Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

Date: April 9, 2017

Gospel (Matthew 21: 1–11)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

When they drew near Jerusalem and arrived at Bethphage, on the mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, stating, "Go to the village in front of you, and there you will find a donkey tied up with its colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone states something to you, state: The Lord needs them but he will send them back immediately." This happened in fulfillment of what the prophet stated: Say to the daughter of Zion: See, your king comes to you in all simplicity, riding on a donkey, a beast of burden, with its colt. The disciples went as Jesus had instructed them, and they brought the donkey with its colt. Then they threw their cloaks on its back, and Jesus sat on them. Many people also spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The people who walked ahead of Jesus and those who followed him began to shout: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna, glory in the highest!" When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was disturbed. The people asked, "Who is this man?" And the crowd answered, "This is the Prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee."

First Reading (Isaiah 50: 4–7)

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

The Lord God has taught me so I speak as his disciple and I know how to sustain the weary. Morning after morning he wakes me up to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord God has opened my ear. I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn. I offered my back to those who strike me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face from blows, spittle and disgrace. I have not despaired, for the Lord God comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced.

Second Reading (Philippians 2: 6–11)

A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.

Though being divine in nature, he did not claim in fact equality with God, but emptied himself, taking on the nature of a servant, made in human likeness, and in his appearance found as a man. He humbled himself by being obedient to death, death on a cross. That is why God exalted him and gave him the Name which outshines all names, so that at the Name of Jesus all knees should bend in heaven, on earth and among the dead, and all tongues proclaim that Christ Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel (Matthew 26:14 – 27:66)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went off to the chief priests and stated, "How much will you give me if I hand him over to you?" They promised to give him thirty pieces of silver, and from then on he kept looking for the best way to hand him over to him. On the first day of the Festival of the Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and stated to him, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?" Jesus answered, "Go into the city, to the house of a certain man, and tell him: 'The Master says: My hour is near, and I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples in your house.'" The disciples did as Jesus had ordered and prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, Jesus sat at the table with the Twelve. While they were eating, Jesus stated, "Truly, I say to you: one of you will betray me." They were deeply distressed and asked him in turn, "You do not mean me, do you, Lord?" He answered, "He who will betray me is one of those who dips his bread in the dish with me. The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures state he will. But alas for that one who betrays the Son of Man; better for him not to have been born." Judas, who was betraying him, also asked, "You do not mean me, Master, do you?" Jesus replied, "You have stated it." While they were eating, Jesus took bread, stated a blessing and broke it, and gave it to his disciples stating, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup and gave thanks, and passed it to them stating, "Drink this, all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of the Covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Yes, I say to you: I will not taste the fruit of the vine from now until the day I drink new wine with you in my Father's kingdom. After singing psalms of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus stated to them, "You will falter tonight because of me, and all will fall. For the Scripture states: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. But after my resurrection I will go ahead of you to Galilee." Peter responded, "Even though all doubt you and fall, I will never fall." Jesus replied, "Truly, I say to you: this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." Peter stated, "Though I have to die with you, I will never deny you." And all the disciples stated the same. Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he stated to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over to pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be filled with anguish and distress. And he stated to them, "My soul is filled with sorrow even to death. Remain here and stay awake with me." He went a little farther and fell to the ground, with his face touching the earth, and prayed, "Father, if it is possible, take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want." He went back to his disciples and found them asleep, and he stated to Peter, "Could you not stay awake with me for even an hour? Stay awake and pray, so that you may not slip into temptation. The spirit indeed is eager, but human nature is weak." He again went away and prayed, "Father, if this cup cannot be taken away from me without me drinking it, let your will be done." When he came back to his disciples, he again found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. He left them and again went to pray the third time, stating the same words. Then he came back to his disciples and stated to them, "You can sleep on now and take your rest! The hour has come and the Son of Man is now given over into the power of sinners. Get up, let us go. Look: the betrayer is here." Jesus was still speaking when Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, who had been sent by the chief priests and the Jewish authorities. The traitor had arranged a signal for them: "The one I kiss, he is the man; arrest him." And he went directly to Jesus and stated, "Good evening, Master" and he gave him a kiss. But Jesus stated to him, "Friend, do what you came for." Then they laid hold of Jesus and arrested him. One of those who were with Jesus drew his sword and struck the servant of the High Priest, cutting off his ear. So Jesus stated to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for he who uses the sword shall perish by the sword. Do you not know that I could call on my Father, and he would at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? If Scripture states that this has to be, should it not be fulfilled?" At that moment, Jesus stated to the crowd, "Why do you come to arrest me with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber? Day after day I was seated among you teaching in the Temple, yet you did not arrest me. But all this has come about in fulfillment of what the Prophets stated." Then all of Jesus' disciples abandoned him and fled. Those who had arrested Jesus brought him to the house of the High Priest Caiaphas, where the teachers of the Law and the Jewish authorities were assembled. Peter followed him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the High Priest; he entered and sat with the guards, waiting to see the end. The chief priests and the whole Supreme Council needed some false evidence against Jesus, so that they might put him to death. But they were unable to find any, even though false witnesses came forward. At last, two men came up and declared, "This man stated: I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days." The High Priest then stood up and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer at all? What is this evidence against you?" But Jesus kept silent. So the High Priest stated