"WH0EVER FOLLOWS ME WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE"

Readings for Sunday, March 15, 2026

  >> >>>>>>  

Fourth Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 31

Reading 1                        1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

The LORD said to Samuel: “Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”  As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.” But the LORD said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”  In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any one of these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send for him;  we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.” Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold  and making a splendid appearance. The LORD said, “There—anoint him, for this is the one!” Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,  anointed David in the presence of his brothers;  and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.

Responsorial Psalm                  Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
 

Reading 2                 Ephesians 5:8-14

Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.  Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;  rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret;  but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:     “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

Gospel                     John 9:1-41

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned;  it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—. So he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbours and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is, “ but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes  and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’So I went there and washed and was able to see.” And they said to him, “Where is he?”  He said, “I don’t know.” They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said,  “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.”  But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”  Now the Jews did not believe  that he had been blind and gained his sight  until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind?  How does he now see?”  His parents answered and said,  “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; question him.” So a second time they called the man who had been blind  and said to him, “Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner.” He replied, “If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.” So they said to him, “What did he do to you?  How did he open your  He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” They ridiculed him and said,  “You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.”  The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing,  that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners,  but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?”  Then they threw him out. When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?”  He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he.”He said,  “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains."  

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

/////////  BIL-MALTI   /////////

" Mort, inħsilt, u ġejt nara.”

Ir-Raba’ Ħadd tar-Randan

QARI 1                 mill-Ewwel Ktieb ta’ Samwel 16:1b,6-7,10-13a

F’dak iż-żmien, il-Mulej qal lil Samwel: “Imla l-qarn biż-żejt u itlaq. Jien se nibagħtek għand Ġesse l-Betlemita, għaliex minn fost uliedu jien għażilt għalija sultan”.  Ġara li malli wasal, Samwel ra lil Elijab u qal: “Hawn quddiem il-Mulej il-midluk tiegħu?”. U l-Mulej qal lil Samwel: “Tħarisx lejn is-sura tiegħu, jew it-tul ta’ persuntu, għax jiena diġà warrabtu. Għax il-Mulej ma jarax bħalma jara l-bniedem, dak biss li jidher fl-għajn, imma l-qalb”.   Ġesse ressaq quddiem Samwel sebgħa minn uliedu; imma Samwel qallu: “Il-Mulej ma ħatar lil ħadd minn dawn”. U ssokta jgħidlu: “Dawn huma t-tfal kollha?”. Ġesse wieġbu: “Għad fadal iż-żgħir, qiegħed jirgħa n-nagħaġ”. U Samwel qal lil Ġesse: “Ibgħat għalih u ġibu, għax ma noqogħdux fuq il-mejda qabel ma jiġi hawn”. U bagħat għalih u ġiebu. Kien żagħżugħ ruxxan, għajnejh ħelwin, u sabiħ fis-sura tiegħu. U l-Mulej qal lil Samwel: “Qum u idilku, għax dan hu”. Samwel ħa f’idejh il-qarn biż-żejt, u dilku quddiem ħutu. Minn dakinhar ’il quddiem niżel fuq David u ħakmu l-ispirtu tal-Mulej.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                  Salm 22(23):1-3a,3b-4,5,6

R/. (1): Il-Mulej hu r-ragħaj tiegħi, xejn ma jonqosni.

Il-Mulej hu r-ragħaj tiegħi,
xejn ma jonqosni;
f’mergħat kollha ħdura jqegħedni.
Ħdejn l-ilma, fejn nistrieħ, jeħodni;
hemm hu jrejjaqni. R/.

Imexxini fit-triq tas-sewwa
minħabba l-isem tiegħu.
Imqar jekk nimxi f’wied mudlam,
ma nibżax mill-ħsara, għax inti miegħi.
Il-ħatar tiegħek u l-għasluġ tiegħek,
huma jwennsuni. R/.

Int tħejji mejda għalija
quddiem l-għedewwa tiegħi.
Biż-żejt tidlikli rasi,
u l-kalċi tiegħi tfawwarli. R/.

Miegħi, iva, jimxu t-tjieba u l-ħniena
l-jiem kollha ta’ ħajti.
U ngħammar f’dar il-Mulej
sakemm indum ħaj! R/.

QARI 2                mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lill-Efesin 5:8-14

Ħuti, intom kontu darba dlam, imma issa intom dawl fil-Mulej; għixu ta’ wlied id-dawl li intom; frott id-dawl jinsab f’kulma hu tjieba, f’kulma hu ġustizzja, f’kulma hu verità. Fittxu li tagħrfu dak li jogħġob lill-Mulej, u tisseħbux fl-għemejjel tad-dlam bla frott, imma ikxfuhom fil-beraħ. Għax dak li qegħdin jagħmlu huma fil-moħbi, tistħi mqar jekk issemmih; imma meta wieħed joħroġhom fil-beraħ, id-dawl juri kollox, għax kulma jidher hu dawl; għalhekk jingħad: “Stenbaħ int, li int rieqed, u qum mill-imwiet, ħa jiddi fuqek Kristu”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

