5th Sunday of Lent

Date: March 21, 2010

First reading (Isaiah 43: 16-21)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
Thus says the Lord, who opened a way through the sea and a path in the mighty waters, who brought down chariots and horses, a whole army of them, and there they lay, never to rise again, snuffed out like a wick. But do not dwell on the past, or remember the things of old. Look, I am doing a new thing: now it springs forth. Do you not see? I am opening up a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beasts of the land will honor me, jackals and ostriches, because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert that my chosen people may drink. I have formed these people for myself; they will proclaim my praise.

Second reading (Philippians 3: 8-14)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.
Brothers and sisters: I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have let everything fall away and I know consider all as garbage, if instead I may gain Christ. May I be found in him, without merit or holiness of my own for having fulfilled the Law, but with the holiness which comes through faith in Christ, the holiness given by God which depends on faith in Christ Jesus. May I know him and experience the power of his resurrection and share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, and attain through this, God willing, the resurrection from the dead! I do not believe I have already reached the goal, nor do I consider myself perfect, but I press on till I conquer Christ Jesus, as I have already been conquered by him. No, brothers and sisters, I do not claim to have claimed the prize yet. I say only this: forgetting what is behind me, I race forward and run towards the goal, my eyes on the prize to which God has called us from above in Christ Jesus.

Gospel (John 8: 1-11)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
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 stated, "this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now the Law of Moses orders that such women should be stoned to death; but you, what do you say?" They stated 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 the people continued to ask him, he straightened up and stated to them, "Let anyone among you who has no sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Jesus returned back into 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 ask her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one." And Jesus stated, "Neither do I condemn you. Now go, and never sin again."

4th Sunday of Lent

Date: March 14, 2010

First Reading (Joshua 5: 9-12)
A reading from the book of Joshua.
The Lord stated to Joshua: "Today I have removed from you the shame of Egypt." The Israelites encamped in Gilgal where they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the following day, they ate of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain on that very day. And from that day on when they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. There was no more manna for the Israelites, and that year they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan.

Second Reading (2 Corinthians 5: 17-21)
A reading from the second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters: The one who is in Christ is a new creature. For him the old things have passed away; a new world has come. All this is the work of God who in Christ reconciled us to himself, and who entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation. Because in Christ God reconciled the world with himself, no longer taking into account their trespasses and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we present ourselves as ambassadors in the name of Christ, as if God himself makes an appeal to you through us. Let God reconcile you; this we ask you in the name of Christ. He had no sin, but God made him bear our sin, so that in him we might share the holiness of God.

Gospel (Luke 15: 1-3 and 11-32)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Tax collectors and sinners were seeking the company of Jesus, all of them eager to hear what he had to say. But the Pharisees and the scribes frowned at this, muttering. "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Therefore, Jesus addressed this parable: "There was a man with two sons. The younger son proposed to the father: 'Give me my share of the estate.' Thus, the father divided his property between them. Some days later, the younger son gathered all his belongings and started off for a distant land where he squandered his wealth in loose living. Having spent everything, he was hard pressed when a severe famine broke out in that land. So he hired himself out to a well-to-do citizen of that place and was sent to work on a pig farm. So famished was he that he longed to fill his stomach even with the food given to the pigs, but nobody offered him anything. Finally coming to his senses, he stated: 'How many of my father's hired workers have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will get up and go back to my father and state to him: Father, I have sinned against God and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me then as one of your hired servants.' With that thought in mind, he set off for his father's house. He was still a long way off when his father caught sight of him. His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet his son, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. The son stated: 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you. I no longer deserve to be called your son...' His father did not hear that. Instead, the father turned to his servants: 'Quick! Bring out the finest robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and kill it. We shall celebrate and have a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and is found.' And the celebration commenced. Meanwhile, the elder son had been working in the fields. As he returned and was near the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what it was all about. The servant answered: 'Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father is so happy about it that he was ordered this celebration and killed the fattened calf.' The elder son became angry and refused to go inside. His father came out and pleaded with him. The indignant son stated: 'Look, I have slaved for you all these years. Never have I disobeyed your orders. Yet you have never given me even a young goat to celebrate with my friends. Then when this son of yours returns after squandering your property with loose women, you kill the fattened calf for him.' The father stated: "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But this brother of yours was dead, and has come back to life. he was lost and is found. And for that we had to rejoice and be glad.'"