to him, "In the name of the living God, I command you to tell us: Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?" Jesus answered, "It is just as you say. I tell you more: from now on, you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Most Powerful God and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the High Priest tore his clothes, stating, "He has blasphemed. What more evidence do we need? You have just heard these blasphemous words. What is your decision?" They answered, "He must die!" Then they began to spit on Jesus and slap him while others punched him with their fists, stating, "Messiah, prophesy! Who hit you?" Meanwhile, as Peter sat outside in the courtyard, a young servant-girl of the house stated to him, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." But he denied it before everyone, stating, "I do not know what you are talking about." And as Peter was going out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and told the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." Peter denied it again with an oath, swearing, "I do not know that man." After a little while, those who were standing there approached Peter and stated to him, "Of course you are one of the Galileans; your accent gives you away." Peter began justifying himself with curses and oaths protesting that he did not know the man. Just then a cock crowed. And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And he went away weeping bitterly. Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the Jewish authorities met to look for ways of putting Jesus to death. They had him bound and led him away to be handed over to Pilate, the governor. When Judas, the traitor, realized that Jesus had been condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, stating, "I have sinned by betraying an innocent man to death." They answered, "What does it matter to us? That is your concern." So, throwing the money into the Temple, he went away and hanged himself. The priests picked up the money, and stated, "This money cannot be put into the Temple treasury, for this is the price of blood." So they met together and decided to buy the Potter's Field with the money and make it a cemetery for foreigners. This is why that place has been called Field of Blood to this day. So what the prophet Jeremiah stated was fulfilled: They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price the sons of Israel set on him. And they gave them for the Potter's Field, as the Lord commanded me. Jesus stood before the governor who questioned him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "You say so." The chief priests and the Elders accused him, but he made no answer. Pilate stated to him, "Do you hear all the charges they bring against you?" But he did not answer even a single question, so that the governor wondered. It was customary for the governor to release any prisoner the people asked for on the occasion of the Passover. Now there was a well-known prisoner called Barabbas. As the people had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Whom do you want me to set free: Barabbas, or Jesus called the Messiah?" For he realized that Jesus had been handed over to him out of envy. As Pilate was sitting in court, his wife sent him this message, "Have nothing to do with that holy man. Because of him I had a dream last night that disturbed me greatly." But the chief priests and the Elders stirred the crowds to ask for the release of Barabbas and the death of Jesus. When the governor asked them again, "Which of the two do you want me to set free?" they answered, "Barabbas." Pilate stated to them, "And what shall I do with Jesus called the Messiah?" All answered, "Crucify him!" Pilate insisted, "What evil has he done?" But they shouted louder, "Crucify him!" Pilate realized that he was getting nowhere and that instead there could be a riot. He then asked for water and washed his hands before the people, stating, "I am not responsible for his blood. It is your doing." And all the people answered, "Let his blood be upon us and upon our children." Then Pilate set Barabbas free, but had Jesus scourged, and handed him over to be crucified. The Roman soldiers took Jesus into the palace of the governor and the whole troop gathered around him. They stripped him and dressed him and a purple military cloak. Then, twisting a crowd of thorns, they forced it onto his head, and placed a reed in his right hand. They knelt before Jesus and mocked him, stating, "Long life to the King of the Jews!" They spat on him, took the reed from his hand and struck him on the head with it. When they had finished mocking him, they pulled off the purple cloak and dressed him in his own clothes again, and led him out to be crucified. On the way they met a man from Cyrene called Simon, and forced him to carry the cross of Jesus. When they reached the place called Golgotha (or Calvary) which means the Skull, they offered him wine mixed with gall. Jesus tasted it but would not take it. There they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves, casting lots to decide what each should take. Then they sat down to guard him. The statement of his offense was displayed above his head and it read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." They also crucified two bandits with him, one on his right, and one on his left. People passing by shook their heads and insulted him, stating, "Aha! So you will destroy the Temple and build it up again in three days. Now save yourself and come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God." In the same way the chief priests, the Elders and the teachers of the Law mocked him. They stated, "The man who saved others cannot save himself. Let the King of Israel now come down from his cross and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let God rescue him if God wants to, since he himself stated: I am the Son of God." Even the robbers who were crucified with him insulted him. From midday darkness fell over the whole land until mid-afternoon. At about three o'clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lamma Sabbacthani?" which means: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? As soon as they heard this, some of the bystanders stated, "He is calling for Elijah." And one of them went quickly, took a sponge and soaked it in vinegar and, putting on a reed, gave him to drink. Others stated, "Leave him alone, let us see whether Elijah comes to his rescue." Then Jesus cried out again in a loud voice and gave up his spirit. Just then the curtain of the Temple sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and several holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after the resurrection of Jesus, entered the Holy City and appeared to many. The captain and the soldiers who guarded Jesus were greatly terrified when they saw the earthquake and all that had happened, and stated, "Truly, this man was a Son of God." There were also some women there who watched from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and saw to his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons. It was now evening and there arrived a wealthy man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and the governor ordered that the body be given him. So Joseph took the body of Jesus, wrapped it in a clean linen sheet and laid it in his own new tomb which had been cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance of the tomb and left. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there in front of the tomb. On the following day (the day after the Preparation for the Passover), the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate and stated to him, "Sir, we remember that when that impostor was still alive, he stated: I will rise after three days. Therefore, have his tomb secured until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal the body and state to the people: He was raised from the dead. This would be a worse lie than the first." Pilate answered them, "You have soldiers, go and take all the necessary precautions". So they went to the tomb and secured it, sealing the stone and placing it under guard.

