"NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU"

Readings for Sunday, April 3rd, 2022

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year C
Lectionary: 36

 Il-Ħames Ħadd tar-Randan

 

Reading 1                ISAIAH 43:16-21

Thus says the LORD,  who opens a way in the sea  and a path in the mighty waters, who leads out chariots and horsemen, a powerful army, till they lie prostrate together, never to rise, snuffed out and quenched like a wick. Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers. Wild beasts honor me, jackals and ostriches, for I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink, the people whom I formed for myself, that they might announce my praise.

Qari 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Iżaija 43:16-21

Dan jgħid il-Mulej, li fetaħ triq fil-baħar, mogħdija fl-ilmijiet qawwija; dak li ħareġ karrijiet u żwiemel, eżerċti u rġiel qalbiena f’daqqa; inxteħtu fl-art, biex aktar ma qamux; inħlew bħal ftila, u ntfew: “La tiftakrux iżjed fi ġrajjiet l-imgħoddi; la taħsbux fuq dak li ġara qabel. Arawni, sejjer nagħmel ħaġa ġdida: feġġet issa; għadkom ma ttendejtux? Se niftaħ triq fix-xagħri, xmajjar fid-deżert. Ifaħħruni l-bhejjem selvaġġi, ix-xakalli u wlied in-ngħam, għax noħroġ l-ilma fix-xagħri, xmajjar fid-deżert, biex nisqi l-poplu tiegħi, il-maħtur tiegħi, il-poplu li sawwart għalija, biex ixandar it-tifħir tiegħi”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                PSALM 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6.

When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
 carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Salm Responsorjali               Salm 125(126):1-2ab,2ċd-3,4-5,6

R/: Kbir f’għemilu l-Mulej magħna!

Meta l-Mulej reġġa’ lura l-imjassra ta’ Sijon,
konna qisna mitlufa f’ħolma;
imbagħad bid-daħk imtela fommna,
u bl-għajat ta’ ferħ ilsienna. R/.

Imbagħad bdew jgħidu fost il-ġnus:
“Kbir f’għemilu l-Mulej magħhom”.
Kbir f’għemilu l-Mulej magħna!
U aħna bil-ferħ imtlejna. R/.

Biddel, Mulej, xortina
bħall-widien tan-Negeb!
Dawk li jiżirgħu fid-dmugħ
jaħsdu bl-għana ta’ ferħ. R/.

Huma u sejrin, imorru jibku,
iġorru ż-żerriegħa għaż-żrigħ.
Iżda huma u ġejjin lura, jiġu b’għana ta’ ferħ,
iġorru l-qatet f’idejhom. R/. 

Reading 2                PHILIPPIANS 3:8-14

Brothers and sisters: I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith to know him and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.

Qari 2               i mill-Ittra lill-Filippin 3:8-14

Ħuti, jiena ngħodd kollox bħala telf ħdejn il-qligħ kbir li hemm filli nagħraf lil Kristu Ġesù Sidi; minħabba fih ridt li nitlef kollox, u ngħodd kollox bħala knis, biex nirbaħ lil Kristu, u nkun ninsab fih; mhux għax għandi xi ġustizzja tiegħi, dik li tiġi permezz tal-Liġi, iżda dik li tiġi permezz tal-fidi fi Kristu, il-ġustizzja ġejja minn Alla u mibnija fuq il-fidi. Irrid nagħraf lilu u l-qawwa tal-qawmien tiegħu mill-imwiet, u naqsam miegħu t-tbatijiet tiegħu, u nsir nixbhu fil-mewt, biex jirnexxili nikseb il-qawmien mill-imwiet. M’iniex ngħid li jiena ġa ksibtu, jew li jien ġa perfett. Imma nross ’il quddiem biex naħtaf dan, bħalma Kristu Ġesù ġa ħataf lili. Ħuti, ma jidhirlix li dan ġa lħaqtu; imma ħaġa waħda ngħid: waqt li ninsa lil ta’ warajja kollu, jiena nagħmel ħilti kollha biex nilħaq dak li hemm quddiemi; niġri ’l quddiem lejn it-tmiem, biex nikseb il-premju li għalih Alla qed isejħilna hemm fuq fi Kristu Ġesù. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                JOHN 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.”n Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

Evanġelju               Qari skont San Ġwann 8:1-11

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù telaq lejn l-Għolja taż-Żebbuġ. Imma l-għada qabel is-sebħ raġa’ mar fit-tempju, u l-poplu kollu ġie ħdejh, u hu qagħad bilqiegħda jgħallimhom. Imbagħad il-kittieba u l-Fariżej ħadulu quddiemu waħda mara li kienet inqabdet fl-adulterju. Huma qegħduha fin-nofs u qalulu: “Mgħallem, din il-mara nqabdet fil-fatt fl-adulterju. Issa fil-Liġi tagħna Mosè ordnalna biex nisa bħal dawn inħaġġruhom. Int, imma, xi tgħid?”. Dan qaluhulu biex iġarrbuh, ħalli jkollhom fuqiex jixluh. Imma Ġesù tbaxxa lejn l-art u beda jikteb b’sebgħu fit-trab. Billi dawk baqgħu jistaqsuh, qam dritt u qalilhom: “Min fostkom hu bla dnub jitfgħalha hu l-ewwel ġebla”. U raġa’ tbaxxa jikteb fit-trab. Kif semgħuh jgħid dan, qabdu u telqu wieħed wara l-ieħor, ibda mix-xjuħ. Ġesù baqa’ waħdu mal-mara, wieqfa fin-nofs. Qam dritt u qalilha: “Dawk fejnhom, mara? Ħadd minnhom ma kkundannak?”. “Ħadd, Sinjur”, qaltlu. “Mela anqas jien ma nikkundannak”, qalilha Ġesù. “Mur, u mil-lum ’il quddiem tidnibx iżjed”.
 
