God created us for love. He made sure that everything in us and our whole being is oriented in love.

The only way to grow in love is to let ourselves be loved by God, to remember

and reflect on his goodness every day and to allow his love and mercy to move us to love.

If we love God, we love those whom God loves.

 

St. John of God, religious Day of abstinence from meat

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Hosea 14:2-10

Return to your God,

 The hucksters and money-changers were profiteering from people's piety,

exercising a kind of monopoly that battened on the good will of the worshippers. Trade had taken over from prayer.

his driving out the sheep and cattle, he pouring out the coins and overturning the tables,

his order for the dove-sellers to remove the doves and for the temple to cease being a marketplace — is to bring the selling to a halt.

Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Exodus 20:1-17

God spoke

They attributed it to Beelzebul, the prince of demons. This makes Jesus the agent of the devil.

Jesus showed that He has power over evil spirits.

Jesus did a good work, curing a man who was mute. Yet some of those around him did not recognise his goodness.

Jesus, the Son of God, who willingly gave his life that we might have life. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”

 

Sts. Perpetua & Felicity, martyrs

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Jeremiah 7:23-28

One thing I did command them:

 

 

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Genesis 1:1-2:2 (or 1:1, 26-31a) 

Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35

 

Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 The Law and the Prophets are the two central pillars of faith in the Hebrew Bible.

Jesus came not to displace either of them and thereby completing them.

Jesus does not abolish the Law but comes to give it a deeper meaning and insight.

At a time when the Teachers of the Law and the Scribes

and Pharisees are preoccupied with its letter, He points to the spirit of the Law.

O Lord, “Make me to know your ways; teach me your paths.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9

And now, Israel,

 Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for March:
"For the martyrs of our day, witnesses to Christ".

The Holy Father emphasises that there will always be martyrs among us and that

"this is a sign that we are on the right path" as the courage and witness of the martyrs, "is a blessing for everyone".

Thus, Pope Francis invites all the faithful to pray for those who risk their lives for the Gospel.

“imbue the Church with their courage and missionary drive.”

 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20

 

Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 The Lord is kind and merciful.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32*

(...) Jesus continued,

Peter asks: How many times should I forgive? Seven times?

it is when you give that you receive. You are rich when you share.

The multiplier effect of heaven is dependent on our openness to bring to others what God brought to us in generosity.

"So will my heavenly Father do with you, unless you sincerely forgive your brothers and sisters."

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊      

Daniel 3:25, 34-43*

Azariah stood up

Neither Joseph nor Jesus takes revenge;

both become the cornerstones for the redemption of the very families that rejected them.

In this parable of the ungrateful tenants, They forgot the fact that they were only stewards not the master.

The Lord is giving us a chance for conversion. The world is the Lord’s. We are but his stewards.

  

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a*

(...)They saw him

 " no prophet is his own native place."

He is the son of Joseph, but also the Son of God.

But this is not an acceptable thought to the congregation of his birth.

Jesus' mission was to all, especially the lost sheep and the ‘pagans'.

missionaries came to our land to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, Your Son,

to our ancestors that made us Your people, to be witnesses of Jesus.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

2 Kings 5:1-15b*

Naaman was the army commander

 The rich young man who asks Jesus how he can inherit eternal life is told
that he is to sell all he has and distribute the money to the poor.

When this makes him sad (because of his wealth)
Jesus comments that the rich tend to have more difficulty entering the kingdom of God .

Pope Francis once said that the person of Lazarus teaches us.

They are also children of our God that deserve our acceptance, respect and love.

In this Lenten season, let us be reminded of the need for renewal in our relationship with one another.

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Jeremiah 17:5-10

This is what Yahweh says,