5th Sunday of Lent

Date: April 2, 2017

First reading (Ezekiel 37: 12–14)
A reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel.
So prophesy! State to them: This is what the Lord says: "I am going to open your tombs, I shall bring you out of your tombs, my people, and lead you back to the land of Israel. You will know that I am the Lord, O my people! When I open your graves and bring you out of your graves, when I put my spirit in you and you live. I shall settle you in your land and you will know that I, the Lord, have done what I said and I would do."

Second reading (Romans 8: 8–11)

A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.
Those walking according to the flesh cannot please God. Yet your existence is not in the flesh, but in the spirit, because the Spirit of God is within you. If you did not have the Spirit of Christ, you would not belong to him. But Christ is within you; though the body is branded by death as a consequence of sin, the spirit is life and holiness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is within you, He who raised Jesus Christ from among the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies. Yes, he will do it through his Spirit who dwells within you.

Gospel (John 11: 1–45)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.

There was a sick man named Lazarus who was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was the same Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent this message to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." On hearing this Jesus stated, "This illness will not end in death; rather it is for God's glory and the Son of God will be glorified through it." It is a fact that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus; yet, after he heard of the illness of Lazarus, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Only then did he state to his disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." They replied, "Master, recently the Jews wanted to stone you. Are you going there again?" Jesus stated to them, "Are not twelve working hours needed to complete a day? Those who walk in the daytime shall not stumble, for they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, for there is no light in them." After that Jesus stated to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going to wake him." The disciples replied, "Lord, a sick person who sleeps will recover." But Jesus had referred to Lazarus' death, while they thought that he had meant the repose of sleep. So Jesus stated plainly, "Lazarus is dead and for your sake I am glad I was not there, for now you may believe. But let us go there, where he is." Then Thomas, called the Twin, stated to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go that we may die with him." When Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. As Bethany is near Jerusalem, about two miles away, many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to offer consolation at their brother's death. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him while Mary remained sitting in the house. And she stated to Jesus, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." Jesus stated, "Your brother will rise again." Martha replied, "I know that he will rise in the resurrection, on the last day." But Jesus stated to her, "I am the resurrection; whoever believes in me, though he die, shall live. Whoever is alive by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Martha then answered, "Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world." After that Martha went and called her sister Mary secretly, stating, "The Master is here and is calling for you." As soon as Mary heard this, she rose and went to him. Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her, also came. When they saw her get up and go out, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep. As for Mary, when she came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and stated, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews also who had come with her, he was moved in the depths of his spirit and troubled. Then he asked, "Where have you laid him?" They answered, "Lord, come and see." And Jesus wept. The Jews stated, "See how he loved him!" But some of them stated, "If he could open the eyes of the blind man, could he not have kept this man from dying?" Jesus was deeply moved again and drew near to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across it. Jesus ordered, "Take the stone away." Martha stated to him, "Lord, by now he will smell, for this is the fourth day." Jesus replied, "Have I not told you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" So they removed the stone. Jesus lifted up his eyes and stated, "Father, I thank you for you have heard me. I knew that you hear me always; but my prayer was for the sake of these people, that they may believe that you sent me." When Jesus had stated this, he cried out in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips and his face wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus stated to them, "Untie him and let him go." Many of the Jews who had come with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw what he did.

