own healing. We pray for members of our family and for friends and others.
There is no enjoyment in life greater than good health. Good health is a treasure greater than gold and silver.
What do we make of what Jesus said to the man who had been praying for healing for 38 years, whom He had just healed?
“Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.”
There is a tight connection between SIN, SUFFERING, SALVATION.
The whole truth of the Gospel is that Sin causes Suffering. The desperate effort to get rid of our suffering is what brings us to Salvation, that is the encounter with Jesus.
Desperate people are more open to faith than self satisfied people.
Whose Sin causes us to suffer? Our own Sin, Family members, Neighbors, Country's, the World.
There are suffering that is redemptive. Some chosen souls participate in the sufferings of Jesus Christ for the good of souls. For example: Saints Catherine of Siena, Padre Pio, Therese of the Child Jesus, etc.
Jesus had no personal Sin. He suffered for the Sin of the world. Jesus - our Savior can deliver us from sins and the effects of sin.
Lent is a great time to reflect on SIN, SUFFERING and SALVATION. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the solid means of dealing with sin. The Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation are divine provisions for victory over sins.
The Church honors St Joseph in March.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
The Church considers St Joseph the greatest Saint after the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joseph is so fittingly named the Patron of the Universal Church. Remember that he was the Guardian of Jesus and in his intercessory role, you can believe that Jesus will deny nothing to Joseph.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
ALL YOU NEED IS BELIEVE.
THE GOOD NEWS:
"At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place. When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast.
"Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine.
"Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death.
"Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”
"The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.
"While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe.
"Now this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea." (John 4: 43 - 54).
Monday 16th March 2026 in the 4th week in Lent.
In our key Scripture for today, we see an example of faith in action. Faith is the radical trust and confidence in the word of Christ. Faith is the instinct and impulse that everything is worth trying to resolve an existential problem. No dire problem, no faith.
Jesus said simply to the Royal Official: “You may go; your son will live.” The Scripture records:
"The man believed what Jesus said to him and left." (John 4: 50).
How I envy the faith of the official.
Our faith contains our obedience. We see the example in the Gospel of today. To say that "I believe" and act contrary to what you believe is not faith but hypocrisy.
If any Christian invests time and resources to learn what Faith is and how Faith works, the harvest will be incredibly huge and this gift will keep giving and giving all your life.
Consider Faith as Obedience. The Royal Official heard Jesus say: Don't worry. Go home. Your son is OK. He believes and went home. He obeyed the directive. No questions. No arguments. Are you able to imitate his action and show the Obedience of Faith?
Consider also that the man's faith was prepared by what he heard about Jesus before he met Him.
"When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death."
When you share what God has done for you or other people, you prepare souls to encounter Jesus.
When we read the Gospel, we see many healings and miracles. The stories are preparing us to believe and deepen our Faith in Jesus. You do not know when you will stand face to face with Jesus needing His help. Faith comes from hearing. Hearing the word of God and believing it.
Faith is an exciting subject. If you want your Faith to grow, read a lot what the Saints say about Faith. Here are a few examples below:
1. “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” – St. Augustine of Hippo.
2. “Faith has to do with things that are not seen, and hope with things that are not in hand.” – St. Thomas Aquinas.
3. “I believe though I do not comprehend, and I hold by faith what I cannot grasp with the mind.” – St. Bernard of Clairvaux
4. “Faith lifts the soul. Hope supports it. Experience says it must. And Love says let it be!” – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
Jesus says:
"Many priests do not have a real and practical faith in My Eucharistic presence. Do they not know that the Eucharist encloses within itself all the merits of My Passion? Let them recover the faith of their childhood. Let them come to find Me there where I am waiting for them and I, for My part, shall work miracles of grace and holiness in them." (IN SINU JESU, Monday, October 29, 2007).
The Church honors St Joseph in March.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
The Church considers St Joseph the greatest Saint after the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joseph is so fittingly named the Patron of the Universal Church. Remember that he was the Guardian of Jesus and in his intercessory role, you can believe that Jesus will deny nothing to Joseph.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
WHY IS THIS MAN BORN BLIND?