EVANĠELJU                  Qari skond San Ġwann 9:1-41            

 F’dak iż-żmien, kif kien għaddej, Ġesù lemaħ raġel agħma minn twelidu, u d-dixxipli tiegħu staqsewh: “Rabbi, dan twieled agħma għax dineb hu stess, jew għax dinbu l-ġenituri tiegħu?”. Ġesù wieġeb: “Mhux għax dineb hu jew il-ġenituri tiegħu, imma ġralu hekk biex l-għemil ta’ Alla jidher fih. Sakemm għadu binhar, jeħtiġilna nagħmlu x-xogħol ta’ dak li bagħatni, għax jasal il-lejl meta ħadd ma jkun jista’ jaħdem. Sakemm għadni fid-dinja, jiena hu d-dawl tad-dinja”.  Kif qal dan, beżaq fl-art, għamel minnu qisu tajn, u dilek bih għajnejn ir-raġel agħma u qallu: “Mur inħasel fil-menqgħa ta’ Silwam”. Din tfisser “il-Mibgħut”. Mela dak mar, inħasel u ġie jara. Il-ġirien u dawk li s-soltu kienu jarawh, għax hu kien tallab, qalu: “Dan mhuwiex dak li kien joqgħod bilqiegħda jittallab?”. Xi wħud qalu: “Iva, hu”. Oħrajn qalu: “Le, imma jixbhu”. Iżda hu qalilhom: “Jiena hu”. Qalulu: “Mela kif infetħulek għajnejk?”. Weġibhom: “Wieħed raġel, jgħidulu Ġesù, għamel ftit tajn, dilikli għajnejja bih, u qalli: ‘Mur fis-Silwam u nħasel hemm’. Mort, inħsilt, u ġejt nara”. Qalulu: “Fejn huwa dan ir-raġel?”. Qalilhom: “Ma nafx”. Lil dan il-bniedem li fl-imgħoddi kien agħma ħaduh għand il-Fariżej. Issa dakinhar li Ġesù għamel it-tajn u fetaħ għajnejn l-agħma nzerta kien is-Sibt. Il-Fariżej ukoll staqsew mill-ġdid lill-agħma kif sar jara. U hu qalilhom: “Qegħedli ftit tajn fuq għajnejja, mort ninħasel, u issa qiegħed nara”. Xi wħud mill-Fariżej qalu: “Dan il-bniedem mhuwiex ġej mingħand Alla, għax ma jħarisx is-Sibt”. Iżda oħrajn qalu: “Kif jista’ wieħed midneb jagħmel sinjali bħal dawn?”. U ma qablux bejniethom. U reġgħu qalu lill-agħma: “Int x’jidhirlek minnu, issa li fetaħlek għajnejk?”. Qalilhom: “Dak profeta”. Il-Lhud ma ridux jemmnu li hu kien agħma u ħa d-dawl qabel ma bagħtu għall-ġenituri ta’ dak li sar jara, u staqsewhom: “Dan, li intom qegħdin tgħidu li twieled agħma, dan binkom? Mela issa kif ġie jara?”. Il-ġenituri tiegħu wieġbu u qalulhom: “Nafu li dan hu t-tifel tagħna u li twieled agħma; imma kif issa ġie jara, dan ma nafuhx, u anqas ma nafu min fetaħlu għajnejh. Staqsu lilu: żmien għandu, ħa jitkellem hu għalih innifsu”. Il-ġenituri tiegħu wieġbu hekk għaliex beżgħu mil-Lhud, għax il-Lhud kienu ġa ftiehmu bejniethom li jekk xi ħadd jistqarr li Ġesù hu l-Messija, isib ruħu barra mis-sinagoga. Kien għalhekk li l-ġenituri wieġbu: “Żmien għandu, staqsu lilu”.  Għal darb’oħra reġgħu bagħtu għal dak li kien agħma u qalulu: “Agħti glorja lil Alla! Aħna nafu li dan il-bniedem huwa midneb”. Dak weġibhom: “Jekk hux midneb ma nafx. Ħaġa waħda naf: li jien kont agħma u issa qiegħed nara”. Qalulu: “Imma hu x’għamillek? Kif fetaħhomlok għajnejk?”. U hu weġibhom: “Ġa għedtilkom u ma smajtux! Xi tridu tisimgħu iżjed? Jaqaw tridu intom ukoll issiru dixxipli tiegħu?”. U qabdu jgħajruh u qalulu: “Dak int dixxiplu tiegħu! Aħna ta’ Mosè dixxipli! Aħna nafu li lil Mosè kellmu Alla, imma dan ma nafux minn fejn hu!”. Weġibhom ir-raġel u qalilhom: “Sewwa! Hawn qiegħed l-għaġeb, li intom ma tafux minn fejn inqala’, u madankollu lili fetaħli għajnejja! Aħna nafu li Alla mhux se jisma’ lill-midinbin; iżda mbagħad jekk wieħed ikun iqim lil Alla u jagħmel ir-rieda tiegħu, lil dan jisimgħu. Qatt fid-dinja ma nstema’ li xi ħadd fetaħ għajnejn wieħed agħma mit-twelid. Li kieku dan ma kienx ġej mingħand Alla, xejn ma kien ikollu ħila jagħmel”. Imbagħad qabżu u qalulu: “Int se tgħallem lilna, int li twelidt dnubiet waħdek!”. U keċċewh ’il barra. Ġesù sama’ li keċċewh ’il barra; sabu u qallu: “Temmen inti f’Bin il-bniedem?”. Dak wieġeb u qallu: “Min hu, Mulej, biex nemmen fih?”. Qallu Ġesù: “Mhux biss rajtu, imma huwa dak stess li qiegħed ikellmek”. Qallu: “Nemmen, Mulej!”. U nxteħet għarkupptejh quddiemu. Imbagħad Ġesù qal: “Jien ġejt fid-dinja biex nagħmel ħaqq, biex min ma jarax isir jara, u min jara jagħma”. Xi wħud mill-Fariżej li kienu hemm madwaru semgħuh jgħid dan u staqsewh: “Aħna wkoll għomja?”. Weġibhom Ġesù: “Li kieku kontu għomja, ma kontux tkunu ħatja ta’ dnub. Imma issa qegħdin tgħidu: ‘Aħna naraw’, mela d-dnub tagħkom għadu fuqkom”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

///////////////////////////    

/////////////  REFLECTION 

HEALING OUR 

SPIRITUAL  BLINDNESS

An 8-minute Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr Anthony Kadavil                                                                                Introduction: 

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is known as “Laetare (Rejoice) Sunday,” expressing the Church's joy in anticipation of the Resurrection of our Lord. Sunday’s readings remind us that it is God Who both gives us proper vision in body as well as in soul and instructs us that we should be constantly on our guard against spiritual blindness.

Scripture lessons summarized: 

By describing the anointing of David as the second king of Israel, the first reading, taken from the First Book of Samuel, illustrates how blind we are in our judgments and how much we need God’s help. It reminds us that those whom God involves in his saving plans are not necessarily those whom the world perceives as great. In the second reading, St. Paul reminds the Ephesians of their new responsibility as children of light “to live as children of the light, producing every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.” 

In today’s Responsorial Psalm, (Ps 23), we celebrate the care of God, our Good Shepherd, who keeps us safe in the darkness of this world. Presenting the miracle of Jesus’ giving of sight to a man born blind, today’s Gospel teaches us the necessity of being willing to have our eyes opened by Faith, and warns us that those who assume they see the truth are often blind, while those who acknowledge their blindness are given clear vision. In this episode, the most unlikely person, namely the beggar born blind, receives the light of Faith in Jesus, while the religion-oriented, law-educated Pharisees remain spiritually blind. 

To live as a Christian is to see and to grow continually, gaining clearer vision about God, about ourselves and about others. Our Lenten prayers and sacrifices should help to heal our spiritual blindness so that we can look at others, see them as children of God, and love them as our own brothers and sisters, saved by the death and Resurrection of Jesus.