4th Sunday of Lent

Date: March 26, 2017 

First Reading (1 Samuel 16: 1b, 6–7, and 10–13a)
A reading from the first book of Samuel.
The Lord asked Samuel, "Fill your horn with oil and be on your way to Jesse that Bethlehemite for I have chosen my king from among his sons." As they came, Samuel looked at Eliab the older and thought, "This must be the Lord's anointed." But the Lord told Samuel, "Do not judge by his looks or his stature for I have rejected him. The Lord does not judge as man judges; humans see with the eyes; the Lord sees the heart." Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel who stated, "The Lord has chosen none of them. But are all your sons here?" Jesse replied, "There is still the youngest, tending the flock just now." Samuel stated to him, "Send for him and bring him to me; we shall not sit down to eat until he arrives." So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him to Samuel. He was a handsome lad with ruddy complexion and beautiful eyes. And the Lord stated, "Go, anoint him for he is the one." Samuel then took the horn of oil and anointed him in his brother's presence.

Second Reading (Ephesians 5: 8–14)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.
Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Behave as children of light; the fruits of light are kindness, justice and truth in every form. You yourselves search out what pleases the Lord, and take no part in works of darkness that are of no benefit; expose them instead. Indeed it is a shame even to speak of what those people do in secret, but as soon as it is exposed to the light, everything becomes clear. And what has become clear becomes light. Therefore it is stated: "Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead that the light of Christ may shine on you."

Gospel (John 9: 1–41)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Master, was he born blind because of a sin of his, or of his parents?" Jesus answered, "Neither was it for his own sin nor for his parents. He was born blind so that God's power might be shown in him. While it is day we must do the work of the One who sent me; for the night will come when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." As Jesus stated this, he made paste with spittle and clay and rubbed it on the eyes of the blind man. Then he stated, "Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam." (This name means sent.) So he went and washed and came back able to see. His neighbors and all the people who used to see him begging, wondered. They stated, "Is this not the beggar who used to sit here?" Some stated, "It is the one." Others stated, "No, but he looks like him." But the man himself stated, "I am the one." Then they asked, "How is it that your eyes were opened?" And he answered, "The man called Jesus made a mud paste, put it on my eyes and stated to me: 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went, and washed, and I could see." They asked, "Where is he?" and the man answered, "I do not know." The people brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made mud paste and opened his eyes. The Pharisees asked him again, "How did you recover your sight?" And he stated, "He put paste on my eyes, and I washed, and now I see." Some of the Pharisees stated, "This man is not from God, for he works on the sabbath;" but others wondered, "How can a sinner perform such miraculous signs?" They were divided and they questioned the blind man again, "What do you think of this man who opened your eyes?" And he answered, "He is a prophet." After all this, the Jews refused to believe that the man had been blind and had recovered his sight; so they called his parents and asked them, "Is this your son? You say that he was born blind, how is it that he now sees?" The parents answered, "He really is our son and he was born blind; but how it is that he now sees, we do not know, neither do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is old enough. Let him speak for himself." The parents stated this because they feared the Jews who had already agreed that whoever confessed Jesus to be the Christ was to be expelled. Because of this his parents stated, "He is old enough, ask him." So a second time the Pharisees called the man who had been blind, and they stated to him, "Tell us the truth; we know that this man is a sinner." He replied, "I do not know whether he is a sinner or not; I only know that I was blind and now I see." They stated to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He replied, "I have told you already and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" Then they started to insult him. "Become his disciple yourself! We are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man we do not know where he comes from." The man replied, "It is amazing that you do not know where the man comes from, and yet he opened my eyes! We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone honors God and does his will, God listens to him. Never, since the world began, has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person who was born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born a sinner and now you teach us!" And they expelled him. Jesus heard that they had expelled him. He found him and stated, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "Who is he, that I may believe in him?" Jesus stated, "You have seen him and he is speaking to you." He stated, "Lord, I believe;" and he worshiped him. Jesus stated, "I came into this world to carry out a judgment: Those who do not see shall see, and those who see shall become blind." Some Pharisees stood by and asked him, "So we are blind?" And Jesus answered, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty. Now you say: 'We see'; this is the proof of your sin."