THE GOODNEWS:
1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day; night comes, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 As he said this, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the man's eyes with the clay, 7 saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar, said, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?" 9 Some said, "It is he"; others said, "No, but he is like him." He said, "I am the man." 10 They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, `Go to Siloam and wash'; so I went and washed and received my sight." 12 They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 The Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." 16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was a division among them. 17 So they again said to the blind man, "What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."
18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight, 19 and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself."
"we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if any one should confess him to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age, ask him."
24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and said to him, "Give God the praise; we know that this man is a sinner." 25 He answered, "Whether he is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I know, that though I was blind, now I see." 26 They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you too want to become his disciples?" 28 And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.
29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." 30 The man answered, "Why, this is a marvel! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes..
31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if any one is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." 34 They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?" 36 He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" 37 Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who speaks to you." 38 He said, "Lord, I believe"; and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard this, and they said to him, "Are we also blind?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, `We see,' your guilt remains. (John 9: 1 - 41).
Sunday, March 15th 2026, 4th Week of Lent.
This Sunday is called Laetare Sunday, that is: Rejoice Sunday!
We have made it to the mid point of Lent. It is a good reason to be joyful.
Jesus Christ is the Light of the Gospel.
"Father, you enlighten all who come into the world. Fill our hearts with the light of your gospel, that our thoughts may please you, and our love be sincere…" (Mass Prayer)
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a light to the world. When our hearts are filled with the light of the Gospel like the blind man in John 9: 1-41, our thoughts will be pleasing to God.
Blessed is the man who meditates on the word of God day and night.
Many adverse human conditions are not associated with sin. Of the poor, sick, homeless, refugees, lonesome, Jesus says: "It is so that the works of God might be made visible through him." (John 9: 3).
The world is governed by Almighty and Eternal Father whose Divine Providence is Mighty, Merciful and Mysterious.
St Francis of Assisi said: "Alms are an inheritance and a justice which is due to the poor and which Jesus has levied upon us."
"Wealth … is like a snake; it will twist around the hand and bite unless one knows how to use it properly." (St Clement of Alexandria.“).
"The rich man who gives to the poor does not bestow alms but pays a debt." ( St. Ambrose of Milan).
"Our prayers and fastings are of less avail, unless they are aided by almsgiving." (St Cyprian).
Jesus gave back sight to the man born blind. He gave him much more besides. He gave him wisdom and the courage to be a witness to God's marvelous works. So the man became better off than those who were born with sight but in fact are blind spiritually. Every disadvantage is a blessing.
The Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church honors St Joseph every day in March.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
The Church proposes St Joseph as a model of humility in the hidden, obedient, and self-forgetting way he lived his vocation as husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. His humility is shown above all in his silence, his prompt obedience to God’s will, and his willingness to serve without recognition.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
THE PHARISEE AND THE TAX COLLECTOR AT PRAYER.
"Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.
“Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’
But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18: 9 - 14).
Saturday 14th March 2026, in the 3rd Week of Lent.
"O God, be merciful to me a sinner."
This is attitude and prayer of the Tax Collector. This becomes our example of the type of prayer that justifies and the prayer that is heard by God.
Here is what the Church teaches on the Prayer of Humility:
"The first movement of the prayer of petition is asking forgiveness, like the tax collector in the parable:
"God, be merciful to me a sinner!"
"It is a prerequisite for righteous and pure prayer. A trusting humility brings us back into the light of communion between the Father and his Son Jesus Christ and with one another, so that "we receive from him whatever we ask."
"Asking forgiveness is the prerequisite for both the Eucharistic liturgy and personal prayer." (CCC 2631).
"Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love; in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions, " (Psalm 51: 3) cried King David after his sins of adultery, cover up and murder.
The prayer of David was heard by God and David went home justified.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor and the humble.
Because of the great mercy of God, God gave the Church Baptism as the great Sacrament of Reconciliation and Regeneration.
Baptism wipes out our sins and the record of our sins.
Does Baptism remove concupiscence, our ingrained tendency to certain sins? It does not.
What then happens to sins that are committed after Baptism?
Jesus Christ gave the Church the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession, Penance) to deal with this crisis and the stubbornness of sin.
