FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-A

I Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14: I will put my spirit in you, and you will live.

II Reading: Romans 8:8-11: The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you.

Gospel: John 11:1-45: I am the resurrection and the life.

The Death of Lazarus and Its Purposes, 11:1-16

Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. The death of Lazarus gave Jesus the opportunity to reveal Himself as the resurrection and the life. There were seven purposes for Lazarus’ death. Each purpose is also applicable to the death of the believer.

1. Lazarus was sick (v.1-3)

          a. His home was Bethany

          b. His sisters were Mary and Martha

          c. His sisters went the news of Lazarus’ sickness to Jesus

2. Purpose 1: To glorify God and to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God (v.4)

3. Purpose 2: To show Jesus’ great love

4. Purpose 3: To show the necessity for waiting upon God in great crises

5. Purpose 4: to teach the need to grasp opportunity (v.7-10)

            a. The disciples protested Jesus’ return to Jerusalem: Because of the threat to his life

            b. Jesus reply: There is a duty to work-to do what is right, to grasp the opportunity-regardless of the danger

6. Purpose 5: To show Jesus’ power over death (v.11-14)

            a. Jesus called Lazarus “our friend”

            b. Jesus predicted Lazarus would be raised

            c. The disciples misunderstood

            d. Jesus said that death is as “sleep”

7. Purpose 6: To help strengthen the disciples’ belief (v.15)

8. Purpose 7: To stir the disciples’ courage and loyalty (v.16)

Jesus and Martha: A Growth in Faith, Jn 11:17-27

This passage is a dynamic conversation between Jesus and Martha. What happened caused a great growth in Martha’s faith. A seeking heart and  a study of the conversation will cause any believer’s faith to grow significantly.

1. The scene was Bethany, a suburb of Jerusalem-about two miles away (v.17-20)

            a. Lazarus: had been in the tomb for four days

            b. Friends: comforted the family

            c. Martha: went to meet Jesus

            d. Mary: stayed at home

2. Martha’s complaining, limited faith (v.21-22)

            a. Her complaining belief

            b. Her limited belief: that His power was less than God’s power

3. Martha’s fundamental faith (v.23-24)

            a. Jesus’ declaration

            b. Martha’s expression of faith

4. Martha’s declared faith (v.25-27)

            a. Jesus’ great claim

            b. Jesus’ promise: believe

            1) He who believes and dies shall live

            2) He who lives and believes shall never die; he never perishes

            c. Martha’s declaration

                        1) The Christ

                        2) The Son of God

                        3) Sent by God

Jesus and Mary: The Real Needs of Man, Jn 11:28-37

Any person has great needs. These are seen in the experience of Mary with Jesus.

1. Need 1: The glorious message of Christ (v.28)

            a. He is the “Teacher”

            b. The Teacher “is here”

            c. The Teacher asks “for you”

2. Need 2: The right response-arise quickly and come to Christ (v.29-30)

3. Need 3: The reaching out of people to help others (v.31)

4. Need 4: The confession of faith (even if it is limited and weak) (v.32)

            a. The confession: Lord

            b. The complaining, limited faith

5. Need 5: The understanding, feelings and compassion of Jesus (v.33-36)

            a. He was deeply moved

                        1) Over death

                        2) Over man’s pain

            b. He asks where the dead person is

            c. He weeps in love: Over death and man’s pain

6. Conclusion: The misunderstanding of man-How could Jesus love so much and let this happen? (v.37)

Jesus and Lazarus: Power Over Death, Jn 11:38-46

Jesus Christ confronted death and demonstrated His great power over death. In confronting and conquering the tomb of Lazarus, He demonstrated that the believer’s hope is not in vain. The believer will be raised from the dead, resurrected by the great shout of the Lord’s power.

1. Jesus confronted the dead (v.38-39)

            a. He was deeply moved

            b. He was confronted with a believer’s objection

2. The great promise of unlimited, resting faith (v.40)

3. The great prayer of purpose (v.41-42)

            a. Addressed God as “Father”

            b. Made a request

            c. Offered thanksgiving

            d. Expressed perfect confidence

            e. Before testimony

4. The great shout of power over death (v.43-44)

            a. Was by Christ alone

            b. Was personal: By name

            c. The result

                        1) The dead arose

                        2) The resurrected received Jesus’ personal attention

5. Conclusion: The reaction to Jesus’ great power (v.45-46)

            a. Some believed, put their faith in Him

            b. Some caused trouble

Thought: Jesus always prayed with purpose; therefore, He always received the answer to His prayer and bore testimony to the power of prayer. So it is with every true believer. Jesus is “the resurrection and the life.” Jesus is “the source of life and the cause of every resurrection.” Let us believe in Him.

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FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-A

I Reading: 1 Samuel 16:6-7.10-13: David is anointed king of Israel.

II Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14: Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

Gospel: John 9:1-41: He went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.

The Man’s Eye Opened: The Mission of Jesus, Jn 9:1-7

Man is spiritually blind, his eyes need to be opened. The mission of Jesus is to open the eyes of man.