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Eight-minute  Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil   
 

BEARING WITNESS TO GOD'S LOVE

Introduction:


Reminding us of God’s readiness to forgive sin, gives the sinner a second chance, bind up broken lives, and restore people to His friendship, today’s readings challenge us to show the same mercy to the sinners around us and to live as forgiven people, actively seeking reconciliation with God and one another. The central theme of all three readings is a merciful God’s steadfast love. The readings remind us that we should not be self-righteous and condemn the lives of others when God is calling them tenderly to conversion.

Scripture lessons summarized:

Explaining how a merciful God forgives the sins of His chosen people and leads them back from the Babylonian exile, the first reading reminds us that we too are forgiven, and we are saved from our own sinfulness. In the second reading, Paul presents himself as a forgiven sinner who has been completely transformed by his Faith in Christ Jesus. His life is an example of the Gospel exhortation, 

“Sin no more.” Paul loves Christ so much he wants to share in His sufferings and even in His death so that he may share Christ’s Resurrection. The sinful woman’s story of sin committed, and sin forgiven in today’s Gospel, shows the inexhaustible mercy and compassion Jesus offers to repentant sinners. In addition, by making sinlessness the condition for throwing the first stone, Jesus forces the accusers to assess their own souls and to leave. Thus, He grants justice to the accusers and mercy to the sinful woman. 

In our own lives, we bear witness to the Justice of God by confessing our sinfulness and resolving to avoid sin, and we bear witness to God’s Mercy by accepting the forgiveness of our sins and promising to forgive those who have offended us.

Life messages:

# 1: We need to become forgiving people, ready for reconciliation: Jesus has shown inexhaustible mercy and compassion to sinners by dying for our sins. But we are often self-righteous, like the Pharisees, and ready to spread scandal about others with a bit of spicy gossip. We are judgmental about the unmarried mother, the alcoholic, the drug addict, or the shoplifter, ignoring Jesus’ command: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Let us learn to acknowledge our sins, ask God’s forgiveness every day and extend the same forgiveness to our erring brothers and sisters. We need to learn to hate the sin but love the sinners, showing them Jesus’ compassion and working with the Holy Spirit to make our own lives exemplary so that we can help lead them to Jesus’ ways.

# 2:  We have no right to judge others: We have no right to judge others because we often commit the very faults we condemn, we are often partial and prejudiced in our judgments, and we do not know the circumstances which have led someone to sin. Hence, let us leave the judgment to our merciful God Who does read people’s hearts. We should show mercy and compassion to those who sin because we ourselves are sinners in need of God’s forgiveness. The apostle Paul reminds us: “But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.” (1 Cor 11:31).

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LOST AND FOUND

Readings for Sunday, March 27th, 2022

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year C
Lectionary: 33

Ir-Raba’ Ħadd tar-Randan

Reading 1               JOSHUA 5:9a, 10-12

The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.” While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho,  they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth of the month. On the day after the Passover, they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain. On that same day after the Passover, on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.

Qari 1                mill-Ktieb ta’ Ġożwè 5:9a,10-12

F’dak iż-żmien, il-Mulej qal lil Ġożwè: “Illum jien neħħejtilkom minn fuqkom l-għajb tal-Eġittu”. Ulied Iżrael waqqfu l-kamp tagħhom f’Gilgal. Hemm, fil-witat ta’ Ġeriko, għamlu l-Għid filgħaxija tal-erbatax tax-xahar. U sewwasew l-għada tal-Għid, huma kielu mill-frott tal-art: ħobż ażżmu u qamħ inkaljat. Minn dakinhar, wara li kielu mill-frott tal-art, il-manna waqfet. Ulied Iżrael ma kellhomx aktar manna, imma minn dik is-sena bdew jieklu milli bdiet tagħtihom l-art ta’ Kangħan. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm               PSALM 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7.

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Salm Responsorjali                 Salm 33(34):2-3,4-5,6-7

R/.(9a): Duqu u taraw kemm hu tajjeb il-Mulej.

Kull ħin inbierek il-Mulej;
tifħiru dejjem fuq fommi.
Bil-Mulej tiftaħar ruħi;
jisimgħu l-fqajrin u jifirħu. R/.

Xandru l-kobor tal-Mulej miegħi;
ħa ngħollu ismu flimkien.
Jien fittixt il-Mulej, u weġibni,
minn kull biża’ tiegħi ħelisni. R/.

Ħarsu lejh u jiddi bil-ferħ wiċċkom,
u ma jkollkomx għax tistħu.
Dan il-fqajjar sejjaħ u l-Mulej semgħu,
u mid-dwejjaq tiegħu kollha ħelsu. R/.

Reading 2               2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-21

Brothers and sisters: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away;  behold, new things have come.And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Qari 2                mit-Tieni Ittra lill-Korintin 5:17-21

Ħuti, meta wieħed jingħaqad ma’ Kristu, isir ħolqien ġdid; il-qadim għadda u daħal il-ġdid. Kollox ġej minn Alla li ħabbibna miegħu nnifsu permezz ta’ Kristu u tana l-ministeru ta’ din il-ħbiberija tal-bnedmin ma’ Alla. Alla kien li ħabbeb il-ħolqien miegħu nnifsu permezz ta’ Kristu, bla ma qagħad iżomm il-kont ta’ dnubiethom, u fdalna l-ministeru ta’ din il-ħbiberija. Aħna nagħmluha ta’ ambaxxaturi ta’ Kristu bħallikieku Alla stess qiegħed isejjaħ permezz tagħna, nitolbu fuq li nitolbu f’ġieħ Kristu: Ħallu lil Alla jħabbibkom miegħu. Dak li ma kienx jaf x’inhu dnub, Alla għamlu dnub għalina sabiex aħna nsiru fih ġustizzja ta’ Alla. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel               LUKE 15:1-3, 11-32

Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

Evanġelju               Qari skont San Luqa 15:1-3,11-32

F’dak iż-żmien, il-pubblikani u l-midinbin kienu jersqu bi ħġarhom lejn Ġesù biex jisimgħuh. U kemm il-Fariżej u kemm il-kittieba kienu jgemgmu u jgħidu: “Nies midinba jilqa’ għandu dan u jiekol magħhom!”.U Ġesù qabad u qalilhom din il-parabbola: “Kien hemm raġel li kellu żewġ ulied. Iż-żgħir qal lil missieru: ‘Missier, agħtini s-sehem li jmiss lili mill-ġid’. U dak qassmilhom il-ġid. Ma kinux għaddew wisq ġranet, meta ż-żgħir sarr kollox u telaq minn beltu lejn pajjiż imbiegħed, u hemmhekk berbaq ġidu kollu f’ħajja mtajra. Meta ħela kulma kellu, fuq dak il-pajjiż waqa’ ġuħ kbir, u beda jħoss ruħu fil-bżonn. U mar daħal ma’ wieħed minn dak il-pajjiż, li bagħtu fir-raba’ tiegħu jirgħa l-ħnieżer. Kien jixtieq kieku jimla żaqqu mqar bil-ħarrub li kienu jieklu l-ħnieżer, imma ħadd ma kien jagħtih. Imbagħad daħal fih innifsu u qal: ‘Kemm lavranti ma’ missieri għandhom ħobż bix-xaba’, u jien qiegħed hawn immut bil-ġuħ! Ħa nqum u mmur għand missieri, u ngħidlu: Missier, dnibt kontra s-sema u kontra tiegħek; ma jistħoqqlix iżjed nissejjaħ ibnek; żommni b’wieħed mil-lavranti tiegħek’. Qam, u telaq għal għand missieru. Iżda kif kien għadu fil-bogħod missieru lemħu u tħassru, u b’ġirja waħda mar inxteħet fuq għonqu u biesu. It-tifel qallu: ‘Missier, dnibt kontra s-sema u kontra tiegħek; ma jistħoqqlix iżjed nissejjaħ ibnek’. Iżda l-missier qal lill-qaddejja tiegħu: ‘Isaw! Ġibulu l-isbaħ libsa u xidduhielu, libbsulu ċ-ċurkett f’sebgħu u s-sandli f’riġlejh! Ġibu l-għoġol l-imsemmen u oqtluh, ħa nieklu u nagħmlu festa, għax dan ibni kien mejjet u raġa’ qam, kien mitluf u nstab!’. U għamlu festa. Mela ibnu l-kbir kien fl-għalqa. Huwa u rieġa’ lura, kif wasal qrib id-dar sama’ daqq u żfin. Sejjaħ wieħed mill-qaddejja u staqsieh dak x’kien. Dak qallu: ‘Hawn ħuk u missierek qatillu l-għoġol l-imsemmen, għax raġa’ kisbu qawwi u sħiħ’. Hu inkorla, u ma riedx jidħol ġewwa, iżda missieru ħareġ jitolbu jidħol. Iżda hu qal lil missieru: ‘Ara, ili dawn is-snin kollha naqdik, kelmtek ma ksirthielek qatt, u kieku qatt tajtni gidi lili biex nagħmel ikla u nifraħ ma’ ħbiebi! Imbagħad jiġi dan ibnek, li belagħ ek ġidek man-nisa żienja, u lilu toqtollu l-għoġol l-imsemmen’. Qallu missieru: ‘Ibni, inti dejjem miegħi, u kulma hu tiegħi huwa tiegħ. Imma kien meħtieġ li nagħmlu festa u nifirħu, għax dan ħuk kien mejjet u raġa’ qam, kien mitluf u nstab!’”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

///////////////////////////////////////////////                                                                                             Eight-minute  Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil  

THE BASIS OF OUR FAITH

Introduction:

Traditionally, the Fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday (Rejoice Sunday). Anticipating Easter joy, this Sunday’s readings invite us to rejoice by being reconciled with God through repentance and the confession of our sins and by celebrating our coming home to be with our loving and forgiving God.

Scripture lessons summarized:

In the first reading, the Chosen People of God are portrayed as celebrating, for the first time in their own land, the feast of their freedom, by using wheat that had grown in the Promised Land. In today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 34), a rejoicing Psalmist invites us, “Glorify the Lord with me; let us together extol His Name!” In the second reading, St. Paul invites the Corinthian Christian community to rejoice because Jesus has reconciled them with God by his suffering and death.

Today’s Gospel celebrates the joy of the prodigal son on his “homecoming” where he discovers his father’s forgiving and overflowing love. It is also the story of the rejoicing of a loving and forgiving father who celebrates the return of his prodigal son by throwing a big party in his honour, a banquet celebrating the reconciliation of the son with his father, his family, his community, and his God. 

At the same time, by presenting a self-righteous elder brother, the parable invites us to avoid self-righteousness and self-justification by imitating the repentant younger brother. Let us admit the truth that we are an assembly of sinful people, repentant, and now we are ready to receive God’s forgiveness and to experience Jesus’ Personal Presence in the Holy Eucharist as our loving and forgiving God.