Life messages: 

1) We need to allow Jesus to heal our spiritual blindness. We all have blind-spots -- in our marriages, our parenting, our work habits, and our personalities. We are often blind to the presence of the Triune God dwelling within us and fail to appreciate His presence in others. Even practicing Christians can be blind to the poverty, injustice, and pain around them. Let us remember, however, that Jesus wants to heal our blindness. We need to ask him to remove from us the root causes of our blindness: self-centeredness, greed, anger, hatred, prejudice, jealousy, addiction to evil habits, hardness of heart, and the like. Let us pray with the Scottish Bible scholar William Barclay, “God our Father, help us see Christ more clearly, love him more dearly and follow him more nearly” day by day.

2) We need to get rid of cultural blindness. Our culture also has blind-spots. Often it is blind to things like selfless love, happiness, fidelity with true, committed sexual love in marriage, and the value of human life from birth to natural death. Our culture has become anesthetized to the violence, the sexual innuendo, and the enormous suffering in the world around us. Let us counteract this cultural blindness as, with His grace, we experience Jesus dwelling within us and within others, through personal prayer, meditative reading of the Bible, and a genuine Sacramental life.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  / 

HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS

Readings for Sunday, March 8 2026 

> >>>>>>  

Third Sunday of Lent

Lectionary: 28

Reading 1                 Exodus 17:3-7

In those days, in their thirst for water, the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?” So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? a little more and they will stone me!” The Lord answered Moses, “Go over there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb.Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink.” This Moses did, in the presence of the elders of Israel. The place was called Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled there and tested the LORD, saying,“Is the LORD in our midst or not?”

Responsorial Psalm              Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
“Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Reading 2              Romans 5:1-2, 5-8

Since we have been justified by faith,  we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom we have gained access by faith  to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in hope of the glory of God. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Gospel                  John 4:5-42

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar,  near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”  —For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.— Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him,  “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep;  where then can you get this living water?  Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;  but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty  or have to keep coming here to draw water.” Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband and come back.” The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus answered her, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ For you have had five husbands,  and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him,  “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain;  but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”  Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand;  we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here,  when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. must worship in Spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one speaking with you.” At that moment his disciples returned,  and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, “What are you looking for?”  or “Why are you talking with her?” The woman left her water jar  and went into the town and said to the people, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?” They went out of the town and came to him. Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”  So the disciples said to one another,  “Coul d someone have brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here’? I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest. The reaper is already receiving payment  and gathering crops for eternal life,  so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work,  and you are sharing the fruits of their work.”  Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I have done.” When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the saviour of the world.”

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

/////  BIL-MALTI   ////////

"Jekk tisimgħu leħen il-Mulej, la twebbsux qalbkom.”

>>>>>>

It-Tielet Ħadd tar-Randan

QARI 1                   mill-Ktieb tal-Eżodu 17:3-7

F’dak iż-żmien, il-poplu qabdu l-għatx, u gemgem kontra Mosè u qal: “Għalfejn tellajtna hawn mill-Eġittu biex toqtol lilna, lil uliedna u lill-bhejjem tagħna bil-għatx?”. Mosè għajjat quddiem il-Mulej u qal: “X’se nagħmel lil dan il-poplu? Ftit ieħor u jħaġġruni”.  Il-Mulej qal lil Mosè: “Għaddi minn quddiem il-poplu, u ħu miegħek xi wħud mix-xjuħ ta’ Iżrael. Ħu f’idejk il-ħatar li bih kont drabt ix-xmara tan-Nil, u mur. Arani, jien noqgħod hemm quddiemek, fuq il-blat f’Ħoreb; u int aħbat il-blat u toħroġ minnu l-ilma, u jixrob il-poplu”.  U Mosè għamel hekk quddiem ix-xjuħ ta’ Iżrael. U l-post semmewh Massa u Meriba, għax hemm tlewmu wlied Iżrael u ġarrbu lill-Mulej meta qalu: “Il-Mulej fostna jew le?”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                  Salm 94(95):1-2,6-7,8-9

R/. (8): Illum, jekk tisimgħu leħen il-Mulej, la twebbsux qalbkom.

Ejjew, ħa nfaħħru bl-hena lill-Mulej,
ħa ngħajtu bil-ferħ lill-blata tas-salvazzjoni tagħna!
Nersqu quddiemu b’għana ta’ radd il-ħajr,
ngħannulu b’għajat ta’ ferħ. R/.

Ejjew inqimuh u ninxteħtu quddiemu,
għarkupptejna quddiem il-Mulej li ħalaqna!
Għaliex hu Alla tagħna,
u aħna l-poplu tal-mergħa tiegħu u n-nagħaġ tiegħu. R/.

Mhux li kontu llum tisimgħu leħnu!
“La twebbsux qalbkom bħal f’Meriba,
bħal dakinhar f’Massa, fid-deżert,
meta ġarrbuni u ttantawni missirijietkom,
għalkemm raw dak li jien għamilt”. R/.

QARI 2                 mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lir-Rumani 5:1-2,5-8

Ħuti, issa li aħna ġġustifikati bil-fidi, għandna s-sliem ma’ Alla permezz ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu; permezz tiegħu għandna d-dħul bil-fidi għal din il-grazzja li fiha qegħdin. Aħna niftaħru bit-tama li għandna li għad niksbu l-glorja ta’ Alla. U din it-tama ma tqarraqx bina, għax l-imħabba ta’ Alla ssawbet fi qlubna permezz tal-Ispirtu s-Santu li kien mogħti lilna. Mela, meta aħna konna bla saħħa, Kristu, meta wasal iż-żmien, miet għall-ħżiena. Bilkemm wieħed imut għal wieħed tajjeb, għad li wieħed għandu mnejn jagħmel il-qalb u jmut għal wieħed ġeneruż. Iżda Alla wriena l-imħabba tiegħu meta Kristu miet għalina, aħna li konna għadna midinbin. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