Those who are humble like the Tax Collector are justified by this Sacrament and enjoy the mercy and peace of God.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
The Church proposes St Joseph as a model of humility in the hidden, obedient, and self-forgetting way he lived his vocation as husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. His humility is shown above all in his silence, his prompt obedience to God’s will, and his willingness to serve without recognition.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.
THE GOSPEL:
"One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”
"Jesus replied:
“The first is this:
Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
"The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
"The scribe said to him,
“Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
"And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him,
“You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions." (Mark 12: 28 - 34).
Friday 13th March 2026 in the 3rd Week of Lent.
In the Gospel of today from Mark 12, Jesus teaches us the greatest commandment: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
To love the Father with all my heart, mind, soul and all my strength is to embrace God's mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence in everything.
This is to accept God's total governance of the world.
I have been impressed in reading the lives of Saints to see that almost All Saints have profound belief in DIVINE PROVIDENCE. When you understand the sweet doctrine of Divine Providence, you will not be surprised.
Love of God and love of neighbor are the twin pillars of the spiritual life.
St Joseph who we honor in March excel in both.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
Joseph is a man of high purity and chastity. God chose him to be the husband of Mary because God had fitted him with the appropriate graces to protect the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
BE PREPARED FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
"Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
"Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.”
"Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
"But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.
"And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out?
"Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
"When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.
"Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11: 14 - 23).
Today's Scripture points us to reflect on the reality of Spiritual Warfare.
Are you one of those sophisticated "scientific" Christians who despise the reality of demons and spiritual combat?
If you are, think again because you may be in the minority. This is because the Church defines a Catholic as: He who believes in all that is contained in Sacred Scripture and believes everything taught by the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. This includes: The Sacraments, Sacramentals, the Hierarchy, etc.
The Church tesches:
“The whole of man’s history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day.” (Cf CCC 409).
From the Christian Tradition, we sample two great spiritual warriors:
St. Padre Pio: "The devil fears hearts on fire with love of God."
St. Teresa of Ávila:
"Great courage is required in spiritual warfare."
The Season of Lent has been known as a Season of Desert Experience by Christians. This is the period when most Christians are severely tested in their walk with Jesus.
From the RCIA, we learn that Catechumens and Candidates are most tempted to leave the Process at this time.
The Church applies the Rite of Exorcism to help all those preparing to enter the Church at Easter Vigil.
How do we protect ourselves from demonic assaults?
The Church emphasizes sacraments, prayer, and virtue to guard against demonic influence.
The Church has also the battle tested weaponry of the Sacramentals.
CCC 1667: "Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy."
CCC 1670 adds that sacramentals prepare us for grace (unlike sacraments, which confer it ex opere operato) through Church prayer, sanctifying nearly every life event via Christ's Paschal Mystery.
Examples of Sacramentals:
Holy water, crucifix, Bible, Holy Rosary, Chaplet, Sign of the Cross, holy Medals and holy pictures.
All the above are sacramentals.
They all belong to the treasury of graces that Jesus bequeathed His Church.
Use them. Put on the full armor of God always.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
Joseph is a man of high purity and chastity. God chose him to be the husband of Mary because God had fitted him with the appropriate graces to protect the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Church considers St Joseph the greatest Saint after the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joseph is so fittingly named the Patron of the Universal Church. Remember that he was the Guardian of Jesus and in his intercessory role, you can believe that Jesus will deny nothing to Joseph.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
I AM CAME TO COMPLETE THE LAW.
THE GOODNEWS:
"Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5: 17 - 19).
On Wednesday 11th March 2026 in the 3rd Week in Lent, we hear this injunction from the Master:
Study the Law. Observe the Law. Teach the Law.
One dominant theme from today's Mass Readings is:
Teach the Law [the word]. The message comes strongly from the first Reading from Deuteronomy 4 and Matthew 5. Below are the excerpts of the Scriptures:
#1 "Israel, hear the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to observe." (Deuteronomy 4: 1).
#2 "See, I am teaching you the statutes and ordinances as the Lord, my God, has commanded me." (Deuteronomy 4: 5).
#3 "However, be on your guard and be very careful not to forget the things your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children." (Deuteronomy 4: 9).
