"COME OUT!"

 Readings for Sunday, March 26, 2023

Fifth Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 34

Qari tal-Ħames Ħadd tar-Randan

Reading 1               EZEKIEL 37:12-14

Thus says the Lord GOD: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the LORD. I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.

Qari 1                mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Eżekjel 37, 12-14

Hekk qal Sidi l-Mulej: “Ara, jiena niftaħ l-oqbra tagħkom, poplu tiegħi, u nġibkom lura f’art Iżrael. Imbagħad tkunu tafu li jiena l-Mulej, meta niftaħ l-oqbra tagħkom u ntellagħkom mill-oqbra tagħkom, poplu tiegħi. U jiena nqiegħed ruħi fikom, u terġgħu tieħdu l-ħajja. Inqegħedkom f’artkom u tkunu tafu li jiena l-Mulej. Hekk għedt, u hekk nagħmel”. Oraklu tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                  PSALM 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication. 
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
 that you may be revered. 
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
More than sentinels wait for the dawn,
let Israel wait for the LORD.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

For with the LORD is kindness
 and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.
R. With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

Salm Responsorjali               Salm 129 (130), 1-2.3-4ab.4c-6.7-8

R/. (7): Għand il-Mulej hemm it-tjieba

Minn qiegħ l-art insejjaħlek, Mulej:
isma’, Sidi, il-leħen tiegħi!
Ħa jkunu widnejk miftuħa,
jiena u nitolbok bil-ħniena. R/.

Jekk tal-ħtijiet int tagħti kas, Mulej,
Sidi, min jista’ jżomm sħiħ?
Imma għandek hemm il-maħfra,
biex hekk inqimuk fil-biża’ tiegħek. R/.

Jien lill-Mulej nistenna,
ruħi f’kelmtu tittama.
Tistenna ruħi lil Sidi,
aktar milli l-għassiesa s-sebħ. R/.

Jistenna Iżrael lill-Mulej!
Għax għand il-Mulej hemm it-tjieba,
u l-fidwa għandu bil-kotra.
Hu li jifdi lil Iżrael
minn ħtijietu kollha. R/.

Reading 2               ROMANS 8:8-11

Brothers and sisters: Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you.

Qari 2               mill-Ittra lir-Rumani 8, 8-11

Ħuti, dawk li jgħixu skond il-ġisem ma jistgħux jogħġbu lil Alla. Issa intom ma intomx taħt il-ħakma tal-ġisem, imma tal-Ispirtu, ladarba hemm l-Ispirtu ta’ Alla jgħammar fikom. Jekk xi ħadd ma għandux fih l-Ispirtu ta’ Kristu, dan mhuwiex tiegħu. Jekk Kristu jgħammar fikom, għalkemm il-ġisem hu mejjet minħabba fid-dnub, imma l-Ispirtu hu ħajjitkom minħabba l-ġustizzja. Jekk l-Ispirtu ta’ dak li qajjem lil Ġesù mill-imwiet jgħammar fikom, Alla stess li qajjem lil Kristu mill-imwiet iqajjem għall-ħajja wkoll il-ġisem mejjet tagħkom, bis-saħħa tal-Ispirtu li jgħammar fikom. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel               JOHN 11:1-45

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil  and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to him saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”  The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” He said this, and then told them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” So the disciples said to him,“Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.” But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.” So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples,  “Let us also go to die with him.” When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus  had already been in the tomb for four days.  Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming,she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him,  “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” When she had said this,  she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, “The teacher is here and is asking for you.” As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him. For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?” So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb.It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe  you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone.And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me;  but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands,  and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary  and seen what he had done began to believe in him.