3rd Sunday of Lent

Date: March 7, 2010

First Reading (Exodus 3: 1-8a and 13-15)
A reading from the book of Exodus.
Moses pastured the sheep of Jethro, his father-in-law, priest of Midian. One day he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the Mountain of God. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses by means of a flame of fire in the middle of a bush. Moses saw that although the bush was on fire, it did not burn up. Moses thought, "I will go and see this amazing sight, why is the bush not burning up?" The Lord saw that Moses drawing near to look, and God called to him from the middle of the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He replied, "Here I am." The Lord stated to him, "Do not come near, take off your sandals because the place where you are standing is holy ground." And God continued, "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face lest his eyes look on God. The Lord stated, "I have seen the humiliation of my people in Egypt and I hear their cry when they are cruelly treated by their taskmasters. I know their suffering. I have come down to free them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a beautiful spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Moses answered God, "If I go to the Israelites and say to them: 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' they will ask me: 'What is his name?' What shall I answer them?" God stated to Moses, "I AM WHO AM. This is what you will say to the sons of Israel: 'I AM sent me to you.'" God then stated to Moses, "You will say to the Israelites: 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me.' That will be my name forever, and by this name they shall call upon me for all generations to come."

Second Reading (1 Corinthians 10: 1-6 and 10-12)
A reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, about our ancestors. All of them were under the cloud and all crossed the sea. All underwent the baptism of the land and of the sea to join Moses, and all of them ate from the same spiritual food, and all of them drank from the same spiritual drink. For you know that they drank from a spiritual rock following them, and the rock was Christ. However, most of them did not please God, and the desert was strewn with their bodies. All of this happened as an example for us, so that we might not become people of evil desires, as they did. Do not grumble as some of them did and were cut down by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as an example, and they were written as a warning for us, as the last times come upon us. Therefore, if you think you stand, beware, lest you fall.

Gospel (Luke 13: 1-9)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
One day some people told Jesus what had occurred in the Temple: Pilate had Galileans killed and their blood mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus replied, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this? I tell you: no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did. And those eighteen people in Siloah who were crushed when the tower fell, do you think they were more guilty than all the others in Jerusalem? I tell you: no. But unless you change your ways, you will all perish as they did." And Jesus continued with this story, "A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard and he came looking for fruit on it, but found none. Then he stated to the gardener: 'Look here, for three years now I have been looking for figs on this tree and I have found none. Cut it down, why should it use up the ground?' The gardener replied: 'Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertilizer; and perhaps it will bear fruit from now on. But if it does not, you can cut it down.'"

2nd Sunday of Lent

Date: February 28, 2010

First Reading (Genesis 15: 5–12 and 17–18)
A reading from the book of Genesis.
The Lord God brought Abram outside and stated to him, "Look up at the sky and count the stars if you can. Your descendants will like that." Abram believed in the Lord who, because of this, held him to be an upright man. And he stated, "I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession." Then Abram asked, "My Lord, how am I to know that it shall be mine?" The Lord replied, "Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove and a young pigeon." Abram brought all these animals, cut them in two, and laid each half facing its other half, but he did cut the birds in half. The birds of prey came down upon them, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep came over Abram, and a dreadful darkness took hold of him. When the sun had already set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between the halves of the victims. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, stating, "To your descendants I have given this country from the river of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates."

Second Reading (Philippians 3:17 – 4:1)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.
Unite in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and look at those who walk in our way of life. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. I have stated it to you many times, and now I repeat it with tears: they are heading for ruin; their belly is their god and they feel proud of what should be their shame. They only think of earthly things. For us, citizenship is in heaven, from where we await the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord. He will transfigure our lowly body, making it like his own body, radiant in Glory, through the power which is his to submit everything to himself.

Gospel (Luke 9: 28b–36)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up to the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became dazzling white. Two men were conversing with Jesus: Moses and Elijah. They had just appeared in heavenly glory and were telling him about his departure that had to take place in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had fallen asleep, but they awoke suddenly and saw Jesus' Glory and the two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter stated to Jesus, "Master, how good it is for us to be here, for we can make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." For Peter did not know what to say. And no sooner had he spoken than a cloud appeared and covered them; and the disciples were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then these words came from the cloud: "This is my Son, my Chosen one, listen to him." And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was alone; Moses and Elijah had vanished. The disciples kept this to themselves at the time, telling no one of anything they had seen.

1st Sunday of Lent

Date: February 20, 2010

First Reading (Deuteronomy 26: 4–10)
A reading from the book of Deuteronomy.
Moses proclaimed to the people, "The priest shall take the large basket from your hands and place it before the altar of the Lord, your God, and you shall say these words before the Lord, 'My father was a wandering Aramean. He went down to Egypt to find refuge there, while still few in number; but in that country, he became a great and powerful nation. The Egyptians maltreated us, oppressed us and subjected us to harsh slavery. So we called to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord listened to us. He saw our humiliation, our hard labor and the oppression to which we were subjected. He brought us out of Egypt with a firm hand, manifesting his power with signs and awesome wonders. And he brought us here to give us this land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring and offer the firstfruits of the land which you, the Lord, have given me.'"