From the Gospel:
#4 "But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 19).
#5 "Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 19).
The Church is in dire need of teachers of the word of God: catechists and evangelists.
Without teaching and knowledge, a people perishes. (Cf Hosea 4: 6).
Therefore,
+ Believe what you read in the word of God.
+ Practice what you believe.
+ Teach what you practice.
Every Christian who obeys the commandments of God is able to share the same by word and example.
"Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life. (Cf. John 6: 63, 68).
"As for you, dear son of mine, persevere in praying to me. Hold fast to my Rosary and beware of every ploy of the Evil One to separate you from it. My Rosary is your safeguard and your weapon in the fight against the forces of evil. At the same time, for you it is a remedy and a comfort. Do you not see how the Rosary has stabilized you? Do you not experience its healing and all its benefits? Pray my Rosary and teach others to do the same." (IN SINU JESU, Tuesday, December 11, 2007).
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
THE SUPREME PONTIFFS SPEAK ABOUT ST JOSEPH:
1. Pope Leo XIII
(Quamquam Pluries, 1889)
“It is of high importance that the devotion to St Joseph should engraft itself upon the daily pious practices of Catholics; for he is, after the Blessed Virgin, the most powerful intercessor and protector of the Church.”
2. Pope Pius IX (Decree proclaiming St Joseph Patron of the Universal Church, 1870)
“Next to the Blessed Virgin, St Joseph is the greatest saint and the most powerful protector of the Church of Christ.”
3. Pope John Paul II
(Redemptoris Custos, 1989)
“The Church implores his protection because Joseph belonged to the order of the hypostatic union; through him and under him Christ was fittingly introduced into the world and into his Church.”
4. Pope Francis
(Patris Corde, 2020)
“Each of us can discover in Joseph — the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence — an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble.”
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
FORGIVE 7 MILLION TIMES.
"Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?”
"Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
"That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
"When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
"Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.
"At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
"Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.
"When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’
"Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
"But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt.
"Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.
"His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’
"Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18: 21 - 35).
Tuesday March 10th 2026 in the 3rd Week of Lent.
God said to Moses : I am a God of mercy and compassion. Be holy as I am holy.
If we receive mercy from God, we must show mercy to others. It is not okay to say that it is difficult to forgive.
Sirach portrays a divine quid pro quo when it comes to forgiving our neighbor. "Forgive your neighbor the wrong done to you; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven." (Sirach 28: 2).
"Can one refuse mercy to a sinner like oneself, yet seek pardon for one’s own sins?" (Sirach 28: 4).
Notice the punchline in Sirach: "A sinner like yourself."
Jesus says the same in today's Gospel:
"I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?" (Matthew 18: 32 - 33).
I have struggled with the question of forgiveness. Below is what I learned:
#1 Forgive the offense immediately. Everywhere, always, for everything, for everyone without discrimination.
#2 Pray blessings on the offender morning and evening. Continue to pray for the offender until you are healed of the hurt.
#3 Ask God to grant the grace to everyone you have offended to forgive you and set you free. I practiced #1 and #2 for years before it occurred to me that there are people out there that I have offended.
#4 If you do not read the word of God regularly, you will never understand anything about God's mercy and will find it difficult to forgive.
Psalm 103 is my favorite on the mercy of God.
"The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion."
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HEALING OF NAAMAN
THE WORD OF GOD:
"Naaman, the army commander of the king of Aram, was highly esteemed and respected by his master, for through him the Lord had brought victory to Aram.
But valiant as he was, the man was a leper.
Now the Arameans had captured in a raid on the land of Israel a little girl, who became the servant of Naaman’s wife.
“If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria,” she said to her mistress, “he would cure him of his leprosy.”
Naaman went and told his lord just what the slave girl from the land of Israel had said.
“Go,” said the king of Aram. “I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.”
So Naaman set out, taking along ten silver talents, six thousand gold pieces, and ten festal garments.
To the king of Israel he brought the letter, which read:
“With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”
When he read the letter, the king of Israel tore his garments and exclaimed:
“Am I a god with power over life and death, that this man should send someone to me to be cured of leprosy?