Evanġelju               Qari skond San Ġwann 11, 1-45

F’dak iż-żmien, kien hemm wieħed marid, Lażżru minn Betanja, fir-raħal ta’ Marija u oħtha Marta. Marija kienet dik li dilket il-Mulej b’żejt ifuħ u xxuttatlu riġlejh b’xuxitha; u Lażżru, il-marid, kien ħuha. Iż-żewġ nisa bagħtu jgħidu lil Ġesù: “Mulej, ara, ħabibek marid”. Meta sama’ l-aħbar Ġesù qal: “Din m’hijiex marda tal-mewt, iżda hi għall-glorja ta’ Alla, biex biha tingħata glorja lill-Iben ta’ Alla”. Ġesù kien iħobbhom lil Marta u lil oħtha u lil Lażżru. Meta sama’ li dan marad, baqa’ jumejn oħra fejn kien, u mbagħad qal lid-dixxipli: “Ejjew nerġgħu mmorru l-Lhudija”. Qalulu d-dixxipli: “Rabbi, il-Lhud għadhom kemm kienu qegħdin ifittxu li jħaġġruk, u int rieġa’ sejjer hemm?”. Weġibhom Ġesù: “Mhux tnax-il siegħa fiha l-ġurnata? Sakemm wieħed jimxi binhar, ma jitfixkilx, għax ikun qiegħed jara d-dawl ta’ din id-dinja. Imma jekk jimxi bil-lejl, jitfixkel, għax ma jkollux dawl”. Qalilhom hekk u mbagħad issokta jgħidilhom: “Ħabibna Lażżru rieqed, iżda ħa mmur u nqajmu”.Qalulu d-dixxipli: “Mulej, jekk inhu rieqed, jiġifieri se jfiq”. Iżda Ġesù kien tkellem mill-mewt tiegħu, u huma ħaduha li kien qalilhom fuq l-irqad ta’ meta wieħed ikun bin-ngħas. Imbagħad qalilhom ċar u tond: “Lażżru miet. U jiena nifraħ minħabba fikom li ma kontx hemm, ħalli temmnu. Iżda ejjew immorru sa ħdejh”. Tumas, imlaqqam it-Tewmi, qal lil sħabu d-dixxipli: “Immorru aħna wkoll ħa mmutu miegħu”. Meta wasal, Ġesù sab li Lażżru kien ġa ilu erbat ijiem fil-qabar. Betanja kienet qrib Ġerusalemm, xi ħmistax-il stadju ’l hemm minnha. Ħafna Lhud kienu ġew għand Marta u Marija biex ifarrġuhom minħabba ħuhom. Kif, mela, semgħet li kien ġej Ġesù, Marta ħarġet tilqgħu, iżda Marija baqgħet id-dar. Marta qalet lil Ġesù: “Mulej, kieku kont hawn, ħija ma kienx imut. Imma wkoll issa, jiena naf li kull ma int titlob lil Alla, Alla jagħtihulek”. Ġesù qalilha: “Ħuk jerġa’ jqum!”. Qaltlu Marta: “Jiena naf li jerġa’ jqum, fil-qawmien mill-imwiet fl-aħħar jum”. Qalilha Ġesù: “Jiena hu l-qawmien u l-ħajja. Kull min jemmen fija, ukoll jekk imut, jgħix; u kull min jgħix u jemmen fija, dan ma jmut qatt. Temmnu inti dan?”. Weġbitu: “Iva, Mulej, jiena nemmen li inti l-Messija, l-Iben ta’ Alla, dak li ġie fid-dinja”. Kif qalet dan, marret issejjaħ lil oħtha Marija u minn taħt l-ilsien qaltilha: “L-Imgħallem hawn, u qiegħed isejjaħlek”. Dik, malli semgħetha, qamet minnufih u marret ħdejh. Ġesù kien għadu ma daħalx fir-raħal, imma baqa’ fejn kienet ġiet tiltaqa’ miegħu Marta. Il-Lhud li kienu d-dar ma’ Marija biex ifarrġuha, kif rawha tqum malajr u toħroġ, marru warajha, għax stħajluha sejra lejn il-qabar biex toqgħod tibki hemm. Meta Marija waslet fejn kien Ġesù u ratu nxteħtet f’riġlejh, tgħidlu: “Mulej, kieku kont hawn ħija ma kienx imut”. Ġesù, kif ra lilha tibki u l-Lhud, li ġew magħha, jibku wkoll, ħass ruħu mqanqal u tħawwad ħafna. “Fejn qegħedtuh?”, staqsiehom. Huma weġbuh: “Mulej, ejja u ara”. U Ġesù beka. Għalhekk il-Lhud qalu: “Ara kemm kien iħobbu!”. Iżda xi wħud minnhom qalu: “Ma setax dan ilbniedem, li fetaħ għajnejn l-agħma, jagħmel ukoll li dan ma jmutx?”. Ġesù ħass ruħu mqanqal għal darb’oħra u resaq lejn il-qabar. Dan kien għar magħluq bi blata fuqu. Ġesù qal: “Neħħu l-blata”. Marta, oħt il-mejjet, qaltlu: “Mulej issa beda jrejjaħ; ġa ilu erbat ijiem mejjet”. Qalilha Ġesù: “Ma għedtlekx li jekk inti temmen, tara l-glorja ta’ Alla?” Imbagħad neħħew il-blata. Ġesù rafa’ għajnejh ’il fuq u qal: “Missier, irroddlok ħajr li smajtni. Kont naf li inti dejjem tismagħni, imma għidt dan minħabba n-nies li hawn madwari, biex huma jemmnu li inti bgħattni”. Kif qal hekk, għajjat b’leħen għoli: “Lażżru, oħroġ!”. U dak li kien mejjet ħareġ, b’idejh u riġlejh infaxxati u b’maktur ma’ wiċċu. Ġesù qalilhom: “Ħollulu l-faxex u ħalluh imur”. Ħafna mil-Lhud, li kienu ġew għand Marija u raw dak li għamel Ġesù, emmnu fih.  

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Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr. Anthony Kadavil

A CHALLENGE TO BE ALIVE

Introduction: 

Death with hope in resurrection, challenging us to be alive and not spiritually dead by mortal sin, is the central theme this Sunday. Jesus challenges us to live in loving relationship with him every day, so that he may raise us up at our death to inherit eternal life with him.