EVANĠELJU                      skond San Ġwann 4:5-42

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù ġie f’belt tas-Samarija, jisimha Sikar, qrib il-biċċa art li Ġakobb kien ta lil ibnu Ġużeppi, fejn kien hemm ukoll il-bir ta’ Ġakobb. Kien għall-ħabta tas-sitt siegħa, u Ġesù, għajjien kif kien mill-mixi, qagħad bilqiegħda ħdejn il-bir. U ġiet mara mis-Samarija timla l-ilma. Ġesù qalilha: “Agħtini nixrob”. Id-dixxipli tiegħu kienu marru l-belt jixtru x’jieklu. Il-mara mis-Samarija qaltlu: “Kif! Inti Lhudi u titlob lili, Samaritana, biex nagħtik tixrob?”. Qaltlu hekk għax il-Lhud ma jitħalltux mas-Samaritani. Ġesù weġibha: “Kieku kont taf id-don ta’ Alla u min hu dak li qiegħed jgħidlek: ‘Agħtini nixrob’, kieku int kont titolbu, u hu kien jagħtik ilma ħaj”. Qaltlu l-mara: “Sinjur, mnejn se ġġib l-ilma ħaj jekk anqas biex timla ma għandek u l-bir huwa fond? Jaqaw int aqwa minn missierna Ġakobb li tana dan il-bir, li minnu xorob hu u wliedu u l-imrieħel tiegħu?”. Weġibha Ġesù: “Kull min jixrob minn dan l-ilma jerġa’ jagħtih l-għatx; imma min jixrob mill-ilma li nagħtih jien qatt iżjed ma jkun bil-għatx. L-ilma li nagħtih jien isir fih għajn tal-ilma li jwassal sal-ħajja ta’ dejjem”. Qaltlu l-mara: “Agħtini dan l-ilma, Sinjur, biex ma jaqbadnix l-għatx, u anqas ma noqgħod ġejja u sejra hawn nimla l-ilma”. Qalilha Ġesù: “Mur sejjaħ lil żewġek u erġa’ ejja hawn”. Weġbitu l-mara: “Ma għandix żewġi”. Qalilha Ġesù: “Sewwa għedt: ‘Ma għandix żewġi’. Inti żżewwiġt ħames darbiet, u r-raġel li għandek miegħek bħalissa mhuwiex żewġek. Sewwa weġibt!”. Qaltlu l-mara: “Int profeta, Sinjur, milli qiegħda nara. Missirijietna kienu jaduraw lil Alla fuq din il-muntanja; imma intom tgħidu li l-post fejn wieħed għandu jadura lil Alla jinsab f’Ġerusalemm”. Qalilha Ġesù: “Emminni, mara, jiġi żmien meta mhux fuq din il-muntanja taduraw lill-Missier, anqas f’Ġerusalemm. Intom taduraw lil dak li ma tafux; aħna naduraw lil dak li nafu, għax is-salvazzjoni ġejja mil-Lhud. Imma tiġi siegħa, anzi issa hi, meta dawk li tassew jaduraw jibdew jaduraw lill-Missier fl-ispirtu u fil-verità. Għax il-Missier ukoll, nies bħal dawn ifittex li jadurawh. Alla huwa spirtu, u dawk li jadurawh għandhom jadurawh fl-ispirtu u fil-verità”. Qaltlu l-mara: “Jiena naf li ġej il-Messija – dak li jgħidulu Kristu. Meta jiġi hu, kollox iħabbrilna”. Qalilha Ġesù: “Jiena hu, li qiegħed nitkellem miegħek”. Fil-ħin ġew id-dixxipli tiegħu, u stagħġbu jarawh jitkellem ma’ mara; iżda ħadd minnhom ma staqsieh: “Xi trid?”, jew: “Għax qiegħed titkellem magħha?”. Il-mara ħalliet il-ġarra hemmhekk, reġgħet daħlet il-belt u qalet lin-nies: “Ejjew araw bniedem li qalli kulma għamilt. Tgħid, dan il-Messija?”. U n-nies ħarġu mill-belt u ġew ħdejh. Sadattant id-dixxipli bdew jitolbuh u jgħidulu: “Rabbi, kul!”. Iżda hu qalilhom: “Jien għandi ikel x’niekol li intom ma tafux bih”. Id-dixxipli għalhekk bdew jistaqsu lil xulxin: “Jaqaw ġie xi ħadd u ġieblu x’jiekol?”. Qalilhom Ġesù: “L-ikel tiegħi hu li nagħmel ir-rieda ta’ min bagħatni u li nwassal fit-tmiem l-opra tiegħu. Intom ma tgħidux li baqa’ erba’ xhur oħra għall-ħsad? Imma araw x’ngħidilkom jien: erfgħu għajnejkom u ħarsu ftit kif l-għelieqi bjadu għall-ħsad! Ġa l-ħassad qiegħed jieħu ħlasu u jiġbor il-frott għall-ħajja ta’ dejjem, biex min jiżra’ jifraħ hu wkoll bħal min jaħsad. F’dan taraw kemm sewwa jingħad li wieħed jiżra’ u l-ieħor jaħsad. Jiena bgħattkom taħsdu dak li ma tħabattux għalih intom; kienu oħrajn li tħabtu, u intom dħaltu flokhom biex tgawdu l-frott tat-taħbit tagħhom”. Kien hemm ħafna Samaritani minn dik il-belt li emmnu f’Ġesù fuq ix-xhieda li tathom dik il-mara meta qaltilhom: “Qalli kulma għamilt”, tant, li meta s-Samaritani ġew ħdejh, bdew jitolbuh biex jibqa’ magħhom, u hu qagħad hemm jumejn. Imbagħad ħafna oħrajn emmnu minħabba kliemu, u lill-mara qalulha: “Issa mhux għax għedtilna int qegħdin nemmnu, imma għax aħna wkoll smajnieh, u sirna nafu li dan tassew hu s-salvatur tad-dinja”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

///////////////////////////    

/////////////  REFLECTION 

GETTING RID OF OUR UNHOLY ATTACHMENTS

An 8-minute Reflection on Sunday's Readings                               by Fr Anthony Kadavil   

Introduction: 

Sunday’s readings are centered on Baptism and new life. Living Water represents God’s Holy Spirit Who comes to us in Baptism, penetrating every aspect of our lives and quenching our spiritual thirst. The Holy Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the Sacraments of God in the Church are the primary sources of the living water of Divine Grace. We are assembled here in the Church to drink this water of eternal life and salvation. Washed in it at Baptism, renewed by its abundance at each Eucharist, invited to it in every proclamation of the Word, and daily empowered by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we are challenged by today’s Gospel to remain thirsty for the living water, which only God can give.

Scripture lessons summarised: 

The first reading describes how God provided water to the ungrateful complainers of Israel, thus placing Jesus’ promise within the context of the Exodus account of water coming from the rock at Horeb. The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 95), refers both to the Rock of our salvation and also to our hardened hearts. It reminds us that our hard hearts need to be softened by God through our grace-prompted, grace-assisted prayer, fasting and works of mercy which enable us to receive the living water of the Holy Spirit, salvation, and eternal life from the Rock of our salvation. In the second reading, Saint Paul asserts that, as the Savior of mankind, Jesus poured the living water of the gift of the Holy Spirit into our hearts. In the Gospel, an unclean, ostracized Samaritan woman is given an opportunity to receive the living water. Jesus awakened in the woman at the well a thirst for the wholeness and integrity which she had lost, a thirst which he had come to satisfy. This Gospel passage also gives us Jesus' revelation about himself as the Source of Living Water and teaches us that we need the grace of Jesus Christ for eternal life because Jesus IS that life-giving water.