Life messages:

1) Let us return to our Heavenly Father with repentant hearts: As prodigal children, we face spiritual famine all around us in the form of drug and alcohol abuse, fraud and theft in the workplace, murders, abortions and violence, premarital sex, marital infidelity and priestly infidelity, as well as in hostility between and among people. All of these evils have proliferated because we have been squandering God’s abundant blessings, not only in our country and in our families, but also in our personal lives. Hence, let us repent and return to our Heavenly Father’s home.

2) Holy Mass enhances our “pass over,” from a world of sin to a world of reconciliation. At every Mass, we come to our loving Heavenly Father’s house as prodigal children acknowledging that we have sinned (“I confess to Almighty God”). In the Offertory, we give ourselves back to the Father, and this is the moment of our surrendering our sinful lives to God our Father. At the consecration, we hear God’s invitation through Jesus: “… this is My Body, which will be given up for you… this is the chalice of My Blood … which will be poured out for you…” (= ”All I have is yours”). In Holy Communion, we participate in the banquet of reconciliation, thus restoring our full relationship with God and our fellow human beings.

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GOD CALLS US TO REPENT OF OUR WAYWARD WAYS

Readings for Sunday, March 20, 2022

Third Sunday of Lent - Year C 

It-Tielet Ħadd tar-Randan

Reading 1               EXODUS 3:1-8a, 13-15

Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your fathers, “ he continued, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. But the LORD said, “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Moses said to God, “But when I go to the Israelites  and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?” God replied, “I am who am.” Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.”  God spoke further to Moses, “Thus shall you say to the Israelites: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. “This is my name forever; thus am I to be remembered through all generations.”

Qari 1              mill-Ktieb tal-Eżodu3:1-8a,13-15

F’dak iż-żmien, Mosè kien jirgħa l-merħla ta’ ħatnu Ġetru, qassis ta’ Midjan, u ħa l-merħla ’l hemm fid-deżert, u wasal sa ħdejn Ħoreb, il-muntanja ta’ Alla. Hawn deherlu l-anġlu tal-Mulej f’ħuġġieġa nar qalb l-għollieq. Mosè ħares u ra l-għollieq jaqbad bin-nar bla ma jintemm. Mosè qal: “Ħ nersaq u nara din id-dehra tal-għaġeb: għala mhux jinħaraq l-għllieq?”. Il-Mulej rah riesaq biex jara, u Alla sejjaħlu minn qalb l-għollieq u qallu: “Mosè, Mosè!”. U Mosè wieġeb: “Hawn jien!”. U l-Mulej qallu: “La tersaqx ’l hawn. Neħħi l-qorq minn riġlejk, għax il-post li inti fuqu hu art qaddisa”. U ssokta jgħidlu: “Jien hu Alla ta’ missirijietek: Alla ta’ Abraham, Alla ta’ Iżakk u Alla ta’ Ġakobb”. Mosè għatta wiċċu, għax beża’ jħares lejn Alla. U l-Mulej qallu: “Jien ħarist u rajt it-tbatija tal-poplu tiegħi fl-Eġittu. U jien smajt il-karba tagħhom minħabba fl-argużini tagħhom u għaraft l-uġigħ tagħhom. Issa nżilt biex neħlishom minn idejn l-Eġizzjani u biex intellagħhom minn dik l-art u neħodhom f’art tajba u wiesgħa, art tnixxi ħalib u għasel”. Mosè reġa’ wieġeb: “Ara, jiena mmur għand ulied Iżrael u ngħidilhom: ‘Alla ta’ missirijietkom bagħatni għandkom’. Huma jistaqsuni: ‘X’jismu?’. Jiena xi ngħidilhom?”. Alla wieġbu: “Jien li Jien”. U kompla jgħidlu: “Hekk għidilhom lil ulied Iżrael: ‘Jiena-Hu bagħatni għandkom’”. U Alla kompla jgħidlu: “Hekk għandek tgħidilhom lil ulied Iżrael: ‘Jaħweh, Alla ta’ missirijietkom, Alla ta’ Abraham, Alla ta’ Iżakk, Alla ta’ Ġakobb, bagħatni għandkom’. Dan ikun ismi għal dejjem u dan l-isem ifakkarkom fija minn nisel għal nisel”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm               PSALM 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
            and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
            and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

He pardons all your iniquities,
            heals all your ills,
He redeems your life from destruction,
            crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

The LORD secures justice
            and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
            and his deeds to the children of Israel.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
            slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
            so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Salm Responsorjali              Salm 102(103):1-2,3-4,6-7,8,11

R/.(8): Ħanin u twajjeb il-Mulej.

Bierek, ruħ tiegħi, il-Mulej!
B’qalbi kollha nbierek l-isem qaddis tiegħu.
Bierek, ruħ tiegħi, il-Mulej,
u la tinsiex il-ġid kollu li għamel miegħek. R/.

Hu li jaħfer dnubietek kollha;
ifejjaq il-mard tiegħek kollu;
jifdi lil ħajtek mill-qabar;
iħaddnek bit-tjieba u l-ħniena. R/.

Il-Mulej jagħmel is-sewwa,
u l-ħaqq mal-maħqurin kollha.
Hu għarraf lil Mosè l-ħsieb tiegħu,
l-għemejjel tiegħu lil ulied Iżrael. R/.

Ħanin u twajjeb il-Mulej,
idum ma jagħdab u kollu mogħdrija.
Daqskemm huma s-smewwiet ’il fuq mill-art,
hekk hi kbira tjubitu ma’ min jibża’ minnu. R/.

Reading 2              1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-6, 10-12

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ. Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert. These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did. Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.