Scripture lessons summarized: 

Reporting his vision in the first reading, Ezekiel bears witness to the reanimation of the dead Israel in preparation for the return of the exiles to the Promised Land. He assures them that God’s life-giving Breath will restore them, His people, will give them new life, and will resettle them in their land. 

St. Paul, in the second reading, assures the early Roman Christians who were facing death by persecution, and us, surrounded by a culture of death, that the same Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead and Who dwells within us, will raise our mortal bodies to life on the Last Day. Paul considers the Resurrection of Jesus the basis for our Hope of sharing in Jesus’ Resurrection. 

For John, in today’s Gospel, the raising of Lazarus, the sixth sign that he is the Deliverer, is a symbolic narrative of his Final Victory over death at the cost of his human life, and a sign anticipating his Resurrection. Describing this great miracle, the Church assures us that we, too, will be raised into eternal life after our battle with sin and death in this world. Thus, Resurrection Hope is the central theme of the Scripture readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The readings assure us that our Faith in Jesus, who is “the Resurrection and the Life,” promises our participation in his Resurrection and new life.

Life messages:

#1): “Roll away the stone, unbind him and let him go.” We often bind ourselves with chains of addiction to alcohol, drugs, sexual deviations, slander, gossip, envy, prejudice, hatred, and uncontrollable anger, and bury ourselves in the tombs of despair. Sometimes we are in the tomb of selfishness, filled with negative feelings, like worry, fear, resentment, hatred, and guilt. If we want Jesus to visit our dark dungeons of sin, despair, and unhappiness, we need to ask him during this Holy Mass to bring the light and the power of the Holy Spirit into our private lives and liberate us from our tombs. Are there times when we refuse to let God enter into our wallets, fearing that faithful tithing will endanger our savings? When we receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus will call our name and command, “Come out, Mary”,” “Come out, Joe!” This is Good News for all of us: “Lazarus, come out!” This can be the beginning of a new life.

#2) We need to be ready to welcome death any time. We live in a world that is filled with death. We kill each other in acts of murder, abortion, euthanasia, execution, war, and terrorist activities. We kill ourselves through suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, overwork, stress, bad eating habits, and physical neglect. The most important question is: am I ready to face my death? All of us know that we will surely die, but each of us foolishly thinks that he or she will not die any time in the near future. Let us be wise, well-prepared and ever ready to meet our Lord with a clear conscience when the time comes and to give Him a clean account of our lives. 

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THE LORD IS OUR LIGHT

Readings for Sunday, March 19, 2023

Fourth Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 31

Ir-Raba Hadd matul ir-Randan

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

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

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

F’dak iz-zmien, il-Mulej qal lil Samwel: “Imla l-qarn biz-zejt u itlaq. Jien se nibaghtek ghand Gesse l-Betlemita, ghaliex minn fost uliedu jien ghazilt ghalija sultan”. Gara li malli wasal, Samwel ra lil Elijab u qal: “Hawn quddiem il-Mulej il-midluk tieghu?”. U l-Mulej qal lil Samwel: “Tharisx lejn is-sura tieghu, jew it-tul ta’ persuntu, ghax jiena digà warrabtu. Ghax il-Mulej ma jarax bhalma jara l-bniedem, dak biss li jidher fl-ghajn, imma l-qalb”. Gesse ressaq quddiem Samwel sebgha minn uliedu; imma Samwel qallu: “Il-Mulej ma hatar lil hadd minn dawn”. U ssokta jghidlu: “Dawn huma t-tfal kollha?”. Gesse wiegbu: “Ghad fadal iz-zghir, qieghed jirgha n-naghag”. U Samwel qal lil Gesse: “Ibghat ghalih u gibu, ghax ma noqoghdux fuq il-mejda qabel ma jigi hawn”. U baghat ghalih u giebu. Kien zaghzugh ruxxan, ghajnejh helwin, u sabih fis-sura tieghu. U l-Mulej qal lil Samwel: “Qum u idilku, ghax dan hu”. Samwel ha f’idejh il-qarn biz-zejt, u dilku quddiem hutu. Minn dakinhar ’il quddiem nizel fuq David u hakmu l-ispirtu tal-Mulej. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

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

beside restful waters he leads me;

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

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

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

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

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

Il-Mulej hu r-raghaj tieghi,
xejn ma jonqosni;
f’merghat kollha hdura jqeghedni.
Hdejn l-ilma, fejn nistrieh, jehodni;
hemm hu jrejjaqni. R/.

Imexxini fit-triq tas-sewwa
minhabba l-isem tieghu.
Imqar jekk nimxi f’wied mudlam,
ma nibzax mill-hsara, ghax inti mieghi.
Il-hatar tieghek u l-ghaslug tieghek,
huma jwennsuni. R/.

Int thejji mejda ghalija
quddiem l-ghedewwa tieghi.
Biz-zejt tidlikli rasi,
u l-kalci tieghi tfawwarli. R/.

Mieghi, iva, jimxu t-tjieba u l-hniena
l-jiem kollha ta’ hajti.
U nghammar f’dar il-Mulej
sakemm indum haj! R/.