Life messages: 

1) We need to allow Jesus free entry into our personal lives. Jesus wishes to come into our “private” life, not to embarrass us, not to judge or condemn us, but to free us, to change us, and to offer us what we really need: the living water of the Holy Spirit. Let us find this living water in the Sacraments, in prayer, and in the Holy Bible, especially during this Lenten season. 

2) We need to be witnesses to Jesus as the Samaritan woman was. Let us have the courage to "be" Jesus for others, especially in those "unexpected" places for “unwanted” people. Let us also have the courage of our Christian convictions to stand for truth and justice in our day-to-day life.

3) We need to leave the “husbands” behind during Lent as the Samaritan woman did. Sunday’s Gospel message challenges us to get rid of our unholy attachments and the evil habits and sinful addictions that keep us enslaved and idolatrous. Lent is our time to learn from our mistakes of over-indulgence in food, drink, drugs, gambling, promiscuity, or any other addiction that distances us from the Living Water.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /                  https://frtonyshomilies.com  / 

 

WILL YOU LISTEN IN LOVE THIS LENT?

 Readings for Sunday, March 1, 2026 

  >> >>>>>>  

Second Sunday of Lent                         Lectionary: 25

Reading 1             Genesis 12:1-4a

The LORD said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.  “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.” Abram went as the LORD directed him.

Responsorial Psalm               Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22.

Upright is the word of the Lord,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Our soul waits for the Lord,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Reading 2               2 Timothy 1:8b-10

Beloved:     Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance of our saviour Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Gospel          Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,  and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,  “Lord, it is good that we are here.  If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.  As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

/////  BIL-MALTI   ////////

"Alla jsejħilna u jdawwalna”

>>>>>>

Qari tat-Tieni Ħadd tar-Randan

QARI 1                   mill-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi 12:1-4a

F’dak iż-żmien, il-Mulej qal lil Abram: “Qum u itlaq minn artek, minn art twelidek, u minn dar missierek, lejn l-art li jien nurik. U jien nagħmlek ġens kbir, inbierkek u nkabbarlek ismek, u int tkun barka. Jien inbierek lil min ibierkek, u nisħet lil min jisħtek. U jitbierku bik it-tribujiet kollha tal-art”. U telaq Abram kif kien qallu l-Mulej. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 Salm 32(33):4-5,18-19,20,22

R/. (22): Ħa tkun, Mulej, it-tjieba tiegħek fuqna.

Sewwa hi l-kelma tal-Mulej,
kollox bil-fedeltà huwa għamel.
Hu jħobb id-dritt u s-sewwa;

bit-tjieba tal-Mulej mimlija l-art. R/.

Ara, għajnejn il-Mulej fuq dawk li jibżgħu minnu,
fuq dawk li jittamaw fit-tjieba tiegħu,
biex jeħilsilhom mill-mewt ħajjithom,
u jaħjihom fi żmien il-ġuħ. R/.

Ruħna tixxennaq għall-Mulej,
hu l-għajnuna u t-tarka tagħna.
Ħa tkun, Mulej, it-tjieba tiegħek fuqna,
kif fik hi t-tama tagħna. R/.

QARI 2                  mit-Tieni Ittra ta’ San Pawl lil Timotju 1:8b-10

Għażiż, aqsam miegħi t-tbatija għall-Evanġelju, u afda fil-qawwa ta’ Alla, li salvana u sejħilna b’sejħa qaddisa, mhux għax qies l-għemejjel tagħna, imma skond il-pjan tiegħu stess u skond il-grazzja tiegħu. Din il-grazzja tahielna qabel iż-żmien tal-eternità fi Kristu Ġesù, imma dehret issa permezz   tad-dehra tas-Salvatur tagħna Kristu Ġesù li qered il-mewt, u dawwal il-ħajja bla tmiem permezz tal-Evanġelju.   Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skond San Mattew 17:1-9

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù ħa miegħu lil Pietru u lil Ġakbu u lil ħuh Ġwanni, tellagħhom fuq muntanja għolja weħidhom, u tbiddel quddiemhom. Wiċċu sar jiddi bħax-xemx, u lbiesu sar abjad bħad-dawl. U dehrulhom Mosè u Elija jitħaddtu miegħu. Qabeż Pietru u qal lil Ġesù: “Mulej, kemm hu sew li aħna hawn! Jekk trid, intella’ hawn tliet tined, waħda għalik, waħda għal Mosè u waħda għal Elija”. Kif kien għadu jitkellem, sħaba kollha dawl għattiethom, u minn ġos-sħaba nstema’ leħen jgħid: “Dan hu Ibni l-għażiż, li fih sibt l-għaxqa tiegħi; isimgħu lilu”.  Id-dixxipli, kif semgħu dan, waqgħu wiċċhom fl-art, mimlijin biża’. Ġesù resaq lejhom, messhom u qalilhom: “Qumu. La tibżgħux”. Huma refgħu għajnejhom u ma raw lil ħadd ħlief lil Ġesù waħdu.  Huma u neżlin minn fuq il-muntanja, Ġesù ordnalhom u qalilhom: “Tgħidu lil ħadd b’din id-dehra sa ma Bin il-bniedem ikun qam mill-imwiet”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

///////////////////////////    

/////////////  REFLECTION  ///////////////

JESUS AND HUMILITY

An 8-minute Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr Anthony Kadavil   

Introduction:

The common theme of Sunday’s readings is metamorphosis or transformation. The readings invite us to work, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, to transform and renew our lives during Lent, so that we may radiate the glory and grace of the transfigured Lord, which we have just received, all around us by our Spirit-filled lives.

Scripture lessons: 

The first reading describes the transformation of a pagan patriarch into a believer in the one God. His name will be transformed from Abram to Abraham and his small family into a great nation. All Abram has to do is to obey the Lord God’s command, and he does so. The second reading, taken from St. Paul’s second letter to Timothy, explains the type of Lenten transformation expected of us. We are transformed when we recognize the hand of a loving, providing, and disciplining God behind all our hardships, pain, and suffering and try our best to grow in holiness by cooperating with the grace of God given to us through Jesus and his Gospel. 

In the Transfiguration story in Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus is revealed as a glorious figure, superior to Moses and Elijah. The primary purpose of Jesus’ Transfiguration was to allow Jesus to consult his Heavenly Father in order to ascertain His plan for His Son’s suffering, death, and Resurrection. The secondary aim was to make his chosen disciples aware of Jesus’ Divine glory, so that they might discard their worldly ambitions and their dreams of him as a conquering political Messiah, and that they might be strengthened in their time of trial. 