Qari 2               mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 10:1-6,10-12

Ma rridkomx ma tkunux tafu, ħuti, li missirijietna lkoll kienu taħt is-sħaba, ilkoll qasmu l-baħar, ilkoll kienu mgħammda f’Mosè fis-sħaba u fil-baħar, ilkoll kielu mill-istess ikel spiritwali – xorbu tassew mill-blata spiritwali li kienet timxi magħhom, u din il-blata kienet Kristu – madankollu l-biċċa l-kbira minnhom lil Alla ma għoġbuhx għax ilkoll waqgħu mejta fid-deżert. Dan ġara b’eżempju għalina, biex ma nixxennqux għal ħwejjeġ ħżiena, bħalma xxennqu huma. Anqas ma għandkom tgergru, kif għamlu xi wħud minnhom, u qeridhom il-Qerried. Dan kollu ġralhom b’eżempju, u nkiteb bi twiddiba għalina li fuqna wasal tmiem iż-żminijiet. Min jidhirlu li hu wieqaf, joqgħod attent li ma jaqax. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel              LUKE 13:1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

Evanġelju            Qari skont San Luqa 13:1-9

F’dak iż-żmien, ġew xi wħud għand Ġesù u qalulu b’dawk il-Galilin li Pilatu kien ħallat demmhom mad-demm tal-vittmi tas-sagrifiċċji tagħhom. U Ġesù qabad u qalilhom: “Taħsbu intom li dawn il-Galilin kienu iżjed midinbin mill-Galilin l-oħra biex sofrew dan kollu? Le, ngħidilkom; imma jekk ma tindmux, ilkoll tintilfu bħalhom. Jew dawk it-tmintax-il ruħ li fuqhom waqa’ t-torri ta’ Silwam u qatilhom, taħsbu intom li kienu iżjed ħatja min-nies l-oħra ta’ Ġerusalemm? Le, ngħidilkom; imma jekk ma tindmux, ilkoll tintilfu xorta waħda”. U qalilhom din il-parabbola: “Wieħed kellu siġra tat-tin imħawla fl-għalqa. Mar ifittex il-frott fiha, u ma sabx. Għalhekk qal lil dak li kien jaħdimlu l-għalqa: ‘Ara, ili tliet snin niġi nfittex il-frott f’din is-siġra tat-tin, u qatt ma sibtilha. Mela aqlagħha! Għax għalfejn se tibqa’ tkidd l-art?’. Iżda dak wieġbu: ‘Inti ħalliha, sinjur, għal din is-sena, sa ma nagħżqilha madwarha u nagħtiha d-demel. Id-dieħla għandha mnejn tagħmel il-frott; jekk le, aqlagħha’”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute  Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil   

 

 

GOD'S MERCY AND COMPASSION

Central theme:

All three of this Sunday’s readings speak of God’s mercy and compassion in disciplining His children by occasional punishment while giving them another chance despite their repeated sins. Although God’s love for us is constant and consistent, He will not save us without our co-operation. That is why He invites us during Lent to repent of our sins and to renew our lives by producing fruits of love, compassion, forgiveness, and faithful service.

Scripture lessons:

The first reading tells us how God shows His mercy to His chosen people by giving them Moses as their leader and liberator. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (v 6) reveals Himself to Moses from the burning bush and assures Moses of His Divine presence with His people and of His awareness of their sufferings in Egypt. He declares His intention to use Moses as the leader who will rescue His enslaved people. Then God reveals His name as Yahweh (“I AM Who AM”) and renews His promise to the patriarchs (v 8), to give them a “land flowing with milk and honey.” 

Our Responsorial Psalm, (Ps 103) reminds us of God’s unfailing mercy: “Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.” The second reading warns us that our merciful God is also a disciplining God. Paul reminds the Christians of Corinth that they must learn from the sad experience of the Israelites who were punished for their sins by a merciful but just God. The merciful and gracious God is also just and demanding; hence, they must be free from sexual sins and idolatry. 

Sunday’s Gospel explains how God disciplines His people and invites them to repent of their sins, to renew their lives, and to produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Citing two tragic events, Jesus exhorts the Jews to repent and reform their lives. With the parable of the barren fig tree, Jesus also warns them that the merciful God will not put up with them indefinitely. Although God patiently waits for sinners to repent, giving them grace to do so, He will not wait forever. Time may run out; therefore, timely repentance is necessary. Hence, one can say, “A Lent missed is a year lost from the spiritual life.”

Life Messages:

1) We need to live lives of repentance, because:

   (a) we never know when we will meet a tragedy of our own.Let us turn to Christ, acknowledge our faults and failings, and receive from him mercy, forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. There is no better way to take these words of Jesus to heart than to go to sacramental confession, and there is no better time to go to confession than during Lent.

   (b) repentance helps us in life and in death. It helps us to live as forgiven people and helps us to face death without fear. 2) We need to be fruitful trees in God’s orchard. Lent is an ideal time “to dig around and manure” the tree of our life so that it may bring forth fruits of repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness, and sensitivity to the feelings of others.

3) We need to make the best use of the “second chances” God gives us. Our merciful Father always gives us second chances. During Lent, too, we are given another chance to repent and return to our Heavenly Father’s love.

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TRANSFORMING OUR LIVES

Readings for Sunday, March 13, 2022

Second Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 27


It-Tieni Ħadd tar-Randan 

Reading 1              GENESIS 15:5-12, 17-18

The Lord God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. He then said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.”  “O Lord GOD,” he asked, “how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He answered him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Abram brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up. Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them. As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him. When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.”