Take note! You can see he is only looking for a quarrel with me!”
When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his garments, he sent word to the king:
“Why have you torn your garments? Let him come to me and find out that there is a prophet in Israel.”
Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house.
The prophet sent him the message: “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean.”
But Naaman went away angry, saying,
“I thought that he would surely come out and stand there to invoke the Lord his God, and would move his hand over the spot, and thus cure the leprosy.
Are not the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than all the waters of Israel?
Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?”
With this, he turned about in anger and left.
But his servants came up and reasoned with him.
“My father,” they said, “if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it?
All the more now, since he said to you, ‘Wash and be clean,’ should you do as he said.”
So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
He returned with his whole retinue to the man of God.
On his arrival he stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.” (2 Kings 5: 1 - 15).
Monday 9th March 2026 in the 3rd Week of Lent.
The healing of Naaman is one of the most dramatic miracles in the Bible.
Naaman had his own ideas about how he would be healed.
His preconception and programming nearly deprived him of his cure.
Our battles often are in our minds. Naaman did not know that:
± For God everything is possible. Everything is easy. “All things serve you.” (Psalm 119: 91)
± God’s ways are not our ways.
± God’s thoughts are not our thoughts.
± God is master of means.
± God is the Lord of times and seasons.
When we compare Naaman’s behavior with that of the Centurion in Matthew 8: 5 – 13, we understand that faith is a simple and childlike trust in God’s word.
The centurion knew that the power of God can work through words and through space.
Naaman wanted something more tangible as in pagan practices, for example: incantations, rituals, sacred dances etc.
Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick are the 7 Sacraments of the Church instituted by the Lord Jesus.
These 7 Sacraments are outward signs of inner grace (power).
The Healing of Naaman the Leper foreshadows the Sacraments.
Naaman's bath at the River Jordan at first appeared to him as a ridiculous sign.
But it accomplished a mighty healing. It foreshadows the Sacrament of Baptism.
Our faith contains our obedience.
God’s word is always effective and sufficient.
The Church teaches in
CCC 694 (symbolism of water and the Spirit) in the cleansing of Naaman in the Jordan.
The symbolism of water signifies the Holy Spirit’s action in Baptism… the water of Baptism truly signifies that our birth into the divine life is given to us in the Holy Spirit.
"Only water joined to Christ’s blessing and the Trinitarian invocation truly heals and saves." Ambrose emphasizes.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
GIVE ME THE LIVING WATER.
THE GOSPEL:
John 4:5-42
"Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar,
near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Jacob’s well was there.
Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.
It was about noon.
A woman of Samaria came to draw water.
Jesus said to her,
“Give me a drink.”
His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.
The Samaritan woman said to him,
“How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”
—For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.—
Jesus answered and said to her,
“If you knew the gift of God
and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘
you would have asked him
and he would have given you living water.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep;
where then can you get this living water?
Are you greater than our father Jacob,
who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself
with his children and his flocks?”
Jesus answered and said to her,
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst;.
the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty
or have to keep coming here to draw water.”
Jesus said to her,
“Go call your husband and come back.”
The woman answered and said to him,
“I do not have a husband.”
Jesus answered her,
“You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’
For you have had five husbands,
and the one you have now is not your husband.
What you have said is true.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, I can see that you are a prophet.
Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain;
but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus said to her,
“Believe me, woman, the hour is coming
when you will worship the Father
neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
You people worship what you do not understand;.
we worship what we understand,
because salvation is from the Jews.
But the hour is coming, and is now here,
when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth;.
and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.
God is Spirit, and those who worship him
must worship in Spirit and truth.”
The woman said to him,
“I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ;
when he comes, he will tell us everything.”
Jesus said to her,
“I am he, the one speaking with you.”
At that moment his disciples returned,
and were amazed that he was talking with a woman,
but still no one said,
“What are you looking for?”
or “Why are you talking with her?”
The woman left her water jar
and went into the town and said to the people,
“Come see a man who told me everything I have done.
Could he possibly be the Christ?”
They went out of the town and came to him.
Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.”
But he said to them,
“I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
So the disciples said to one another,
“Could someone have brought him something to eat?”