Reading 2               EPHESIANS 5:8-14

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

QARI 2                mill-Ittra lill-Efesin 5:8-14

Huti, intom kontu darba dlam, imma issa intom dawl fil-Mulej; ghixu ta’ wlied id-dawl li intom; frott id-dawl jinsab f’kulma hu tjieba, f’kulma hu gustizzja, f’kulma hu verità. Fittxu li taghrfu dak li joghgob lill-Mulej, u tissehbux fl-ghemejjel tad-dlam bla frott, imma ikxfuhom fil-berah. Ghax dak li qeghdin jaghmlu huma fil-mohbi, tisthi mqar jekk issemmih; imma meta wiehed johroghom fil-berah, id-dawl juri kollox, ghax kulma jidher hu dawl; ghal hekk jinghad: “Stenbah int, li int rieqed, u qum mill-imwiet, ha jiddi fuqek Kristu”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                JOHN 9:1-41

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

EVANGELJU                Qari skond San Gwann 9:1-41

F’dak iz-zmien, kif kien ghaddej, Gesù lemah ragel aghma minn twelidu, u d-dixxipli tieghu staqsewh: “Rabbi, dan twieled aghma ghax dineb hu stess, jew ghax dinbu l-?enituri tieghu?”. Gesù wiegeb: “Mhux ghax dineb hu jew il-genituri tieghu, imma gralu hekk biex l-ghemil ta’ Alla jidher fih. Sakemm ghadu binhar, jehtigilna naghmlu x-xoghol ta’ dak li baghatni, ghax jasal il-lejl meta hadd ma jkun jista’ jahdem. Sakemm ghadni fid-dinja, jiena hu d-dawl tad-dinja”.  Kif qal dan, bezaq fl-art, ghamel minnu qisu tajn, u dilek bih ghajnejn ir-ragel aghma u qallu: “Mur inhasel fil-menqgha ta’ Silwam”. Din tfisser “il-Mibghut”. Mela dak mar, inhasel u gie jara. Il-girien u dawk li s-soltu kienu jarawh, ghax hu kien tallab, qalu: “Dan mhuwiex dak li kien joqghod bilqiehda jittallab?”. Xi whud qalu: “Iva, hu”. Orajn qalu: “Le, imma jixbhu”. Izda hu qalilhom: “Jiena hu”. Qalulu: “Mela kif infethulek ghajnejk?”. Wegibhom: “Wiehed ragel, jghidulu Gesù, ghamel ftit tajn, dilikli ghajnejja bih, u qalli: ‘Mur fis-Silwam u nhasel hemm’. Mort, inzsilt, u gejt nara”. Qalulu: “Fejn huwa dan ir-ragel?”. Qalilhom: “Ma nafx”. Lil dan il-bniedem li fl-imghoddi kien aghma haduh ghand il-Farizej. Issa dakinhar li Gesù ghamel it-tajn u fetah ghajnejn l-aghma nzerta kien is-Sibt. Il-Farizej ukoll staqsew mill-gdid lill-aghma kif sar jara. U hu qalilhom: “Qeghedli ftit tajn fuq ghajnejja, mort ninhasel, u issa qieghed nara”.  Xi whud mill-Farizej qalu: “Dan il-bniedem mhuwiex gej minghand Alla, ghax ma harisx is-Sibt”. Izda ohrajn qalu: “Kif jista’ wiehed midneb jaghmel sinjali bhal dawn?”. U ma qablux bejniethom. U regghu qalu lill-aghma: “Int x’jidhirlek minnu, issa li fetahek ghajnejk?”. Qalilhom: “Dak profeta”. Il-Lhud ma ridux jemmnu li hu kien aghma u ha d-dawl qabel ma baghtu ghagenituri ta’ dak li sar jara, u staqsewhom: “Dan, li intom qeghdin tghidu li twieled aghma, dan binkom? Mela issa kif gie jara?”. Il-genituri tieghu wiegbu u qalulhom: “Nafu li dan hu t-tifel taghna u li twieled aghma; imma kif issa gie jara, dan ma nafuhx, u anqas ma nafu min fetahlu ghajnejh. Staqsu lilu: Zmien ghandu, Ha jitkellem hu ghalih innifsu”. Il-genituri tieghu wiegbu hekk ghaliex bezghu mil-Lhud, ghax il-Lhud kienu ga ftiehmu bejniethom li jekk xi hadd jistqarr li Gesù hu l-Messija, isib ruhu barra mis-sinagoga. Kien ghalhekk li l-genituri wiegbu: “Zmien g?andu, staqsu lilu”. Ghal darb’ohra regghu baggtu ghal dak li kien aghma u qalulu: “Aghti glorja lil Alla! Ahna nafu li dan il-bniedem huwa midneb”. Dak wegibhom: “Jekk hux midneb ma nafx.Haga wahda naf: li jien kont aghma u issa qieghed nara”. Qalulu: “Imma hu x’ghamillek? Kif fetahhomlok ghajnejk?”. U hu wegibhom: “Ga ghedtilkom u ma smajtux! Xi tridu tisimghu izjed? Jaqaw tridu intom ukoll issiru dixxipli tieghu?”. U qabdu jghajruh u qalulu: “Dak int dixxiplu tieghu! Ahna ta’ Mosè dixxipli! Ahna nafu li lil Mosè kellmu Alla, imma dan ma nafux minn fejn hu!”. Wegibhom ir-ragel u qalilhom: “Sewwa! Hawn qieghed l-ghageb, li intom ma tafux minn fejn inqala’, u madankollu lili fetahli ghajnejja! Ahna nafu li Alla mhux se jisma’ lill-midinbin; izda mbaghad jekk wiehed ikun iqim lil Alla u jaghmel ir-rieda tieghu, lil dan jisimghu. Qatt fid-dinja ma nstema’ li xi ?add fetah ghajnejn wiehed aghma mit-twelid. Li kieku dan ma kienx gej minghand Alla, xejn ma kien ikollu hila jaghmel”. Imbaghad qabzu u qalulu: “Int se tghallem lilna, int li twelidt dnubiet wahdek!”. U keccewh ’il barra.  Gesù sama’ li keccewh ’il barra; sabu u qallu: “Temmen inti f’Bin il-bniedem?”. Dak wiegeb u qallu: “Min hu, Mulej, biex nemmen fih?”. Qallu Gesù: “Mhux biss rajtu, imma huwa dak stess li qieghed ikellmek”. Qallu: “Nemmen, Mulej!”. U nxtehet gharkupptejh quddiemu. Imbaghad Gesù qal: “Jien gejt fid-dinja biex naghmel haqq, biex min ma jarax isir jara, u min jara jaghma”. Xi whud mill-Farizej li kienu hemm madwaru semghuh jghid dan u staqsewh: “Ahna wkoll ghomja?”. Wegibhom Gesù: “Li kieku kontu ghomja, ma kontux tkunu hatja ta’ dnub. Imma issa qeghdin tghidu: ‘Ahna naraw’, mela d-dnub taghkom ghadu fuqkom”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr. Anthony Kadavil