3rd Sunday of Lent

Date: March 19, 2017

First Reading (Exodus 17: 3–7)
A reading from the book of Exodus.
The people thirsted for water there and grumbled against Moses, "Why did you make us leave Egypt to have us die of thirst with our children and our cattle?" So Moses stated to the Lord, "What shall I do with the people? They are almost ready to stone me!" The Lord stated to Moses, "Go ahead of the people and take with you the elders of Israel. Take with you the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you on the rock of Horeb. You will strike the rock and water will flow from it and the people will drink." Moses did this in the presence of the elders of Israel. The place was called Massah and Meribah because of the complaints of the Israelites, who tested the Lord stating, "Is the Lord with us or not?"

Second Reading (Romans 5: 1–2 and 5–8)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.
Brothers and sisters: By faith, we have received true righteousness, and we are at peace with God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Through him, we obtain this favor in which we remain and we even boast to expect the Glory of God. Hope does not disappoint us because the Holy Spirit has been given to us, pouring into our hearts the love of God. Consider, moreover, the time that Christ died for us: when we were still sinners and unable to do anything. Few would accept to die for an upright person, perhaps someone would dare to die. But see how God manifested his love for us: while we were still sinners, Christ has died for us.

Gospel (John 4: 5–42)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
Jesus came to a Samaritan town called Sychar, near the land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well is there. Tired from his journey, Jesus sat down by the well; it was about noon. Now a Samaritan woman came to draw water and Jesus stated to her, "Give me a drink." His disciples had just gone into town to buy some food. The Samaritan woman stated to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan and a woman, for a drink?" (For Jews, in fact, have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus replied, "If you only knew the Gift of God! If you knew who it is that asks you for a drink, you yourself would have asked me and I would have given you living water." The woman answered, "Sir, you have no bucket and this well is deep; where is your living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well after he drank from it himself, together with his sons and his cattle?" Jesus stated to her, "Those who drink of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I shall give will never be thirsty; for the water that I shall give will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman stated to him, "Give me this water, that I may never be thirsty and never have to come here to draw water." Jesus stated, "Go, call your husband and come back here." The woman answered, "I have no husband." And Jesus replied, "You are right to say: 'I have no husband': for you have had five husbands and the one you have now is not your husband. What you stated is true." The woman then stated to him, "I see you are a prophet; tell me this: Our fathers used to come to this mountain to worship God; but you Jews, do you not claim that Jerusalem is the only place to worship God?" Jesus stated to her, "Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you shall worship the Father, but that will not be on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship without knowledge, while we Jews worship with knowledge, for salvation comes from the Jews. But the hour is coming and is even now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for that is the kind of worshipers the Father wants. God is spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman stated to him, "I know that the Messiah, that is the Christ, is coming; when he comes, he will tell us everything." And Jesus stated, "I am he who is talking to you." At this point the disciples returned and were surprised that Jesus was speaking with a woman; however, no one stated, "What do you want?" or: "Why are you talking with her?" So the woman left her water jar and ran to the town. There she stated to the people, "Come and see a man who told me everything I did! Could he not be the Christ?" So they left the town and went to meet him. In the meantime, the disciples urged Jesus, "Master, eat." But he stated to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." And the disciples wondered, "Has anyone brought him food?" Jesus stated to them, "My food is to do the will of the One who sent me and to carry out his work. You say that in four more months it will be the harvest; now, I say to you, look up and see the fields white and ready for harvesting. People who reap the harvest are paid for their work and the fruit is gathered for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. Indeed the saying holds true: 'One sow and another reaps.' I sent you to reap where you did not work or suffer: others have worked and you are now sharing in their labors." In that town, many Samaritans believed in him when they heard the woman who declared, "He told me everything I did." So, when they came to him, they asked him to stay with them and Jesus stayed there for two days. After that many more believed because of his own words and they stated to the woman, "We no longer believe because of what you told us; for we have heard for ourselves and we know that this is the Savior of the world."

