Friday, March 20, 2026

 

Friday of the Fourth Week in Lent

(Wisdom 2:1a.12-22; John 7:1-2.25-30)

In both readings today, arrogant men claim to know the motives and destinies of just ones.  The reading from the Book of Wisdom shows the self-righteous judging a good person.  They resent the good person who points their faults and acts in ways contrary to their own. (Think of Richard Rich treatment of Thomas More in A Man for all Seasons.)

In the gospel the men of Jerusalem claim to know Jesus because they have heard where he is from.  They presume -- like Nathanael in the gospel’s opening scene: “’ Can anything good come from Nazareth?’”  But they are wrong.  Before Jesus grew up in Nazareth, he was with the Father from all eternity. 

We profess faith in Jesus, the Just One.  His life reveals to us who we are.  Like the men of Jerusalem condemning Jesus, we are sinners given to think of ourselves as better than others.  But when we repent of our sins as he preached, we experience the reconciliation he achieved on the cross.  Also, through his resurrection from the dead he instills in us a never-ending life of virtue.

Thursday, March 19, 2026

 

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(II Samuel 7:4a-5.12-14a.16; Romans 4:13.16-18.22; Matthew 1:18.18-21.24a)

In today’s gospel Joseph has a dilemma on his hands.  According to the Law, Mary should be put to death for seemingly having relations with another man while betrothed to Joseph.  But Joseph is “a righteous man”, who pursues the purpose of the Law.  As Jesus will tell the Pharisees later in the Gospel, that purpose is to exhibit “justice, mercy, and faithfulness.” Although the text does not say so directly, Joseph resolves his dilemma with prayer.  As righteous, Joseph constantly prays.  Moreover, he is obviously in touch with the Lord when the angel intermediary tells him to take Mary into his home. 

For the last three decades a dilemma has been building in the United States.  Millions of immigrants live here illegally.  Righteous Americans know that just laws must be obeyed.  They also realize that many of the undocumented have contributed significantly to the common good and have little to return to in their native countries.  Lawmakers should seek God’s help in forging a just resolution to the crisis.

All of us face similar situations from time to time.  We need to do what is right and to show love for neighbor.  Prudence will move us to ask the Lord for guidance.  Under the Spirit’s direction we will make decisions that result in the good of all involved.   

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

 

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

(Isaiah 49:8-15; John 5:17-30)

A lawyer and his ten-year-old son regularly attended Sunday Mass together.  The two were noticeable especially when they stood for the gospel.  Both looked intently at the missalette in his hand as they followed the reading of the deacon.  The boy was imitating his father.  In today’s gospel Jesus defends his healing on the Sabbath as likewise doing what his Father does.

As if he were on trial, Jesus is answering the accusations of the Jews.  He says that he does what and when he does because he is learning from his Father.  Since his Father heals, he heals.  Since his Father does so on the Sabbath, so does he.  In a sense, Jesus is on trial.  In the Gospel of John, unlike the other gospels, there is no judicial process before the Sanhedrin on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion. John chooses instead to have “the “Jews” force Jesus to defend himself at various points in his Gospel.  He is accused of crimes like working on the Sabbath and planning to tear down the Temple.  Despite the coherence of Jesus’ defense, the Jews will press Pilate to execute him.

Jesus came among us to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah in today’s first reading.  He is the favored Son of God sent to heal the wounds of the world.  The very Jews, who accuse him in the gospel, are the first beneficiaries of his coming.  But the rest of the world follows in far greater numbers.  We will bear witness to Jesus’ healing in the coming weeks.

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

(Ezekiel 47:1-9.12; John 5:1-16)

A few Christians may think of the Jerusalem Temple as a place of worthless sacrifice and false piety. Jesus did predict its destruction, and three gospels tell of its veil being sundered at Jesus’ death.  However, Luke’s Gospel and Acts of the Apostles along with most of Scripture see the Temple in a positive light.  Today’s reading from Ezekiel tells why. The Temple has served for centuries as a font of life-giving grace.

Nevertheless, today gospel testifies that Jesus replaces the Temple as the source of grace.  He restores health to the sick man who has long waited in vain at the Temple’s gate.  Jesus shows himself to be living water more effective than the Temple’s.  He bestows life in abundance.

Rather than dwell on the shortcomings of the Temple, we should see it as a provisional measure.  In it God prepared Israel for the coming of His Son.  The animal holocausts offered there for the forgiveness of sins help us appreciate Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  The beauty and magnificence of its structure bespoke God’s presence.  Now we find God’s integral presence in His Son.

Monday, March 16, 2026

 Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent

 (Isaiah 65:17-21; John 4:43-54)

 The “Age of Aquarius” portends the dawn of an age of peace based on astrological signs.  Some believed it arrived in the 1960s and 1970s with the hippie culture.  But that peace has proved delusional perhaps because hippies did not ground their hope in righteous living.  The readings today proclaim a more credible age of fulfillment with Jesus.

 In the first reading the prophet Isaiah announces that God is about to create something wonderful.  There will be no more fleeing one’s land because of war or famine.  Rather people will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of the gardens they plant.  They will survive well beyond a hundred years because of their righteousness.

 We find the completion of this prophecy in Jesus.  As the gospel indicates, he restores health to those who believe in him.  Of course, we need to ask, “Why do not people live forever?”  But don’t we share that hope in Jesus?  Just as he rose from the dead to live in glory, we -- his followers – expect to enjoy eternal life without discomfort or distress.