ALLOWING JESUS TO HEAL OUR SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS

Introduction: 

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

Scripture lessons summarized: 

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

In Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm, (Ps 23), we celebrate the care of God, our Good Shepherd, who keeps us safe in the darkness of this world. Presenting the miracle of Jesus’ giving of sight to a man born blind, today’s Gospel teaches us the necessity of being willing to have our eyes opened by Faith, and warns us that those who assume they see the truth are often blind, while those who acknowledge their blindness are given clear vision. 

In this episode, the most unlikely person, namely the beggar born blind, receives the light of Faith in Jesus, while the religion-oriented, law-educated Pharisees remain spiritually blind. To live as a Christian is to see and to grow continually, gaining clearer vision about God, about ourselves and about others. Our Lenten prayers and sacrifices should help to heal our spiritual blindness so that we can look at others, see them as children of God, and love them as our own brothers and sisters, saved by the death and Resurrection of Jesus.

Life messages: 

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

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

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A SPRING OF WATER WELLING UP TO ETERNAL LIFE

Readings for Sunday, March 12, 2023

Third Sunday of Lent

Lectionary: 28

It-Tielet Hadd tar-Randan

Reading 1                EXODUS 17:3-7

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

Qari 1                 mill-Ktieb ta’ l-Ezodu 17, 3-7

F’dak iz-zmien, il-poplu qabdu l-ghatx, u gemgem kontra Mosè u qal: «Ghalfejn tellajtna hawn mill-Egittu biex toqtol lilna, lil uliedna u lill-bhejjem taghna bil-ghatx?» Mosè ghajjat quddiem il-Mulej u qal: «X’se naghmel lil dan il-poplu? Ftit iehor u jhaggruni.» Il-Mulej qal lil Mosè: «Ghaddi minn quddiem il-poplu, u hu mieghek xi whud mix-xjuh ta’ Izrael. Hu f’idejk il-hatar li bih kont drabt ix-xmara tan-Nil, u mur. Arani, jien noqghod hemm quddiemek, fuq il-blat f’Horeb; u int ahbat il-blat u tohrog minnu l-ilma, u jixrob il-oplu.»  U Mosè ghamel hekk quddiem ix-xjuh ta’ Izrael. U l-post semmewh Massa u Meriba, ghax hemm tlewmu wlied Izrael u garrbu lill-Mulej meta qalu: «Il-Mulej fostna jew le?» Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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

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

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

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

Salm Responsorjali               Salm 94 (95), 1-2.6-7.8-9

//Rl . : Illum jekk tisimghu lehen il-Mulej, la twebbsux qalbkom

Ejjew, ha nfahhru bl-hena lill-Mulej,
ha nghajtu bil-ferh lill-blata tas-salvazzjoni taghna!
nghannulu b’ghajjat ta’ ferh. //Rl .