Second Reading (Romans 10: 8–13)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.
Brothers and sisters: What does Scripture say? The word of God is near your, on your lips and in your hearts. This is the message that we preach, and this is faith. You are saved if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart you believe that God raised him from the dead. By believing from the heart, you obtain true righteousness; by confessing the faith with your lips you are saved. For Scripture says: No one who believes in him will be ashamed. Here there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; all have the same Lord, who is very generous with whoever calls on him. Truly, all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

Gospel (Luke 4: 1–13)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Jesus was now full of Holy Spirit as he returned from the Jordan, the Spirit led him into the desert where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. He did not eat anything during that time, and in the end, he was hungry. The devil then stated to him, "If you are the son of God, tell this stone to transform into bread." However, Jesus answered, "But the Scripture states: People cannot live on bread alone." Then the devil took him up to a high place and shows him in a flash all the nations of the world. And he stated to Jesus, "I can give your power over all the nations and their wealth have been delivered to me and I give them to whom I wish. All this will be yours provided you worship me." But Jesus replied, "But the Scripture states: You shall worship the Lord your God and serve him alone." Then the devil took Jesus up to Jerusalem and set him on the highest wall of the Temple; and he stated, "If you are the son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written in the Scriptures: God will order his angels to take care of you and again: They will hold you in their hands, lest you hurt your foot against the stones." But Jesus replied, "But Scripture also states: You shall not challenge the Lord your God." When the devil had exhausted every way of tempting Jesus, he left him, to return another time.

Ash Wednesday

Date: February 17, 2010

First Reading (Joel 2: 12-18)
A reading from the book of Joel.
The Lord says, "Yet even now, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning. Rend your heart, not your garment. Return to the Lord, your God — gracious and compassionate." The Lord is slow to anger, full of kindness and he repents of having punished. Who knows? Probably he will relent once more and spare some part of the harvest from which we may bring sacred offerings to the Lord, your God. Blow the trumpet in Zion, proclaim a sacred fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather the people, sanctify the community, bring together the elders, even the children and infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his bed, and the bride her room. Between the vestibule and the altar, let the priests, the Lord's ministers, weep and say: Spare your people, O Lord. Do not humble them or make them an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be stated among the peoples: Where is their God? Yahweh has become jealous for his land; he has had pity on his people.

Second Reading (2 Corinthians 5:20 – 6:2)
A reading from the second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters: So we present ourselves as ambassadors in the name of Christ, as if God himself makes an appeal to you; through us. Let God reconcile you, this we ask you in the name of Christ. He had no sin, but God made him bear our sin, so that in him we might share the holiness of God. Being God's helpers we implore you, let it not be in vain that you received this grace of God. For the Scripture says: At the favorable time I listened to you, on the day of salvation I helped you. This is the favorable time and this is the day of salvation.

Gospel (Matthew 6: 1-6 and 16-18)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Jesus states this by teaching his disciples up on the mountain: "Be careful not to make a show of your righteousness before people. If you do so, you will not gain anything from your Father in heaven. When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you, as do those who want to be seen in the synagogues and in the streets in order to be praised by the people. I assure you, they have been already paid in full. If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your gift remains really secret. Your Father who sees what is kept confidential, shall reward you. When you pray, do not be like those who want to be seen. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues or on street corners to be seen by everyone. I assure you, they have already been paid in full. When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is with you in secret; and your Father who sees what is kept confidential, shall reward you. When you fast, do not put on a miserable face as what the hypocrites do. They put on a gloomy face, so people can see that they are fasting. I tell you this: they have been paid in full already. When you fast, wash your face and make yourself look cheerful, because you are not fasting for appearances or for people, but for your Father who sees beyond appearances. And your Father, who sees what is kept confidential, shall reward you."

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Date; February 14, 2010

First reading (Jeremiah 17: 5–8)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah.
This is what the Lord says, "Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings and depends on a mortal for his life, while his heart is drawn away from the Lord! He is like a bunch of thistles in dry land, in parched desert places, in a salt land where nobody lives and who never finds happiness. Blessed is the man who puts his trust in the Lord and whose confidence is in him! He is like a tree planted by the water, sending out its roots towards the stream."

Second reading (1 Corinthians 15: 12 and 16–20)
A reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters: If Christ is preached as risen from the dead, how can some of your say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith gives you nothing, and you are still in sin. Also those who fall asleep in Christ are lost. If it is only for this life that we hope in Christ, we are the most unfortunate of all people. But no, Christ has been raised from the dead and he comes before all those who have fallen asleep.

Gospel (Luke 6: 17 and 20–26)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Coming down the hill with them, Jesus stood on a level place. Many of his disciples were there and a large crowd of people who had come from all parts of Judea and Jerusalem and from the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon. Then Jesus, lifting up his eyes to his disciples, he stated, "Fortunate are you who are poor, the kingdom of God is yours. Fortunate are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Fortunate are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Fortunate are you when people hate you, when they reject you and insult you and number among criminals, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. Remember that is how the ancestors of this people treated the prophets. But alas for you who have wealth, for you have been comforted now. Alas for you who are full, for you will go hungry. Alas for you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Alas for you when people speak well of you, for that is how the ancestors of these people treated the false prophets."