On the mountain, Jesús is identified out of the Cloud by the Heavenly Voice (God the Father), as “My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased!” On Jesus, the Holy Spirit would also descend as a dove, confirming for John (Jesus’ Precursor and Baptiser), the the identity of his cousin Jesus of Nazareth, as the Promised Messiah, as John publicly proclaimed. Thus, the Transfiguration narrative is a Christophany, that is, a manifestation or revelation of who Jesus really is. Describing Jesus’ Transfiguration, the Gospel gives us a glimpse of the Heavenly glory awaiting those who do God’s will by putting their trusting Faith in Him, as the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 33), for today, encourages us to do.

Life messages: 

(1) The Transubstantiation in the Holy Mass is the source of our strength. In each Holy Mass our offering of bread and wine becomes the Body and Blood of Jesus under the appearances of bread and wine. Hence, just as the Transfiguration of Jesus strengthened the Apostles in their time of trial, each Holy Mass should be our source of Heavenly strength for resisting evil when the evil one incites us to disobey the will of God and to choose to serve ourselves as gods turning our backs on God, rejecting His Love, Grace and salvation -- and then yielding ourselves more completely to the evil one’s ways and lies. 

The Holy Mass, then is the best defence against the barrages of temptations for it provides us with and inexhaustible source a source of grace for renewing our lives during Lent and of strengthened protection against temptations at repeated attacks of the evil one. In addition, should be a source of daily transformation of both our minds and hearts, enabling us to see Jesus in every one of our brothers and sisters with whom we come in contact each day. 

(2) Each Sacrament that we receive transforms us. Baptism, for example, transforms us into sons and daughters of God and heirs of heaven. Confirmation makes us the temples of the Holy Spirit. By the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God brings the sinner back to the path of holiness. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, received in Faith, gains for the recipient complete spiritual healing, forgiveness for all our sins and whatever kind of Physical healing God knows will be best for us at that time.

(3) A message of hope and encouragement. In moments of doubt, pain and suffering, disappointment and despair, we need mountain-top experiences to reach out to God and listen to His consoling words: “This is my beloved son/daughter in whom I am well pleased.” Our Lenten penance will lead us to Easter joy.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  / 

REALISING OUR SINFULNESS...

First Sunday of Lent                             Lectionary:22

Reading 1                            Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7

The LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. Then the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed there the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground the LORD God made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals that the LORD God had made.  The serpent asked the woman, “Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?” The woman answered the serpent: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

Responsorial Psalm                  Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;

in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.

Thoroughly wash me from my guilt

and of my sin cleanse me.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

For I acknowledge my offense,

and my sin is before me always:

“Against you only have I sinned,

and done what is evil in your sight.”

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

A clean heart create for me, O God,

and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

Cast me not out from your presence,

and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,

and a willing spirit sustain in me.

O Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

R. Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Reading 2                  Romans 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19 

Brothers and sisters: Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world, though sin is not accounted when there is no law. But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam, who is the type of the one who was to come. But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one, the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many. And the gift is not like the result of the one who sinned. For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation; but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal.  For if, by the transgression of the one, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ. In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act, acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the one, the many will be made righteous.

Gospel                  Matthew 4:1-11

At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, ""All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

//////////////////////////

>>>>>   BIL_MALTI   <<<<<

Ħenn għalina, Mulej, għaliex dnibna.

Qari tal-Ewwel Ħadd tar-Randan

QARI I           Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi  2:7-9; 3:1-7

Il-Mulej Alla sawwar il-bniedem mit-trab tal-art u nefaħlu fi mnifsejh nifs il-ħajja, u l-bniedem sar ħlejqa ħajja. U l-Mulej Alla ħawwel ġnien fl-Għeden, in-naħa tal-Lvant, u qiegħed hemm il-bniedem li kien sawwar. U l-Mulej Alla nibbet mill-art is-siġar kollha li jpaxxu l-għajn u bnina għall-ikel; u s-siġra tal-ħajja f’nofs il-ġnien u s-siġra ta’ tagħrif it-tajjeb u l-ħażin. Is-serp kien l-aktar wieħed li jilħaqlu fost l-annimali selvaġġi kollha, li kien għamel il-Mulej Alla. U qal lill-mara: “Tassew li Alla qalilkom: ‘La tiklux mis-siġar kollha tal-ġnien’?”. U l-mara wieġbet lis-serp: “Mill-frott tas-siġar fil-ġnien nistgħu nieklu. Imma mill-frott li hemm f’nofs il-ġnien, Alla qalilna: ‘La tiklux minnu, u lanqas ma għandkom tmissuh, inkella tmutu’”. U s-serp qal lill-mara: “Le, żgur ma tmutux. Imma Alla jaf li dakinhar li tieklu minnu jinfetħu għajnejkom u ssiru bħal allat, li jafu t-tajjeb u l-ħażin”. U l-mara rat li s-siġra kienet tajba għall-ikel u tiġbdek fil-għajn, u s-siġra tħajrek biex tikseb id-dehen; u ħadet mill-frott u kielet. Imbagħad tat ukoll lil żewġha, li kien magħha, u kiel. U nfetħu għajnejhom it-tnejn u ntebħu li kienu għerja, u ħietu weraq tat-tin, u għamlu iħżma.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

SALM RESPONSORJALI           Salm 50(51):3-4,5-6a,12-13,14,17

R/. (ara 3a): Ħenn għalina, Mulej, għaliex dnibna.

Ikollok ħniena minni, o Alla, fi tjubitek;

fil-kobor tal-ħniena tiegħek ħassar ħtijieti.

Aħsilni kollni mill-ħtija tiegħi;

naddafni mid-dnub tiegħi. R/.

Għax jien nagħrafhom ħtijieti;

id-dnub tiegħi dejjem quddiemi.

Kontrik biss jiena dnibt,

u dak li hu ħażin f’għajnejk għamilt. R/.

Oħloq fija qalb safja, o Alla,

u spirtu qawwi ġedded fija.

La twarrabnix minn quddiemek;

tneħħix minni l-ispirtu qaddis tiegħek. R/.

Roddli l-hena tas-salvazzjoni tiegħek,

u bi spirtu qalbieni wettaqni.

Iftaħli xufftejja, Sidi,

u fommi jxandar it-tifħir tiegħek. R/.