Nersqu quddiemu b’ghana ta’ radd il-hajr,

Ejjew inqimuh u ninxtehtu quddiemu,
gharkubbtejna quddiem il-Mulej li halaqna!
Ghaliex hu Alla taghna,
u ahna l-poplu tal-mergha tieghu u n-naghag tieghu. //Rl .

Mhux li kontu llum tisimghu lehnu!
«La twebbsux qalbkom bhal f’Meriba,
bhal dakinhar f’Massa, fid-dezert,
meta garrbuni u ttantawni missirijietkom,
ghalkemm raw dak li jien ghamilt.»  //Rl .

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

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

Qari 2                 mill-Ittra lir-Rumani 5, 1-2.5-8

Huti, issa li ahna ggustifikati bil-fidi, ghandna s-sliem ma’ Alla permezz ta’ Sidna Gesù Kristu; permezz tieghu ghandna d-dhul bil-fidi ghal din il-grazzja li fiha qeghdin. Ahna niftahru bit-tama li ghandna li ghad niksbu l-glorja ta’ Alla. U din it-tama ma tqarraqx bina, ghax l-imhabba ta’ Alla ssawbet fi qlubna permezz ta’ l-Ispirtu s-Santu li kien moghti lilna. Mela, meta ahna konna bla sahha, Kristu, meta wasal iz-zmien, miet ghall-hziena. Bilkemm wiehed imut ghal wiehed tajjeb, ghad li wiehed ghandu mnejn jaghmel il-qalb u jmut ghal wiehed generuz. Izda Alla wriena l-imhabba tieghu meta Kristu miet ghalina, ahna li konna ghadna midinbin.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel               JOHN 4:5-42

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” —For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.— Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him,  “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty  or have to keep coming here to draw water.” Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband and come back.” The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus answered her, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must

worship in Spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one speaking with you.” At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, “What are you looking for?” or “Why are you talking with her?” The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?” They went out of the town and came to him. Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.”But he said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” So the disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here’? I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest. The reaper is already receiving payment and gathering crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together.For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work.” Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I have done.” When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word,  and they said to the woman,  “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the saviour of the world.”

Evangelju                Qari skond San Gwann 4, 5-42

F’dak iz-zmienGesù gie f’belt tas-Samarija, jisimha Sikar, qrib il-biçça art li Gakobb kien ta lil ibnu Guzeppi, fejn kien hemm ukoll il-bir ta’Gakobb. Kien ghall-habta tas-sitt siegha, u Gesù, ghajjien kif kien mill-mixi, qaghad bilqieghda hdejn il-bir. U giet mara mis-Samarija timla l-ilma. Gesù qalilha:«Aghtini nixrob.» Id-dixxipli tieghu kienu marru l-belt jixtru x’jieklu. Il-mara mis-Samarija qaltlu: «Kif! Inti Lhudi u titlob lili, Samaritana, biex naghtik tixrob?» Qaltlu hekk ghax il-Lhud ma jithalltux mas-Samaritani.  Gesù wegibha: «Kieku kont taf id-don ta’ Alla u min hu dak li qieghed jghidlek: “Aghtini nixrob,” kieku int kont titolbu, u hu kien jaghtik ilma haj.»  Qaltlu l-mara: «Sinjur, mnejn se ggib l-ilma haj jekk anqas biex timla ma ghandek u l-bir huwa fond? Jaqaw int aqwa minn missierna Gakobb li tana dan il-bir, li minnu xorob hu u wliedu u l-imriehel tieghu?»  Wegibha Gesù: «Kull min jixrob minn dan l-ilma jerga’ jaghtih l-ghatx; imma min jixrob mill-ilma li naghtih jien qatt izjed ma jkun bil-ghatx. L-ilma li naghtih jien isir fih ghajn ta’ l-ilma li jwassal sal-hajja ta’ dejjem.» Qaltlu l-mara: «Aghtini dan l-ilma, Sinjur, biex ma jaqbadnix l-ghatx, u anqas ma noqghod gejja u sejra hawn nimla l-ilma.» Qalilha |Gesù: «Mur sejjah lil zewgek u erga’ ejja hawn.» Wegbitu l-mara: «Ma ghandix zewgi.» Qalilha Ìesù: «Sewwa ghedt: “Ma ghandix zewgi.” Inti zzewwigt hames darbiet, u r-ragel li ghandek mieghek bhalissa m’huwiex zewgek. Sewwa wegibt!» Qaltlu l-mara: «Int profeta, Sinjur, milli qieghda nara. Missirijietna kienu jaduraw lil Alla fuq din il-muntanja; imma intom tghidu li l-post fejn wiehed ghandu jadura lil Alla jinsab f