2nd Sunday of Lent

Date: March 12, 2017

First Reading (Genesis 12: 1–4a)
A reading from the book of Genesis.
The Lord stated to Abram, "Leave your country, your family and your father's house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will curse, and in you all peoples of the earth will be blessed." So Abram went as the Lord had told him.

Second Reading (2 Timothy 1: 8b–10)
A reading from the second letter of Saint Paul to Timothy.
Beloved: Do your share in laboring for the Gospel with the strength of God. He saved us and called us – a calling which proceeds from his holiness. This did not depend on our merits, but on his generosity and his own initiative. This calling given to us from all time in Christ Jesus has just been manifested with the glorious appearance of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light in his Gospel.

Gospel (Matthew 17: 1–9)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they were alone. Jesus' appearance was changed before them: his face shone like the sun and his clothes become bright as light. Just then Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. Peter spoke and stated to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. If you so wish, I will make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." Peter was still speaking when a bright cloud covered them in its shadow, and a voice from the cloud stated, "This is my Son, the Beloved, my Chosen One. Listen to him." On hearing the voice, the disciples fell to the ground, full of fear. But Jesus came, touched them and stated, "Stand up, do not be afraid." When they raised their eyes, they no longer saw anyone except Jesus. And as they came down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had just seen, until the Son of Man be raised from the dead.

1st Sunday of Lent

Date: March 5, 2017

First Reading (Genesis 2: 7–9 and 3: 1–7)
A reading from the book of Genesis.
The Lord God formed Man, dust is drawn from the clay, and breathed into his nostrils a breath of life and Man became alive with breath. God planted a garden in Eden in the east and there he placed Man whom he had created. The Lord God caused to grow from the ground every kind of tree that is pleasing to see and good to eat, also the tree of Life in the middle of the garden and the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Now the serpent was the most crafty of all the wild creatures that the Lord God had made. He stated to the woman, "Did God really say: You must not eat from any tree in the garden?" The woman stated to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden, but of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden God stated: You must not eat, and you must not touch it or you will die." The serpent stated to the woman, "You will not die, but God knows that the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil." The woman saw that the fruit was good to eat, and pleasant to the eyes, and ideal for gaining knowledge. She took its fruit and ate it and gave some to her husband who was with her. He ate it. Then their eyes were opened and both of them knew they were naked. So they sewed leaves of a fig tree together and made themselves loincloths.

Second Reading (Romans 5: 12–19)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.
Brothers and sisters: Now, sin entered the world through one man and through sin, death, and later on death spread to all humankind, because all sinned. As long as there was no law, they could not speak of disobedience, but sin was already in the world. This is why from Adam to Moses death reigned among them, although their sin was not disobedience as in Adam's case – this was not the true Adam, but foretold the other who was to come. Such has been the fall, but God's gift goes far beyond. Multitudes die because of the fault of one man, but how much more does the grace of God spread when the gift he granted reaches the multitudes, from this unique man Jesus Christ. The gift of God more than compensated for sin. The disobedience that brought condemnation was of one sinner, whereas the grace of God brings forgiveness to a world of sinners. If death reigned through the disobedience of one and only one person, how much more will there be the grace and the gift of true righteousness through the one person, Jesus Christ. Just as one transgression brought the sentence of death to all, so, too, one rehabilitation brought pardon and life to all; and as the disobedience of only one made many sinners, so the obedience of one person allowed a multitude to be made just and holy.

Gospel (Matthew 4: 1–11)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
The Spirit led Jesus into the desert that he be put to the test by the devil. After spending forty days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry. Then the devil came to him and stated, "If you are the Son of God, order these stones to transform into bread." But Jesus answered, "Scripture states: One does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city, set him on the highest wall of the temple, and stated to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for scripture states, God has given orders to his angels about you. Their hands will hold you up lest you hurt your foot against a stone." Jesus answered, "But Scripture also states: You shall not put to the test the Lord your God." Then the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the nations of the world in all their greatness and splendor. And he stated, "All this I will give you if you kneel and worship me." Then Jesus answered, "Be off, Satan! Scripture states: Worship the Lord your God and serve him alone." Then the devil left him, and angels came to serve him.

Ash Wednesday

Date: March 1, 2017

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."