Righteousness EZEKIEL 18:21-28; PSALM 129; MATTHEW 5:20-26 “I prefer to see the wicked man renounce his wickedness and live” The first reading tells us that God does not rejoice in the death of a wicked man but in his conversion. Interior conversion pleases the Lord. What is rampart today can at best be described as […]
Monthly Archives: March 2022
09
Mar
Mar
Prayer ESTHER 14:1, 3-5, 12-14; PSALM 138; MATTHEW 7:7-12 Prayer is the central theme of today’s readings. In the first reading, Queen Esther took refuge in the Lord as King Ahasuerus set out to eliminate the Jews. She prayed to the Lord God of Israel, and said: “Lord, thou only art our King; […]
08
Mar
Mar
JONAH 3:1-10; PSALM 51; LUKE 11:29-32 Repentance Jonah was sent by God to the people of Nineveh to warn them about the coming wrath if they don’t turn from their evil ways. They received Jonah’s message with so much remorse, declared fasting and penance and repented. God relented because they repented. God loves repentance! Nineveh’s […]
07
Mar
Mar
Forgiveness ISAIAH 55:10-11; PSALM 34; MATTHEW 6:7-15 The gospel presents us with the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus gives us a model of prayer in the “Our Father”. The prayer begins with a focus on God. Often times our prayers tend to focus on our situations, wants and fears rather than God. This prayer comes in […]
06
Mar
Mar
The Separation Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18, Ps. 19:8-10,15, Matthew 25:31-46 The Separation of the sheep from the goats is a parable strongly encourages Christians to take action to help those in need. Jesus says; “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did […]
06
Mar
Mar
DEU.26:4-10/ ROM.10:8-13/GOSPEL READING: LUKE 4:1-13 ************** Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai JESUS’ TEMPTATIONS AND OURS Today’s gospel reminds us that there is a temptation special to those who stand at prayer. In fact the closer you are to God the greater the temptation. In the Bible the word temptation primarily denotes a trial in which man has a […]
04
Mar
Mar
ISAIAH 58:9-14; PSALM 86; LUKE 5:27-32 Charity The first reading says “if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.” This statement simply implies charity. Charity is one of the basic themes of lent […]
03
Mar
Mar
Isaiah 58:1-9; Psalm 51; Matthew 9:14-15 Isaiah speaks of a true fast as against putting up a false impression. For him, true fast makes us to renounce our transgressions and engage in practical works of mercy. Similarly, in the gospel the theme of fasting was the subject of debate between the disciples of John […]
02
Mar
Mar
DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20; PSALM 1; LUKE 9:22-25 Choose Eternal Life See, “I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.” Moses asked the people to make a choice between life and death. If they obey God’s commandments they will live; but if they don’t they will certainly be destroyed. Beloved, let us keep God’s […]
01
Mar
Mar
JOEL 2:12-18; PSALM 51; 2CORINTHIANS 5:20-6:2; MATTHEW 6:1-6, 16-18 Today marks the beginning of the Lenten season. It is the great penitential season of the Church and it shall come to a close approximately six weeks later, the night before Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in […]