’Gerusalemm.» Qalilha Gesù: «Emminni, mara, jigi zmien meta mhux fuq din il-muntanja taduraw lill-Missier, anqas f’Gerusalemm. Intom taduraw lil dak li ma tafux; ahna naduraw lil dak li nafu, ghax is-salvazzjoni gejja mil-Lhud. Imma tigi siegha, anzi issa hi, meta dawk li tassew jaduraw jibdew jaduraw lill-Missier fl-ispirtu u fil-verità. Ghax il-Missier ukoll, nies bhal dawn ifittex li jadurawh. Alla huwa spirtu, u dawk li jadurawh ghandhom jadurawh fl-ispirtu u fil-verità.» Qaltlu l-mara: «Jiena naf li gej il-Messija – dak li jghidulu Kristu. Meta jigi hu, kollox ihabbrilna.» Qalilha Gesù: «Jiena hu, li qieghed nitkellem mieghek.» Fil-hin gew id-dixxipli tieghu, u staghgbu jarawh jitkellem ma’ mara; izda hadd minnhom ma staqsieh: «Xi trid?» jew: «Ghax qieghed titkellem maghha?» Il-mara halliet il-garra hemmhekk, regghet dahlet il-belt u qalet lin-nies: «Ejjew araw bniedem li qalli kull ma ghamilt. Tghid, dan il-Messija?» U n-nies hargu mill-belt u gew ˙dejh. Sadattant id-dixxipli bdew jitolbuh u jghidulu: «Rabbi, kul!» Izda hu qalilhom: «Jien ghandi ikel x’niekol li intom ma tafux bih.» Id-dixxipli ghalhekk bdew jistaqsu lil xulxin: «Jaqaw gie xi hadd u gieblu x’jiekol?» Qalilhom Ìesù: «L-ikel tieghi hu li naghmel ir-rieda ta’ min baghatni u li nwassal fit-tmiem l-opra tieghu. Intom ma tghidux li baqa’ erba’ xhur ohra ghall-hsad? Imma araw x’nghdilkom jien: erfghu ghajnejkom u harsu ftit kif l-ghelieqi bjadu ghall-hsad!      Ga l-hassad qieghed jiehu hlasu u jigbor il-frott ghall-hajja ta’ dejjem, biex min jizra’ jifrah hu wkoll bhal min jahsad. F’dan taraw kemm sewwa jinghad li wiehed jizra’ u l-iehor jahsad. Jiena bghattkom tahsdu dak li ma thabattux ghalih intom; kienu ohrajn li thabtu, u intom dhaltu flokhom biex tgawdu l-frott tat-tahbit taghom.» Kien hemm hafna Samaritani minn dik il-belt li emmnu f’Gesù fuq ix-xhieda li tathom dik il-mara meta qaltilhom: «Qalli kull ma ghamilt,» tant, li meta s-Samaritani gew hdejh, bdew jitolbuh biex jibqa’ maghhom, u hu qaghad hemm jumejn. Imbaghad hafna ohrajn emmnu minhabba kliemu, u lill-mara qalulha: «Issa mhux ghax ghedtilna int qeghdin nemmnu, imma ghax ahna wkoll smajnieh, u sirna nafu li dan tassew hu s-salvatur tad-dinja.» Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr. Anthony Kadavil

HOW THIRSTY ARE YOU THIS LENT?

Introduction: 

This Sunday’s readings are centred on Baptism and new life. Living water represents God’s Holy Spirit Who comes to us in Baptism, penetrating every aspect of our lives and quenching our spiritual thirst. The Holy Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the Sacraments of God in the Church are the primary sources of the living water of Divine Grace. 

We are assembled here in the Church to drink this water of eternal life and salvation. Washed in it at Baptism, renewed by its abundance at each Eucharist, invited to it in every proclamation of the Word, and daily empowered by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we are challenged by today’s Gospel to remain thirsty for the living water, which only God can give.

Scripture lessons summarized: 

The first reading describes how God provided water to the ungrateful complainers of Israel, thus placing Jesus’ promise within the context of the Exodus account of water coming from the rock at Horeb. The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 95), refers both to the Rock of our salvation and also to our hardened hearts. It reminds us that our hard hearts need to be softened by God through our grace-prompted and -assisted prayer, fasting and works of mercy which enable us to receive the living water of the Holy Spirit, salvation, and eternal life from the Rock of our salvation. 

In the second reading, Saint Paul asserts that, as the Saviour of mankind, Jesus poured the living water of the gift of the Holy Spirit into our hearts. In the Gospel, an unclean, ostracized Samaritan woman is given an opportunity to receive the living water. Jesus awakened in the woman at the well a thirst for the wholeness and integrity which she had lost, a thirst which he had come to satisfy. This Gospel passage also gives us Jesus’ revelation about himself as the Source of Living Water and teaches us that we need the grace of Jesus Christ for eternal life because he is that life-giving water.