Qari 1               mill-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi 15:5-12,17-18

F’dak iż-żmien, il-Mulej ħareġ lil Abram ’il barra u qallu: “Ħares sewwa lejn is-smewwiet u għodd il-kwiekeb, jekk għandek ħila tgħoddhom”. U żied jgħidlu: “Hekk għad ikun nislek”. U Abram emmen fil-Mulej, u dan għaddhulu b’ġustizzja. U qallu: “Jiena l-Mulej li ħriġtek minn Ur tal-Kaldin, biex nagħtik din l-art b’wirt”. U qallu Abram: “Sidi Mulej, kif inkun naf li se niritha?”. U wieġbu: “Ħudli għoġla ta’ tliet snin, mogħża ta’ tliet snin, muntun ta’ tliet snin, gamiema u ħamiema”. U ħadlu dawn kollha, u qasamhom min-nofs, u kull nofs qiegħdu biswit l-ieħor; imma l-għasafar ma qasamhomx. U niżlu l-għasafar tal-priża għal fuq l-iġsma mejtin, imma Abram gerrixhom lura. Hi u nieżla x-xemx waqa’ fuq Abram ngħas qawwi, u waqgħu fuqu biża’ u dalma kbira.  Meta x-xemx kienet niżlet u kien dalam, kenur idaħħan u lsien nar iżiġġ qasmu minn bejn il-bċejjeċ tal-laħam. Dakinhar il-Mulej għamel patt ma’ Abram u qallu: “Lil nislek nagħti din l-art, mix-xmara tal-Eġittu sax-xmara l-kbira, ix-xmara tal-Ewfrat”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej. 

Responsorial Psalm              PSALM 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
   whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
   of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
   have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
   Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
   You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
   in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
   be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Salm Responsorjali              Salm 26(27):1,7-8,9,13-14

R/.(1): Il-Mulej id-dawl u s-salvazzjoni tiegħi.

Il-Mulej id-dawl u s-salvazzjoni tiegħi,
minn min għandi nibża’?
Il-Mulej hu l-kenn tiegħi,
quddiem min għandi nitwerwer? R/.

Isma’, Mulej, leħen l-għajta tiegħi,
ħenn għalija u weġibni.
“Ejja”, għedt f’qalbi, “fittex ’il wiċċu!”.
Jien wiċċek infittex, Mulej. R/.

La taħbix wiċċek minni,
la twarrabx bl-herra l-qaddej tiegħek.
Inti l-għajnuna tiegħi,
tħallinix u titlaqnix,
Alla tas-salvazzjoni tiegħi. R/.

Nemmen li għad nara t-tjieba tal-Mulej
f’art il-ħajjin.
Ittama fil-Mulej, żomm sħiħ u qawwi qalbek,
ittama fil-Mulej. R/.

 Reading 2               PHILIPPIANS 3:17—4:1

Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord.

Qari 2               mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lill-Filippin 3:17–4:1

Ħuti, ixbhu lili, u ħarsu lejn dawk li jimxu skont l-eżempju li rajtu fina. Għaliex hawn ħafna – dan għedthulkom bosta drabi, imma issa ntennihulkom bid-dmugħ f’għajnejja – li jġibu ruħhom bħal għedewwa tas-salib ta’ Kristu. It-telfien għad ikun tmiemhom; alla tagħhom hu żaqqhom, jiftaħru b’dak li jmisshom jistħu minnu, u moħħhom biss fil-ħwejjeġ tad-dinja. Imma aħna pajżani tas-sema; minn hemm bil-ħerqa nistennewh jiġi, is-Salvatur tagħna Sidna Ġesù Kristu. Hu għad irid ibiddlilna l-ġisem imsejken tagħna fis-sura tal-ġisem glorjuż tiegħu, bil-qawwa tas-setgħa li għandu li jġib kollox taħtu. Għalhekk, intom, ħuti, li intom l-għożża u x-xewqa tiegħi, ferħ u kuruna tiegħi, żommu sħiħ fil-Mulej, maħbubin tiegħi.
Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel              LUKE 9:28b-36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.  And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

Evanġelju              Qari skont San Luqa 9:28b-36

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù ħa miegħu lil Pietru, lil Ġwanni u lil Ġakbu, u tala’ fuq il-muntanja biex jitlob. U ġara li huwa u jitlob, id-dehra ta’ wiċċu tbiddlet u l-ilbiesi tiegħu saru ta’ bjuda li tgħammex. U kien hemm żewġt irġiel jitħaddtu miegħu, Mosè u Elija, li dehru fil-glorja, jitħaddtu fuq it-tmiem ta’ ħajtu li kellu jseħħ f’Ġerusalemm. Pietru u sħabu kienu mejtin bin-ngħas, imma baqgħu mqajmin sewwa, u raw il-glorja tiegħu u ż-żewġt irġiel li kienu miegħu. Xħin dawn it-tnejn kienu se jinfirdu minnu, Pietru qal lil Ġesù: “Mgħallem, kemm hu sew li aħna hawn! Ħa ntellgħu tliet tined, waħda għalik, waħda għal Mosè, u waħda għal Elija”. Ma kienx jaf x’inhu jgħid. Waqt li kien qiegħed jgħid dan, ġiet sħaba u għattiethom u huma beżgħu kif daħlu fis-sħaba. U minn ġos-sħaba nstama’ leħen jgħid: “Dan hu Ibni l-maħtur, lilu isimgħu!”. Malli nstama’ l-leħen Ġesù sab ruħu waħdu. Huma żammew is-skiet, u għal dawk il-jiem ma qalu xejn lil ħadd minn dak li kienu raw.
Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute  Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil  

METAMORPHOSIS

Introduction:

The common theme of Sunday’s readings is metamorphosis or transformation. The readings invite us to work with the Holy Spirit to transform our lives by renewing them during Lent so that they radiate the glory and grace of the transfigured Lord to all around us by our Spirit-filled lives. (An anecdote may be added here as a homily starter)

Scripture lessons summarized:

The first reading describes the transformation of Abram, a pagan patriarch, into a believer in the one God (Who would later “transform” Abram’s name to Abraham), and the first covenant of God with Abraham’s family as a reward for Abraham’s Faith and obedience to God. The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 27) declares that Faith, singing, “I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living.”