Jesus said to them,
“My food is to do the will of the one who sent me
and to finish his work.
Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here’?
I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest.
The reaper is already receiving payment
and gathering crops for eternal life,
so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together.
For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.’
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for;
others have done the work,
and you are sharing the fruits of their work.”
Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him
because of the word of the woman who testified,
“He told me everything I have done.”
When the Samaritans came to him,
they invited him to stay with them;
and he stayed there two days.
Many more began to believe in him because of his word,
and they said to the woman,
“We no longer believe because of your word;
for we have heard for ourselves,
and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.” (John 4: 5 - 42).
Sunday 8th March 2026 is the 3rd Sunday in Lent.
Our reflection comes from the story of the Samaritan Woman.
Jesus and the Samaritan woman talked about water near Jacob’s Well.
At first, the woman thought Jesus was talking of ordinary water.
Water in the Bible symbolizes the Holy Spirit.
The theme of this Sunday is the big "Gift of God", the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the Lord and Giver of life.
He is the Abundant life promised by Jesus in John 10: 10.
He is also called the Spirit of God, Spirit of Truth, Paraclete, Counselor, Advocate, and Comforter, The Promise of Father.
Last week, we read and reflected on the Story of the Transfiguration of Jesus.
Peter, James and John experienced the splendor of the transfigured Jesus on Mount Tabor.
This experience big as it is, did not give them a robust faith in Jesus as the Messiah who must suffer death and rise from the dead. What was the missing ingredient?
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8).
On Pentecost Sunday, the "Promise of the Father" was delivered to the disciples gathered in the Upper Room.
The Holy Spirit was the game changer. He descended on the disciples with His 7 gifts:
Wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
The disciples received too the fruits of the Holy Spirit which transformed their character. These fruits are:
Charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity.
You see the gifts in action every day in Christians.
Jesus promises that by these characteristics people will know that we are Christians.
Lord Jesus, Word of God give me the living water, so that I may never get thirsty.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
WELCOME HOME PRODIGAL.
"Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
"So to them Jesus addressed this parable.
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
"After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
"When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.
"Coming to his senses
he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger.
"I shall get up and go to my father
and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
"So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
"But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’
"Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
"He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
"He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’” (Luke15:1-3, 11-32).
Saturday March 7th in the 2nd Week in Lent.
I see God’s face of mercy in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
The Mass Scriptures proclaim the Father’s merciful love in the Parable of the Prodigal Son.
The Father of the Prodigal who is a type of Abba Father is kind and merciful.
The Gospel of the Parable of the Prodigal Son dives into the depth of the Father’s bottomless mercy.
This divine Message from Jesus our Teacher sounds too good to be true but is true.
God our Father will pursue us with His merciful love to bring us home even when we are stubborn and incorrigible.
How can we believe this with certainty?
God's merciful love of His people is a constant theme of the prophets.
Look at the Tradition of the Church:
The Conversion of St Paul, Saints Francis of Asissi, Ignatius Loyola, John of God, Mary Magdalene, etc.
All the above examples are application of the Principles of Mercy.
Faith comes through hearing. Hearing the word and testimonies of Sacred Scripture and and the people who have been touched by God's mercy and believing what you hear.
"I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers." (Luke 15: 18 - 19).
The Scriptures reveal to us in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus Christ is the Face of mercy of God the Father.
How do we apply this truth to our needs?
The ABC of Mercy:
Ask for Mercy.
Be Merciful.
Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.
Jesus explained to St. Maria Faustina that there are three ordinary, daily ways to exercise mercy:
1. By deed: concrete acts of charity and service for your neighbor.
2. By word: speaking with mercy, defending, consoling, forgiving, and teaching the truth in love. .
3. By prayer: praying for others, especially sinners, the suffering, and those who hurt us.
He told her:
“I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first – by deed, the second – by word, the third – by prayer.
In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me.
By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy” (Diary of St. Faustina, 742)
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is God the Father and Teacher of mankind teaching His children how to be and how to do Mercy.
St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.
From the Litany of St Joseph:
Joseph most faithful. Pray for us.
Mirror of patience. Pray for us.
Lover of poverty.
Pray for us.
For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:
