BE MERCIFUL O LORD FOR WE HAVE SINNED

Readings for Sunday, February 26, 2023 

First Sunday of Lent 

Lectionary: 22

 

Qari tal-Ewwel Ħadd tar-Randan

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. 

QARI 1                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.

Responsorial Psalm               PSALM 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 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.

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/.

Reading 2               ROMANS 5:12-19

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. 

QARI 2                mill-Ittra 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. Mela kif bil-ħtija ta’ wieħed waħdu waslet il-kundanna fuq il-bnedmin kollha, hekk ukoll bl-opra tal-ġustizzja ta’ wieħed waslet lill-bnedmin kollha l-ġustifikazzjoni tal-ħajja. Għax kif bid-diżubbidjenza ta’ bniedem wieħed il-ħafna saru midinbin, hekk ukoll bl-ubbidjenza ta’ wieħed il-ħafna jsiru ġusti. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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.

EVANĠELJU               Qari mill-Evanġelju 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. 

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Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr. Anthony Kadavil

CONQUERING OUR TEMPTATIONS

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 for repenting of our sins and renewing our lives for the celebration of 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 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 possibility of making 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. Sunday’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 he 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 by 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 penitential acts; 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 and humble service, almsgiving, and helping those in need.

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GOD EXPECTS GRACEFUL RETALIATION FROM US ALWAYS

 Readings for February 19, 2023

      Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 79

 

     Is-Seba’ Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

 
Reading 1               LEVITICUS 19:1-2, 17-18

The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy. "You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

QARI 1                mill-Ktieb tal-Levitku 19:1-2,17-18

Il-Mulej kellem lil Mosè u qallu: “Għid lill-ġemgħa kollha ta’ wlied Iżrael: ‘Għandkom tkunu qaddisin, għax qaddis jien, il-Mulej Alla tagħkom. La tbejjitx lil ħuk f’qalbek, imma lil għajrek wissih u erġa’ wissih, biex ma tkunx ħati tiegħu. La titħallasx b’idejk, u la żżommx f’qalbek għal ulied niesek, imma ħobb lil għajrek bħalek innifsek: Jiena l-Mulej’”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

 
Responsorial Psalm               PSALM 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13

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.

Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

SALM RESPONSORJALI               Salm 102(103):1-2,3-4,8,10,12-13

R/. (8a): Ħanin u twajjeb il-Mulej.

Bierek, ruħ tiegħi, lill-Mulej!
B’qalbi kollha nbierek l-isem qaddis tiegħu.
Bierek, ruħ tiegħi, lill-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 bil-ħniena. R/.

Ħanin u twajjeb il-Mulej,
idum ma jagħdab u kollu mogħdrija.
Ma mexiex magħna skond ma ħaqqhom ħtijietna;
ma ħallasniex skond ma ħaqqha ħżunitna. R/.

Daqskemm hu mbiegħed il-Lvant mill-Punent,
hekk hu jbiegħed minna ħtijietna.
Bħalma jħenn il-missier għal uliedu,
hekk iħenn il-Mulej għal min għandu l-biża’ tiegħu. R/.

 Reading 2               1 CORINTHIANS 3:16-23

Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy. Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: God catches the wise in their own ruses, and again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

QARI 2                mill-Ewwel Ittra Korintin 3:16-23

Ħuti, ma tafux li intom tempju ta’ Alla, u li l-Ispirtu ta’ Alla jgħammar fikom? Jekk xi ħadd jeqred it-tempju ta’ Alla, Alla jeqred lilu. Għax qaddis hu t-tempju ta’ Alla, li huwa intom. Ħadd ma għandu jitqarraq! Jekk xi ħadd fostkom jaħseb li hu għaref f’din id-dinja, ħa jiblieh, biex isir għaref. Għax l-għerf ta’ din id-dinja hu bluha quddiem Alla. Għax hemm miktub: “Hu li jaqbad l-għorrief fil-ħażen tagħhom”; u terġa’: “Il-Mulej jaf li fiergħa huma l-ħsibijiet tal-għorrief”. Għalhekk ħadd ma għandu jiftaħar bil-bnedmin, għax kollox hu tagħkom: sew jekk Pawlu, sew jekk Apollo, sew jekk Kefa, sew jekk id-dinja, sew jekk il-ħajja, sew jekk il-mewt, sew jekk iż-żmien ta’ issa, sew jekk li ġej; kollox hu tagħkom, u intom ta’ Kristu, u Kristu ta’ Alla. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel               MATTHEW 5:38-48

Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skond San Mattew 5:38-48

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Smajtu xi ntqal: ‘Għajn b’għajn u sinna b’sinna’. Imma jiena ngħidilkom biex bniedem ħażin ma tiqfulux; anzi, jekk xi ħadd jagħtik daqqa ta’ ħarta fuq ħaddek tal-lemin, dawwarlu l-ieħor ukoll; u lil min ikun irid itellgħek il-qorti u jeħodlok il-libsa, ħallilu wkoll il-mantar. U jekk xi ħadd iġagħlek timxi miegħu mil wieħed, mur miegħu tnejn. Agħti lil min jitolbok u ddawwarx spallejk lil min ikun irid jissellef mingħandek.  Smajtu xi ntqal: ‘Ħobb lil għajrek, u obgħod lill-għadu tiegħek’. Imma jiena ngħidilkom: Ħobbu lill-għedewwa tagħkom, u itolbu għal dawk li jippersegwitawkom, biex tkunu wlied Missierkom li hu fis-smewwiet; għax hu jtalla’ x-xemx tiegħu sew fuq il-ħżiena u sew fuq it-tajbin, u jniżżel ix-xita sew fuq min hu tajjeb u sew fuq min mhuwiex. Għax jekk intom tħobbu lil min iħobbkom, xi ħlas jistħoqqilkom? Mhux il-pubblikani wkoll jagħmluh dan? U jekk issellmu lil ħutkom biss, xi tkunu tagħmlu żejjed? Mhux il-pagani wkoll jagħmluh dan? Kunu mela perfetti, bħalma hu perfett Missierkom li hu fis-smewwiet”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr. Anthony Kadavil

"BE HOLY AS I AM HOLY"

Introduction:

Sunday’s readings explain why Christians are expected to be holy and how we are meant to become holy people. The first and second readings give us reasons why we should be holy, and the Gospel describes four ways of becoming holy people prescribed for us by Jesus, using three examples of graceful Christian retaliation when people offend us and violate our rights and privileges.

Scripture lessons summarized:

The first reading, taken from the book of Leviticus, teaches us that we should be holy because it is the command given to us by God through Moses: “Be holy, for I the Lord, your God, am Holy.” It also shows us the way to share in God’s holiness: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 103) challenges us to be holy as our God is Holy by becoming kind and merciful and forgiving, as He is to us.

In the second reading, St. Paul gives us an additional reason to be holy. We are to keep our bodies and souls holy because we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit lives in us. In the Gospel passage, taken from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us four ways of becoming holy as God is holy.

Life message:

We need to become holy: 

    1) The first way is to abstain from all forms of retaliation. Jesus discards even the milder form of retaliation developed by Hammurabi in ancient Babylon and passed on to Israel through Moses. The policy was one of limited, proportional retaliation (Lex Talionis, “tit-for-tat”): “an eye for an eye, a tooth for tooth,” rather than allowing unlimited vengeance. In place of this limited, proportional retaliation, Jesus gives his new law of love, grace, forgiveness, reconciliation, and no retaliation. For Jesus, retaliation, or even limited vengeance, has no place in the Christian life, even though graceful acceptance of an offense requires great strength, discipline of character, and strengthening by God’s grace.

    2) The second way of becoming holy as God is Holy is to take the offense gracefully and love the offender. Jesus illustrates this in three images: “turning the other cheek, freely giving the tunic and adding the cloak to it, and walking the extra mile.” Jesus tells us that what makes Christians different is the grace with which they treat others, offering them loving kindness and mercy as God does for us, even if they don’t deserve this treatment. We are commanded to love our enemies as Jesus loves us, with agápe love, not because our enemies deserve our love, but because Jesus loves them so much that he died for them as he did for us.

    3) The third way of sharing in God’s Holiness is by unconditionally and whole-heartedly forgiving the offender without planning revenge in any form. This means not only loving one’s neighbors, but also forgiving those enemies who hurt us and seem willfully to cause us suffering, hardship and unhappiness.

    4) The fourth way of becoming holy as God is Holy is to seal our determination to forgive our enemies by sincerely praying for their spiritual and physical welfare and for the grace they need for their conversion and renewal of life. Thus, today’s Scripture readings challenge us to become holy as our God is Holy by loving, forgiving, and blessing others, even our enemies with graceful and magnanimous love, as our Holy God does for us.


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THE GIFTS AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES

     

Readings for February 12, 2023

   Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    Lectionary: 76

   Qari tas-Sitt Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

 
Reading 1               SIRACH 15:15-20

If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power, and all-seeing. The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands man's every deed. No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin.

QARI 1                mill-Ktieb ta’ Bin Sirak 15:15-20

Jekk trid tista’ tħares il-kmandamenti, u b’rieda tajba tista’ tkun fidil. Hu qegħedlek quddiemek in-nar u l-ilma; liema trid minnhom, midd idek għalih. Quddiem il-bniedem hemm il-ħajja u l-mewt, u liema tixtieq qalbu lesta għalih. Għax għerf il-Mulej hu bla qies, qawwi f’setegħtu u jara kollox. Għajnejh fuq dawk li jibżgħu minnu, u jagħraf kulma jagħmel il-bniedem. Lil ħadd ma qabbad jgħix ħażin, u lil ħadd ma rħielu jidneb. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm               PSALM 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34

Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Be good to your servant, that I may live
and keep your words.
Open my eyes, that I may consider
the wonders of your law.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Instruct me, O LORD, in the way of your statutes,
that I may exactly observe them.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

SALM RESPONSORJALI               Salm 118(119):1-2,4-5,17-18,33-34

R/. (1b): Henjin dawk li jimxu fil-liġi tal-Mulej.

Henjin dawk li triqthom bla ħtija,
li jimxu fil-liġi tal-Mulej.
Henjin dawk li jħarsu l-preċetti tiegħu,
u li jfittxuh b’qalbhom kollha. R/.

Int tajt il-preċetti tiegħek,
biex inħarsuhom bir-reqqa.
Ħa jżomm sħiħ il-mixi tiegħi
fil-ħarsien tal-kmandamenti tiegħek! R/.

Kun twajjeb mal-qaddej tiegħek,
agħtini li ngħix u nħares il-kelma tiegħek.
Iftaħli għajnejja,
biex nara l-għeġubijiet tal-liġi tiegħek. R/.

Għallimni, Mulej, it-triq tal-kmandamenti tiegħek;
jiena rrid nibqa’ fiha sal-aħħar.
Fehemni biex inħares il-liġi tiegħek
u nagħmilha b’qalbi kollha. R/.

Reading 2               1 CORUINTHIANS 2:6-10

Brothers and sisters: We speak a wisdom to those who are mature, not a wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age who are passing away. Rather, we speak God's wisdom, mysterious, hidden, which God predetermined before the ages for our glory, and which none of the rulers of this age knew; for, if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written: What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.

QARI 2                mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 1 Kor 2:6-10

Ħuti, aħna ngħallmu l-għerf fost dawk li huma perfetti, imma mhux l-għerf ta’ din id-dinja, anqas l-għerf tal-prinċpijiet ta’ din id-dinja, li se jintemmu fix-xejn. Ngħallmu l-għerf ta’ Alla moħbi f’misteru, li Alla fassal qabel iż-żmien għall-glorja tagħna. Ebda wieħed mill-mexxejja ta’ din id-dinja ma għarfu; kieku għarfuh, qatt ma kienu se jsallbu lill-Mulej tal-glorja. Imma, bħalma hu miktub: “Dak li għajn qatt ma rat u widna qatt ma semgħet, u dak li qatt ma tnissel f’qalb il-bnedmin, dak Alla lesta għal dawk li jħobbuh”. Alla rrivelahulna permezz tal-Ispirtu; għax l-Ispirtu jgħarbel kollox, sa fil-qiegħ ta’ Alla. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel               MATTHEW 5:17-37

Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these  Commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. "You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. "It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife -  unless the marriage is unlawful - causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. "Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one."

EVANĠELJU                Qari skond San Mattew 5:17-37

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Xejn taħsbu li ġejt inwaqqa’ l-Liġi jew il-Profeti; jiena ma ġejtx biex inwaqqagħhom, iżda biex inwassalhom għall-milja tagħhom. Tassew ngħidilkom li sa ma jkunu għaddew is-sema u l-art anqas l-iżgħar ittra jew tikka waħda mil-Liġi ma titneħħa sa ma jkun seħħ kollox. Jekk mela xi ħadd iġib fix-xejn wieħed mill-iżgħar minn dawn il-kmandamenti u jgħallem lin-nies biex jagħmlu l-istess, dan jissejjaħ l-iżgħar fis-Saltna tas-Smewwiet. Imma min iħarishom u jgħallimhom, dan kbir jissejjaħ fis-Saltna tas-Smewwiet. Ngħidilkom li jekk il-ħajja tajba tagħkom ma tkunx ħafna aħjar minn dik tal-kittieba u l-Fariżej, ma tidħlux fis-Saltna tas-Smewwiet. Smajtu xi ntqal lin-nies ta’ dari: ‘La toqtolx. Jekk xi ħadd joqtol ikun ħaqqu l-kundanna’. Imma jiena ngħidilkom li l-kundanna tistħoqq ukoll lil min jinkorla għal ħuh. Jekk imbagħad xi ħadd lil ħuh jgħidlu: ‘Ġifa’, ikun ħaqqu l-kundanna tas-Sinedriju; u jekk jgħidlu: ‘Iblah’, ikun ħaqqu n-nar tal-infern. Mela jekk tkun qiegħed ittalla’ l-offerta tiegħek fuq l-altar u hemm tiftakar li ħuk għandu xi ħaġa kontra tiegħek, ħalli l-offerta tiegħek hemmhekk quddiem l-altar u mur l-ewwel irranġa ma’ ħuk, u mbagħad ejja talla’ l-offerta tiegħek. Lil min ikun se jtellgħek il-qorti ħudu bil-kelma t-tajba mill-aktar fis waqt li tkun għadek miegħu fit-triq, li ma jmurx jagħtik f’idejn l-imħallef, u l-imħallef f’idejn l-għassies, u hekk issib ruħek fil-ħabs. Tassew ngħidlek, minn hemm ġew ma toħroġx qabel ma tkun ħallast l-aħħar tliet ħabbiet. Smajtu xi ntqal: ‘La tagħmilx adulterju’. Imma jiena ngħidilkom li kull min iħares lejn mara biex jixtieqha jkun ġa għamel adulterju magħha f’qalbu. Jekk għajnek il-leminija hi għalik okkażjoni ta’ dnub, aqlagħha barra u armiha ’l bogħod minnek, għax aktar ikun jaqbillek jekk tintiliflek biċċa waħda minn ġismek milli ġismek kollu jinxteħet fl-infern. U jekk idek il-leminija hi għalik okkażjoni ta’ dnub, aqtagħha barra u armiha ’l bogħod minnek, għax aktar ikun jaqbillek jekk tintiliflek biċċa waħda minn ġismek milli ġismek kollu jmur fl-infern. Intqal ukoll: ‘Min jibgħat lil martu jkollu jagħtiha l-kitba tad-divorzju’. Imma jiena ngħidilkom li kull min jibgħat lil martu barra l-każ ta’ żwieġ ħażin, iwaqqagħha fl-adulterju; u min jiżżewweġ waħda mibgħuta minn ħaddieħor, jagħmel adulterju. Smajtu wkoll xi ntqal lin-nies ta’ dari: ‘Tonqosx mill-wegħda li ħlift imma rodd lill-Mulej il-wegħdiet li ħliftlu’. Imma jiena ngħidilkom biex ma taħilfu xejn, u la bis-sema, għax hu t-tron ta’ Alla, u la bl-art, għax fuqha jserraħ riġlejh, u lanqas b’Ġerusalemm, għaliex hija l-Belt tas-Sultan il-kbir. U lanqas b’rasek ma għandek taħlef, għaliex inti anqas biss xagħra waħda ma għandek ħila tagħmilha bajda jew sewda. Mela ħa jkun id-diskors tagħkom: ‘iva, iva’; ‘le, le’; kulma hu iżjed minn hekk ikun ġej mill-Ħażin”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr. Anthony Kadavil

Observing wisely and freely God's revealed laws

Introduction:

Sunday’s readings challenge us to choose freely and wisely to observe the laws given by a loving and caring God. He revealed His laws to His Chosen People through Moses and the prophets in the Old Testament, and through His own Son, Jesus, in the New Testament. For the Israelites, the Torah was not a set of laws, but the instruction or teaching intended to promote the holiness and wholeness of each believer. It was the revealed will of a caring God, for the people with whom had He made His covenant. (You may add an anecdote)

Scripture lessons:

The first reading, taken from Sirach, contains the clearest statement in the Old Testament concerning the God-given freedom of the human will. It exonerates God from all responsibility for evil in the world. “If you choose, you can keep the commandments . . . before you are life and death, whichever you choose shall be given you.”

In the second reading, Paul challenges his Corinthian believers to appreciate the wisdom of God’s saving plan for His people, a plan hidden for ages but now revealed by the Spirit. In the selection from the Sermon on the Mount in Sunday’s Gospel, while challenging his disciples to live a life of justice and righteousness which should exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus, as the new lawgiver, sets forth his own position with regard to the Law given through Moses, by providing new interpretation and meaning for the old laws. In Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus explains the real meaning of three Mosaic laws concerning murder, adultery and divorce.

Life messages:

1) We need to obey God’s Law, appreciating its basic principles: In obeying God’s law and Church law, let us remember the two basic principles on which these laws are based, namely, the principle of reverence and the principle of respect. In the first four of the Ten Commandments, we are asked to reverence God, reverence His holy Name, reverence His holy day, and reverence our father and mother. The next six commandments instruct us to respect life, one’s personal integrity and good name, the legal system, another’s property and another’s spouse. Our obedience to these laws must be prompted by love of God and gratitude to God for His blessings.

2) We need to forgive, forget, and move toward reconciliation as soon as possible. St. Paul advises us “Be angry (righteous anger) but do not sin” (Eph 4:26). When we keep anger in our spirit, we are inviting physical illnesses, like hypertension, and mental illnesses, like depression. Let us relax and keep silence when we are angry, wait before acting on our anger, giving it time to detoxify and cool off, pray for God’s strength for self-control, and give the Holy Spirit time to help us to see the event through Jesus’ eyes instead of through anger’s eyes.

3) We need to be true to God, to ourselves, and to others. Let us allow God’s word of truth to penetrate our minds and hearts and to form our consciences, making us men and women of integrity.

//////////////////////////////////////     © 2023, Fr. Anthony Kadavil - https://frtonyshomilies.com

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A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS TO THE UPRIGHT

Readings for February 5, 2023


Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time /A
Lectionary: 73

Il-Ħames Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

 

 

Reading 1               ISAIAH 58:7-10

Thus says the LORD: Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

QARI 1               mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Iżaija 58:7-10

Dan jgħid il-Mulej: “Mhux dan is-sawm li jiena rrid, li taqsam ħobżok ma’ min hu bil-ġuħ, u ddaħħal f’darek lill-imsejken bla saqaf? Mhux li tlibbes lil min tara għarwien, u n-nies ta’ darek ma tinsihomx? Imbagħad ifeġġ bħaż-żerniq id-dawl tiegħek, u malajr tagħlaqlek il-ġerħa tiegħek.Quddiemek timxi l-ġustizzja tiegħek, u l-glorja tal-Mulej timxi warajk. Jekk biss issejjaħlu, iwieġeb il-Mulej; jekk tgħajjatlu, jgħidlek: ‘Hawn jien!’. Jekk tneħħi minn nofsok il-moħqrija, ma tmiddx subgħek u ma tagħmilx deni bi lsienek, jekk int qalbek toħroġ għall-imġewwaħ, u xxabba’ qalb l-imnikket, imbagħad id-dawl tiegħek ifiġġ fid-dlam, u s-swied tiegħek ikun bħan-nofsinhar”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm               PSALM 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.

He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.

His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
His justice shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.

SALM RESPONSORJALI               Salm 111(112):4-5,6-7,8a,9

R/. (4a): Dawl fid-dlam ifeġġ għat-tajbin.

Dawl fid-dlam ifeġġ għat-tajbin;
twajjeb u ħanin il-bniedem sewwa.
Tajjeb il-bniedem li jħenn u jislef,
li jmexxi ħwejġu bir-reqqa. R/.

Għax il-bniedem ġust qatt ma jitfixkel;
għal dejjem tibqa’ t-tifkira tiegħu.
Xejn ma jibża’ minn aħbar ħażina;
qalbu qawwija bit-tama tal-Mulej. R/.

Qalbu qawwija, m’għandux mniex jibża’.
Iqassam u jagħti lill-foqra;
għal dejjem tibqa’ l-ġustizzja tiegħu;
rasu merfugħa bil-ġieħ. R/.

Reading 2               1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

QARI 2                 mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 2:1-5

Meta jiena wasalt għandkom, ħuti, ma ġejtx inħabbrilkom il-Misteru ta’ Alla bi kliem kbir jew għaref. Ma ppretendejtx li kont naf xi ħaġa fostkom, ħlief lil Ġesù Kristu, u lil dan imsallab. Jiena ġejt għandkom dgħajjef, imbażża’ u mriegħed. Il-kelma u l-predikazzjoni tiegħi ma kinux imlibbsa bil-kliem qawwi tal-għerf, imma bil-wiri tal-Ispirtu u l-qawwa, sabiex il-fidi tagħkom tinbena mhux fuq l-għerf tal-bniedem, imma fuq il-qawwa ta’ Alla.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel               MATTHEW 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."

EVANĠELJU               Qari skond San Mattew 5:13-16

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Intom il-melħ tal-art. Imma jekk il-melħ jaqta’, biex jerġa’ jieħu t-togħma? Ma jibqa’ tajjeb għal xejn iżjed ħlief biex jintrema barra u jintrifes min-nies.  Intom id-dawl tad-dinja. Belt li tkun qiegħda fuq muntanja ma tistax tinħeba. Anqas ma jixegħlu l-musbieħ u jqegħduh taħt is-siegħ, iżda fuq l-imnara, u hekk idawwal lil kull min ikun fid-dar. Hekk għandu jiddi d-dawl tagħkom quddiem il-bnedmin, biex jaraw l-għemejjel tajba tagħkom u jagħtu glorja lil Missierkom li hu fis-smewwiet”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr. Anthony Kadavil

BEING THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

 

Introduction:

The common theme of Sunday’s three readings is our two-fold mission to the world, to be salt and to be the light of a city built on a hilltop.

Scripture lessons summarized:

In our first reading, the Lord God through His prophet Isaiah gives us examples of how we are to allow the light of God to shine through us. “Share your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday” (58:7, 10).

The refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps.112), reminds us that “The just man is a light in the darkness to the upright.” St. Paul, in the second reading, tells us that our proclamation of Faith will carry the Spirit and His power when we rely on the power and wisdom of God. Using two simple metaphors of salt and the light of a city on a mountaintop in today’s Gospel, Jesus outlines the role of Christians in this world.

As a symbol of purity, salt was the common ingredient in sacrifices offered to God by Jews and pagans. In the ancient world, salt was the commonest of all preservatives, used to prevent the putrefaction of meat, fish, and fruits in pickles. Salt lends flavour to food items and was used to season and preserve food. A light is something which is meant to be seen. A lamp or light is a guide to make clear the way. A light serves also as a warning (e.g., red traffic lights which tell us to halt when there is danger ahead).

Finally, light, particularly the sun’s, gives warmth and heat.

Life messages:

1) We need to be the salt of the earth:
    a) As salt is a symbol of purity, used in sacrifices, the Christian must be an example of purity in speech, in conduct, and even in thought.
    b) As salt is an antiseptic and healing agent, the Christian must have a certain antiseptic influence on life and society, defeating corruption, fighting against injustice and making it easier for others to avoid sin.
    c) As salt preserves foods, we need to preserve the religious Faith, Christian cultural values, and moral principles which Jesus has given us, and to work at reconciling quarreling factions in families and communities.
    d) As salt is a food-flavoring agent, we need to add flavor to the lives of desperate people through outreach programs, which give meaning to their lives, boost their morale, offer them occasions to help others, and provide hope where there is none.

2) We need to be the light of the world: The second role of Christians is to receive the light of Christ and radiate it to everyone as love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, humble service, and respect for those with different ethnic backgrounds, different lifestyles, other faiths, or with no faith at all. As guiding light in darkness, our duty is to show the correct and safe way and to illuminate it with Christ’s Light, thus removing the darkness caused by hatred, prejudice, spite, and jealousy.

As a warning light, it is the Christian’s duty to give timely and loving warning of physical and moral danger to fellow Christians.

As a warming light, our duty is to warm the cold hearts of others with warm, and affectionate words and deeds.

//////////////////////////////////////     © 2023, Fr. Anthony Kadavil - https://frtonyshomilies.com

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