In the second reading, St. Paul argues that it is not observance of the Mosaic Law and circumcision that transforms people into Christians, and hence, that Gentiles need not become Jews to become Christians. St. Paul urges us to stand firm in our Faith and to live a life of discipleship with Jesus now, so that we may share in a glorious future later. 

In the Transfiguration account 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 Him 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 Jesus’ chosen disciples aware of his Divine glory, so that they might discard their worldly ambitions and dreams of a conquering political Messiah and might be strengthened in their time of trial. 

On the mountain, Jesus is identified by the Heavenly Voice as the Son of God. Thus, the Transfiguration experience 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.

Life messages:

(1) The “transfiguration” in the Holy Mass is the source of our strength: In each Holy Mass, the bread and wine we offer on the altar become “transfigured” or transformed (transubstanted) into the living Body and Blood soul and Divinity of the crucified, risen, and glorified Jesus. Just as Jesus’ Transfiguration was meant to strengthen the apostles in their time of trial, each holy Mass should be our source of Heavenly strength against temptations, and for our Lenten renewal. 

 (2) Each time we receive one of the Sacraments, we are transformed: For example, Baptism transforms us into sons and daughters of God and heirs of heaven. Confirmation makes us temples of the Holy Spirit and warriors of God. By the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God brings back the sinner to the path of holiness. 

(3) The Transfiguration of Jesus offers us a message of encouragement and hope: In moments of doubt and during our dark moments of despair and hopelessness, the thought of our own transfiguration in Heaven will help us to reach out to God and to listen to His consoling words to Jesus: “This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased — listen to Him!” and so share the glory of His transfiguration. 

4) We need “mountain-top experiences” in our lives: We share the mountain-top experience of Peter, James, and John when we spend extra time in prayer during Lent. Fasting for one day can help the body to store up spiritual energy. This spiritual energy can help us have thoughts that are far higher and nobler than our usual mundane thinking.

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STATEMENT OF FAITH FOR BELIEVERS IN JESUS

Readings for Sunday, February 20, 2022

 

First Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 24

L-Ewwel Ħadd tar-Randan

 

 

Reading 1              DEUTERONOMY 26:4-10

Moses spoke to the people, saying: “The priest shall receive the basket from you and shall set it in front of the altar of the LORD, your God. Then you shall declare before the Lord, your God, ‘My father was a wandering Aramean who went down to Egypt with a small household and lived there as an alien. But there he became a nation great, strong, and numerous. When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us, imposing hard labor upon us, we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and he heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders; and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey. Therefore, I have now brought you the firstfruits of the products of the soil which you, O LORD, have given me.’And having set them before the LORD, your God, you shall bow down in his presence.”

Qari 1              mill-Ktieb tad-Dewteronomju 26:4-10

Mosè kellem lill-poplu u qal: “Il-qassis imbagħad jilqa’ minn idejk il-qoffa, u jqegħedha quddiem l-altar tal-Mulej, Alla tiegħek. Inti mbagħad tgħid hekk quddiem il-Mulej, Alla tiegħek: ‘Missieri kien minn Aram, jiġġerra minn post għal ieħor; imbagħad niżel l-Eġittu u għammar hemm. Żgħir kien l-għadd ta’ niesu, iżda hemmhekk sar poplu kbir, qawwi u kotran. L-Eġizzjani ħaqruna, għakksuna, għabbewna b’xogħol iebes; imma aħna għajjatna lill-Mulej, Alla ta’ missirijietna, u l-Mulej sama’ l-għajta tagħna, ra t-tgħakkis u t-tbatija u d-dwejjaq tagħna, u ħariġna l-Mulej mill-Eġittu, b’id qawwija, bi driegħ merfugħ, b’biża’ kbir, b’sinjali u b’għeġubijiet, u daħħalna f’dan il-post, tana din l-art, art tnixxi ħalib u għasel. U issa, ara, jiena ġibt l-ewwel frott tal-art li tajtni int, Mulej’. U int tqiegħdu quddiem il-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, u tadura lill-Mulej, Alla tiegħek”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

 Responsorial Psalm              PSALM 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress,
my God in whom I trust.”
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.

No evil shall befall you,
nor shall affliction come near your tent,
For to his angels he has given command about you,
that they guard you in all your ways.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.

Upon their hands they shall bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the asp and the viper;
you shall trample down the lion and the dragon.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.

Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress;
I will deliver him and glorify him.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.

Salm Responsorjali              Salm 90 (91) :1-2,10-11,12-13,14-15

R/.(ara 15): Kun miegħi, Mulej, fid-dwejjaq.

Int li tgħix għall-kenn tal-Għoli,
li tgħammar għad-dell ta’ dak li jista’ kollox,
għid lill-Mulej: “Kenn tiegħi u qawwa tiegħi int,
Alla tiegħi, jien fik nittama”. R/.

Ebda deni ma jiġrilek,
ebda ħsara ma tersaq lejn darek.
Għax l-anġli tiegħu hu jibgħatlek,
u jħarsuk fi triqatek kollha. R/.

Fuq idejhom jerfgħuk,
li ma taħbatx ma’ xi ġebla riġlek.
Fuq l-iljun u l-lifgħa int timxi,
ferħ ta’ ljun u serp int tirfes. R/.

“La tħabbeb miegħi, jien neħilsu;
la għaraf ismi, jiena nħarsu.
Hu jsejjaħli, u jiena nwieġbu;
miegħu nkun fid-dwejjaq tiegħu,
neħilsu u nerfagħlu ġieħu”. R/. 