QARI 2              mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl Appostlu lir-Rumani  5:12-19

Ħuti, kien permezz ta’ bniedem wieħed li fid-dinja daħal id-dnub, u permezz tad-dnub il-mewt, u hekk il-mewt laħqet il-bnedmin kollha, għax kollha dinbu. Kienet għadha ma waslitx il-Liġi, id-dnub kien ġa fid-dinja: imma d-dnub ma kienx magħdud, ladarba Liġi ma kienx hemm. Madankollu l-mewt saltnet ukoll minn Adam sa Mosè, imqar fuq dawk li ma waqgħux fid-dnub li fih kien waqa’ Adam, li kien xbieha ta’ dak li kellu jiġi. Imma d-don mhuwiex bħall-ħtija. Għax jekk permezz ta’ ħtija waħda mietet il-kotra, aktar u aktar issa l-grazzja ta’ Alla u d-don mogħti bil-grazzja ta’ bniedem wieħed li hu Ġesù Kristu, xterdu bil-bosta fuq il-kotra. U d-don anqas ma hu bħall-frott ta’ dak il-wieħed li dineb; għax tassew, il-ġudizzju mogħti fuq dnub wieħed wassal sal-kundanna, iżda d-don mogħti wara ħafna dnubiet iwassal għall-ġustifikazzjoni. Għax jekk minħabba fil-ħtija ta’ wieħed waħdu saltnet il-mewt permezz ta’ dak il-wieħed, aktar u aktar dawk li jirċievu l-kotra tal-grazzja u d-don tal-ġustizzja għad isaltnu fil-ħajja permezz ta’ wieħed li hu Ġesù Kristu.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

EVANĠELJU               Qari skond San Mattew 4:1-11

F’dak iż-żmien, l-Ispirtu ħa lil Ġesù fid-deżert biex ix-Xitan iġarrbu. U Ġesù baqa’ sajjem għal erbgħin jum u erbgħin lejl, u fl-aħħar ħadu l-ġuħ. U resaq it-tentatur u qallu: “Jekk inti Bin Alla, ordna li dan il-ġebel isir ħobż”. Iżda Ġesù wieġbu: “Hemm miktub: ‘Il-bniedem mhux bil-ħobż biss jgħix, iżda b’kull kelma li toħroġ minn fomm Alla’”.   Imbagħad ix-Xitan ħadu miegħu fil-Belt imqaddsa, qiegħdu fuq il-quċċata tat-tempju, u qallu: “Jekk inti Bin Alla, inxteħet għal isfel; għax hemm miktub li: ‘Lill-anġli tiegħu jordnalhom jieħdu ħsiebek, u li fuq idejhom jerfgħuk, ħalli ma taħbatx riġlek ma’ xi ġebla’”. Qallu Ġesù: “Hemm miktub ukoll: ‘Iġġarrabx lill-Mulej, Alla tiegħek’”.  Għal darb’oħra x-Xitan ħadu miegħu fuq muntanja għolja ħafna, urieh is-saltniet kollha tad-dinja u l-glorja tagħhom, u qallu: “Dawn kollha nagħtihom lilek jekk tinxteħet tadurani”. Imbagħad qallu Ġesù: “Itlaq, Xitan! Għax hemm miktub: ‘Lill-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, għandek tadura, u lilu biss taqdi’”. Imbagħad ix-Xitan ħallieh. U minnufih ġew xi anġli u kienu jaqduh.   Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

////////////////////////////

REFLECTION -  

An Eight-minute homily by Fr Anthony Kadavil

Introduction:      Lent is primarily the time of intense spiritual preparation for conquering our temptations, using the means Jesus used during his forty days of preparation in the desert for his public life. It is also the time of repenting for our sins and renewing our lives so that we can celebrate Easter with our Risen Lord Who conquered sin and death by his suffering, death and Resurrection. Today’s readings teach us that we are always tempted by the devil, by the world, and by our own selfish interests. So, we need to cooperate actively with God’s grace, if we are to conquer our temptations and practice prayer, self-control, and charity.

Scripture lessons:        The first reading, taken from the book of Genesis describes the “Original Temptation" – “You will be like gods, knowing what is good and what is evil." Adam and Eve were given the freedom to make a choice to live for God, dependent upon, and obedient to, His will, or to say no to God. The temptation to evil led Adam and Eve to an act of faithlessness and sin. In contrast, today’s Gospel from St. Matthew shows us how Jesus Christ conquered temptation by relying on Faith in God's Word and authority.

In the second reading, St. Paul describes how the disobedience of Adam, who fell to Satan’s Original Temptation, brought him and us sin, death, and a broken relationship with God. Paul explains that Christ regained for us a right relationship with God by his perfect obedience to God his Father. Today’s Gospel teaches us how the "desert experience" of fasting, praying, and soul-strengthening enabled Jesus to confront his temptations successfully and then to preach the Good News of salvation. The tempter urges Jesus to turn stones into loaves of bread. But Jesus rejects that temptation -- to mistrust His Father by satisfying his own immediate, temporal needs -- thus reducing His Divine mission to self-satisfaction! The tempter then suggests that Jesus prove that he is really the Son of God by jumping off the parapet of the Temple. Jesus rejects this as a temptation to act as God’s superior and demand He prove His Trustworthiness! Finally, Jesus rejects the temptation to idolatry, even if worshipping Satan would enrich and empower Jesus with all kingdoms of the world.

Life messages:    

1)   We are to confront and conquer temptations as Jesus did, using the means Jesus employed. Every one of us is tempted to seek sinful pleasures, easy wealth, and a position of authority, power, and glory, and to use any means, even unjust or sinful ones, to gain these things. Jesus serves as a model for us in conquering temptations by strengthening himself through prayer, penance, and the effective use of the Word of God. Hence, during this Lent, let us confront our evil tendencies with prayer (especially by participating in the Holy Mass), with penance, and with meditative reading of the Bible.

2)    We are to grow in holiness during Lent through prayer, reconciliation, and sharing: 

    a) by finding time to be with God every day of Lent, speaking to Him in fervent prayer, and listening to Him through the meditative reading of the Bible; 

    b) by offering penitential acts of reparation for our sins; 

    c) by getting reconciled with God through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and reconciled with others by asking their forgiveness for our offenses against them;     d) by sharing our love with others through selfless, humble service, almsgiving, and helping those in need.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  / 

"CONSIDER YOUR OWN CALLING......"

 Readings for Sunday, February 15, 2026 

>> >>>>>>  

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 70

Reading 1                  Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the earth, who have observed his law; seek justice, seek humility; perhaps you may be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger. But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord: the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; they shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.

 Responsorial Psalm                 Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10

The Lord keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets captives free.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

or: R. Alleluia.

The Lord gives sight to the blind;
the Lord raises up those who were bowed down.
The Lord loves the just;
the Lord protects strangers.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or: R. Alleluia.

The fatherless and the widow the Lord sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The Lord shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!
or: R. Alleluia.

 Reading 2                  1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord."

 Gospel                  Matthew 5:1-12a

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

         ////////////  BIL-MALTI   ////////        

"...Qisu s-sejħa tagħkom..."

>>>>>>

Ir-Raba’ Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

QARI 1   --                      mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Sofonija versi 2:3; 3:12-13

Fittxu lill-Mulej ilkoll, intom, l-umli tal-art, li tagħmlu ordnijietu, fittxu l-ġustizzja, fittxu l-umiltà; biex forsi f’jum il-korla tal-Mulej ikollkom fejn tistkennu. “U nħalli f’nofsok poplu umli u mċekken”. U f’isem il-Mulej ifittxu l-kenn dawk li jifdal minn Iżrael. Ma jagħmlux ħażen, ma jgħidux kliem b’ieħor, u lsien qarrieq ma jibqax iżjed f’fommhom, hekk li joqogħdu jirgħu u jistrieħu bla ma jbeżżagħhom ħadd. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                  Salm 145(146):7,8-9a,9bc-10

R/. (Mt 5:3): Henjin il-foqra fl-ispirtu.

Il-Mulej jagħmel ħaqq lill-maħqurin,
u jagħti l-ħobż lill-imġewħin.
Il-Mulej jeħles lill-imjassrin. R/.

Il-Mulej jiftaħ għajnejn l-għomja;
il-Mulej jerfa’ lill-milwijin;
il-Mulej iħobb lill-ġusti;
il-Mulej iħares lill-barranin. R/.

Hu jżomm lill-iltim u lill-armla,
imma lill-ħżiena jħarbtilhom triqathom.
Il-Mulej isaltan għal dejjem;
Alla tiegħek, Sijon, minn nisel għal nisel. R/.

QARI 2                  mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Pawl lill-Korintin 1:26-31

Ħuti, qisu s-sejħa tagħkom: għax mhumiex ħafna fostkom li huma għorrief skont il-qies tad-dinja; mhumiex ħafna s-setgħana, mhumiex ħafna n-nobbli.  Imma Alla għażel in-nies boloh għad-dinja biex iħawwad l-għorrief; għażel id-dgħajfa tad-dinja biex iħawwad il-qawwija; għażel il-mistmerra mid-dinja, u n-nies li ma huma xejn, biex iġib fix-xejn lil dawk li huma xi ħaġa. Hekk ebda bniedem ma jkun jista’ jiftaħar quddiem Alla.  Minnu li intom tinsabu fi Kristu Ġesù li sar għalina l-għerf mingħand Alla, ġustizzja, qdusija u fidwa, biex bħalma hu miktub, min jiftaħar, ħa jiftaħar fil-Mulej. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

EVANĠELJU                 Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Mattew 5:1-12a

F’dak iż-żmien, kif ra l-folol, Ġesù tala’ fuq il-muntanja, qagħad bilqiegħda, u resqu lejh id-dixxipli tiegħu. Fetaħ fommu u qabad jgħallimhom u jgħid:  “Henjin il-foqra fl-ispirtu, għax tagħhom hija s-Saltna tas-Smewwiet. Henjin l-imnikkta, għax huma jkunu mfarrġa. Henjin ta’ qalbhom ħelwa, għax huma jkollhom b’wirthom l-art. Henjin dawk li huma bil-ġuħ u bl-għatx tal-ġustizzja, għax huma jkunu mxebbgħin. Henjin dawk li jħennu, għax huma jsibu ħniena. Henjin dawk li huma safja f’qalbhom, għax huma jaraw lil Alla. Henjin dawk li jġibu l-paċi, għax huma jissejħu wlied Alla. Henjin dawk li huma ppersegwitati minħabba s-sewwa, għax tagħhom hija s-Saltna tas-Smewwiet. Henjin intom, meta jgħajrukom u jippersegwitawkom u jaqilgħu kull xorta ta’ ħażen u gideb kontra tagħkom minħabba fija. Ifirħu u thennew, għax ħlaskom kbir fis-smewwiet”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

///////////////////////////    

/////////////   REFLECTION.........

THE VALUES THAT CHRIST CARES ABOUT

An 8-minute Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr Anthony Kadavil   

Introduction:

Sunday’s readings define our Christian goal of eternal happiness and explain the attitudes and actions necessary to reach it. They form the outline for Christ-like living, noting the personal qualities expected of a disciple of Jesus and pointing out the way of life to be lived by a disciple. They show us the values that Christ cares about. In essence, the Beatitudes both fulfill and complete the Ten Commandments which stress the “Thou shalt nots.” But Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, as the virtues in life which will ultimately lead to the rewards of salvation - not in this world, but in the next.

Scripture lessons: 

Zephaniah, in the first reading, calls the “moral minority” of the Jews of his time “blessed” because they seek justice, humility, truth, and righteousness, thus making a declaration of dependence on God. In the second reading, Paul advises his Corinthian Christians to use their gifts and Heaven-sent blessings for the good of the community because God has chosen to give them life in Jesus, by whom He justified, sanctified and redeemed them.

In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples in the paradoxical blessedness of poverty, hunger, sorrow, and persecution. In poverty, we recognize God’s reign; in hunger, His providence; in sorrow, true happiness; and in persecution, true joy. In other words, the blessed in Jesus’ list are poor in spirit, compassionate, meek, merciful, clean of heart, peace-makers and those who are willing even to be insulted and persecuted for their lived Faith in him 

Each of the inspired authors of today’s readings, Zephaniah, Paul, and Matthew, “makes a motion,” that each of us should consider making a personal Declaration of Dependence on God, and then work with His grace to lead a holier and happier life.

Life messages: 

1) We need to respond to the challenge of the Beatitudes in daily life. The Beatitudes propose to us a way of life inviting us to identify with the poor, those who mourn, the meek, and those who hunger and thirst after justice. They challenge us to be compassionate people, to be men and women who are pure in heart, and to become the peacemakers in our dealings with one another, in our families, and in the society at large, even when this approach to things exposes us to ridicule and persecution. Let us remember that each time we reach out to help the needy, the sick, and the oppressed, we share with them a foretaste of the promises of the Beatitudes here and now.

2) We need to choose the way wisely. "There are two Ways, one of Life and one of Death, and there is a great difference between the two Ways." These are the opening lines of the Didache, a first century Christian catechism used to teach new Christians the essence of the Christian Faith. 

The Way of Life is the WAY Jesus IS.  And JESUS IS the only WAY that leads to eternal life. The challenge of the Beatitudes is: “Are you going to be happy in the world’s way or in Christ’s way?” God wants us to love Him with our entire soul and body, mind and heart, and to love each other selflessly along with everyone else as brothers and sisters of Jesus Whose Father, God, has adopted us into His Family.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  /