Life messages: 

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

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

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

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

THE BRIGHT LIGHT OF TRANSFORMATION

Readings for Sunday, March 5

Second Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 25

It-Tieni Hadd tar-Randan

Reading 1               GENESIS 12:1-4a

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

Qari 1                mill-Ktieb tal-Genesi 12, 1-4a

F’dak iz-zmien, il-Mulej qal lil Abram: «Qum u itlaq minn artek, minn art twelidek, u minn dar missierek, lejn l-art li jien nurik. U jien naghmlek gens kbir, inbierkek u nkabbarlek ismek, u int tkun barka. Jien inbierek lil min ibierkek, u nishet lil min jishtek. U jitbierku bik it-tribujiet kollha ta’ l-art.»  U telaq Abram kif kien qallu l-Mulej. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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

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

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

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

Salm Responsorjali                Salm 32 (33), 4-5.18-19.20 u 22

Rl . (22): Ha tkun, Mulej, it-tjieba tieghek fuqna

Sewwa hi l-kelma tal-Mulej,
kollox bil-fedeltà huwa ghamel.
Hu jhobb id-dritt u s-sewwa;
bit-tjieba tal-Mulej mimlija l-art. // R.

Ara, ghajnejn il-Mulej fuq dawk li jibzghu minnu,
fuq dawk li jittamaw fit-tjieba tieghu,
biex jehilsilhom mill-mewt hajjithom,
u jahjihom fi zmien il-guh. // R.

Ruhna tixxennaq ghall-Mulej,
hu l-ghajnuna u t-tarka taghna.
Ha tkun, Mulej, it-tjieba tieghek fuqna,

Reading 2               2 TIMOTHY 1:8b-10

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

Qari 2                 mit-Tieni Ittra lil Timotju 1, 8b-10

Ghaziz, aqsam mieghi t-tbatija ghall-Evangelju, u afda fil-qawwa ta’
Alla, li salvana u sejhilna b’sejha qaddisa, mhux ghax qies
l-ghemejjel taghna, imma skond il-pjan tieghu stess u skond il-grazzja
tieghu. Din il-grazzja tahielna qabel iz-zmien ta’ l-eternità fi Kristu
Gesù, imma dehret issa permezz tad-dehra tas-Salvatur taghna
Kristu Gesù li qered il-mewt, u dawwal il-hajja bla tmiem permezz
ta’ l-Evangelju. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel               MATTHEW 17:1-9

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

Evangelju               Qari skond San Mattew 17, 1-9

F’dak iz-zmien, Gesù ha mieghu lil Pietru u lil Gakbu u lil huh Gwanni, tellaghom fuq muntanja gholja wehidhom, u tbiddel quddiemhom. Wiççu sar jiddi bhax-xemx, u lbiesu sar abjad bhad-dawl. U dehrulhom Mosè u Elija jithaddtu mieghu.  Qabez Pietru u qal lil Gesù: «Mulej, kemm hu sew li ahna hawn! Jekk trid intella’ hawn tliet tined, wahda ghalik, wahda ghal Mosè u wahda ghal Elija.» Kif kien ghadu jitkellem, shaba kollha dawl ghattiethom, u minn gos-shaba nstema’ lehen jghid: «Dan hu Ibni l-ghaziz, li fih sibt l-ghaxqa tieghi; isimghu lilu.»  Id-dixxipli, kif semghu dan, waqghu wiççhom fl-art, mimlijin biza’. Gesù resaq lejhom, messhom u qalilhom: «Qumu. La tibzghux.»  Huma refghu ghajnejhom u ma raw lil hadd hlief lil Gesù wahdu.   Huma u nezlin minn fuq il-muntanja, Gesù ordnalhom u qalilhom: «Tghidu lil hadd b’din id-dehra sa ma Bin il-bniedem ikun qam mill-imwiet.»  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr. Anthony Kadavil

TRANSFORMING OURSELVES THIS LENT

Introduction: 

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

Scripture lessons: 

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

In the Transfiguration story in Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus is revealed as a glorious figure, superior to Moses and Elijah. The primary purpose of Jesus’ Transfiguration was to allow Jesus to consult his Heavenly Father in order to ascertain His plan for His Son’s suffering, death and Resurrection. 

The secondary aim was to make his chosen disciples aware of Jesus’ Divine glory, so that they might discard their worldly ambitions and 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 narrative is a Christophany, that is, a manifestation or revelation of who Jesus really is. Describing Jesus’ Transfiguration, the Gospel gives us a glimpse of the Heavenly glory awaiting those who do God’s will by putting their trusting Faith in Him, as the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 33), for today encourages us to do.

Life messages: 

(1) The Transubstantiation in the Holy Mass is the source of our strength. In each Holy Mass our offering of bread and wine becomes the Body and Blood of Jesus under the appearances of bread and wine. Hence, just as the Transfiguration of Jesus strengthened the Apostles in their time of trial, each Holy Mass should be our source of Heavenly strength for resisting our own temptations and a source of grace for renewing our lives during Lent. In addition, communion with Jesus in prayer and especially in the Eucharist should be a source of daily transformation of both our minds and hearts, enabling us to see Jesus in every one of our brothers and sisters with whom we come in contact each day. 

(2) Each Sacrament that we receive transforms us. Baptism, for example, transforms us into sons and daughters of God and heirs of heaven. Confirmation makes us the temples of the Holy Spirit. By the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God brings back the sinner to the path of holiness. By receiving in Faith, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, we are spiritually, and sometimes physically, healed, and our sins are forgiven.

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

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

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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