Reading 2              ROMANS 10:8-13

Brothers and sisters: What does Scripture say?  The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart —that is, the word of faith that we preach—, for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. For the Scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Qari 2              Qari mill-Ittra lir-Rumani 10:8-13

Ħuti, xi tgħid l-Iskrittura? “Il-kelma qiegħda ħdejk, f’fommok u qalbek”; jiġifieri, il-kelma tal-fidi li aħna nxandru. Għax jekk inti tistqarr b’fommok: “Ġesù hu l-Mulej!”, u temmen b’qalbek li Alla qajmu mill-imwiet, inti ssalva. Wieħed jemmen f’qalbu biex ikollu l-ġustizzja u jistqarr b’xufftejh biex ikollu s-salvazzjoni. L-Iskrittura tgħid: “Kull min jemmen fih ma jintilifx”. Ma hemmx għażla bejn Lhudi u Grieg; hu s-Sid ta’ kulħadd u għani ma’ dawk kollha li jsejħulu. Għax: “Kull min isejjaħ isem il-Mulej isalva”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel              LUKE 4:1-13

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him,  “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written - You shall worship the Lord, your God,  and him alone shall you serve.” Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Evanġelju              Qari skont San Luqa 4:1-13

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù, mimli bl-Ispirtu s-Santu, raġa’ lura mill-Ġordan u l-Ispirtu ħadu fid-deżert. Hemm għal erbgħin jum Ġesù kien imġarrab mix-Xitan. Matul dawk il-jiem ma kiel xejn; u mbagħad, meta għaddew dawk il-jiem, ħadu l-ġuħ. U x-Xitan qallu: “Jekk inti Bin Alla, għid lil din il-ġebla ssir ħobż”. Wieġbu Ġesù: “Hemm miktub: Il-bniedem mhux bil-ħobż biss jgħix”. Imbagħad ix-Xitan ħadu fl-għoli u wrieh is-saltniet tad-dinja kollha f’daqqa. Qallu x-Xitan: “Nagħtik is-setgħa fuq dawn kollha, bil-glorja tagħhom ukoll għax hija ngħatat lili, u jiena nagħtiha lil min irrid. Jekk tinxteħet quddiemi tagħtini qima, kollha tiegħek tkun”. Ġesù wieġbu u qallu: “Hemm miktub: Lill-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, tadura, u lilu biss taqdi”. Imbagħad ix-Xitan ħadu Ġerusalemm, qiegħdu fuq il-quċċata tat-tempju, u qallu: “Jekk inti Bin Alla, inxteħet minn hawn għal isfel. Għax hemm miktub: “Lill-anġli tiegħu jordnalhom biex jieħdu ħsiebek sewwa”, u li: “fuq idejhom jerfgħuk, ħalli ma taħbatx riġlek ma’ xi ġebla”. Wieġeb Ġesù u qallu: “Jingħad: Iġġarrabx lill-Mulej Alla tiegħek”. Imbagħad ix-Xitan, meta temm dan it-tiġrib kollu, telaq minn ħdejh sa ma wasal il-waqt. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute  Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil   

OUR TEMPTATION CHALLENGES

Central theme:

Lent begins with a reflection on the Temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. The Church assigns temptation stories to the beginning of Lent because temptations come to everybody, not only to Jesus, and we seem almost genetically programmed to yield to them. 

 Scripture lessons:

The first reading describes the ancient Jewish ritual of presenting the first fruits and gifts to God during the harvest festival in order to thank Him for liberating His people from Egypt and for strengthening them during the years of their trials and temptations in the desert. 

The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 91), points to Satan’s third temptation of Jesus in the desert as recorded in Luke’s Gospel. In the second reading, St. Paul warns the early Christians converted from Judaism not to yield to their constant temptation to return to the observances of the Mosaic Laws. He reminds them that they will be saved only by acknowledging the risen Jesus as Lord and Saviour. 

Bible scholars think that the graphic temptations of Jesus described by Matthew and Luke in their Gospels are the pictorial and dramatic representations of the inner struggle against a temptation that Jesus experienced throughout his public life. The devil was trying to prevent Jesus from accomplishing his mission of saving mankind from the bondage of sin, mainly through a temptation to become the political Messiah of Jewish expectations, and to use his Divine power first for his own convenience and then to avoid suffering and death.

Life Messages:

1) We need to confront and conquer temptations as Jesus did, using the means he employed: Like Jesus, every one of us is tempted to seek sinful pleasures, easy wealth, and a position of authority, and is drawn to the use of unjust or sinful means to attain good ends. Jesus is our model for conquering temptations through prayer, penance, and the effective use of the ‘‘word of God.” 

Temptations make us true warriors of God by strengthening our minds and hearts. We are never tempted beyond the strength God gives us. In his first letter, St. John assures us: “The One Who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Hence during Lent, let us confront our evil tendencies with prayer (especially by participating in the Holy Mass), with penance, and with the meditative reading of the Bible. 

Knowledge of the Bible prepares us for the moment of temptation by enabling us “to know Jesus more clearly, to love him more dearly and to follow him more nearly, day by day,”as William Barclay puts it.

2) We need to grow in holiness during Lent by prayer, reconciliation, and sharing. We become resistant and even immune to temptations as we grow healthier in soul by following the traditional Lenten practices: 

    a) by finding time to be with God every day of Lent, speaking to Him, and listening to Him; 

    b) by repenting of our sins and renewing our lives, uniting ourselves with God both by the Sacrament of Reconciliation and by forgiving those who have hurt us while asking forgiveness of those whom we have hurt; and 

    c) by sharing our love with others through our selfless, humble service, our almsgiving, and our helping of those in need.

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