1. Jesus passed by (v.1-3)

a. He saw a man blind from birth

b. He was asked a question about suffering and sin

c. He replied that this man’s suffering was not due to sin but to show forth the works of God

2. Jesus came to work the works of God (v.4)

3. Jesus came to be the Light of the world (v.5)

4. Jesus came to give sight to men (v.6-7)

a. Jesus’ act: He made contact

b. Man’s act: He had to obey to receive his sight

Man’s Eye Opened: The Stages of Spiritual Sight, Jn 9:8-41

1. Stage 1: Seeing Jesus as a man

a. The man’s neighbours were amazed, and they questioned the man’s deliverance

b. The man testified: A man called Jesus gave me sight

2. Stage 2: Seeing Jesus as a Helper or a Healer

a. The problem: The sabath law was broken

b. The Pharisees questioned how the man could now see

c. The man testified: Jesus healed me

3. Stage 4: Seeing Jesus as a prophet

a. The Pharisees were divided

b. The Pharisees questioned the man again

c. The man testified: Jesus is a prophet

4. Stage 4: Seeing Jesus as the Saviour

a. The Pharisees’ unbelief

b. The Pharisees called and questioned the man’s parents

c. The parents’ testimony

          1) They identified their son

          2) They denied being eye-witnesses

          3) They feared prejudgement and excommunication: feared being banished from the synagogue

d. The Pharisees’ demand that Jesus be denied

e. The man’s testimony

          1) I was blind, but now see (Jesus saved me and gave me sight)

          2) The clear evidence

5. Stage 5: Seeing Jesus as being “from God”

a. The Pharisees’ case

          1) Accused the man of being Jesus’ disciple

          2) Questioned the origin of Jesus

b. The man’s testimony

          1) A marvellous thing

          2) God does not hear sinners, but worshippers

          3) My experience: Proves Jesus is “from God”

c. The Pharisees’ denial of the man’s experience and proof: They threw the man out

6. Stage 6: Seeing Jesus as the Son of God

a. Jesus sought the man who had been thrown out

b. Jesus invited him to believe

c. The man requested to know the Son of God

d. Jesus identified himself as the Son of God (v.35)

e. The man believed

Man’s Eyes Opened: The Stages of Spiritual Sight, Jn 9:8-41

The blind man had been delivered from darkness and given sight by the compassion of the Lord Jesus. In this passage the delivered man is confronted by his neighbours (v.8-12), by the Pharisees (v.13-34) and by Jesus (v.35-41).

The man’s growing knowledge of Jesus is easily seen and grasped. The man sees Jesus and believes in him as his Messiah and the Son of God through his spiritual sight.

7. Conclusion: The lesson of Jesus’ revelation

a. His mission: To bring judgement

b. The religionists’ expectation: to be exempt from judgement

Thought: There are many people like blind man. They know about Jesus, but they don’t know Jesus, not personally. They know his name, but little else. They have little understanding of his teaching and claims, presence and strength, love and care and power and promises. We can see Jesus as our Messiah or the Son of God by our personal experience with Jesus.

Those who have the gift of spiritual sight and do not use it. They are known as the true blind. Jesus is always ready to give us back our eye-sight, provided we need to wash at the pool of the sacrament of the Reconciliation, after regretting and acknowledging our sinfulness and believing in the power of Jesus.

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SAINT JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF MARY, March 19, Solemnity

I Reading: 2 Sam 7:4-5.12-14.16

II Reading: Rom 4:13.16-18.22

Gospel: Matthew 1:16.18-21.24

We celebrate today the feast of Saint Joseph under the title “husband of Mary”. It is a recent feast; though extended to the whole Church some five hundred years ago, it was only during the last hundred and fifty years that it gradually acquired importance it has today. On this feast we praise God for having led Joseph to the totally faithful to Jesus and Mary, thus contributing wonderfully to God’s plans in saving the world. The Gospel speaks so little about Joseph when narrating the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. His name appears twice in the Gospel of John, but only to identify Jesus as “son of Joseph” (Jn 1:45; 6:42).

The readings of today discover where the true greatness of Saint Joseph lies:

1.    A prophecy of Natan about a descendant from David.

2.    Faith in God, expressed n humble obedience, made Joseph truly great.

a.    He was a just man, an upright, straight forward person, honest with God and with his neighbour.

b.    He accepted Mary and loved her and took care of her as God’s command.

c.     Whereas people thought he was an ordinary worker or carpenter but in the eyes of God he was a humble and obedient and a just person.

d.    He obeyed always God’s plan and listened to God’s commands.

3.    The Matthew Gospel narrates two sentences worth remarking:

I.               First the words of the angel: “Do not be afraid...”

II.            Secondly, the concluding words of today’s Gospel: “Joseph did as the angel had told him to do; he took his wife to his home (Mt 1:24).

Thought:Joseph is known as a just/righteous (Greek-dikaios)man which means one who always depends upon God and not depending upon himself or on any other things.

Because of this humble submission to God’s plans, he was chosen from among all Israelites. The lesson of Joseph should not be lost to us: neither education, nor wealth, power nor position makes a person really great but we are great when we strive to discover God’s plans for us and try to realize them inspite of human weakness.

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THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-A

I Reading: Exodus 17:3-7:Give us water to drink.

II Reading: Romans : The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.

Gospel: John 4:5-42: A spring of water welling up to eternal life.

The Offer of Living Water, Jn 4:1-14

Jesus offered the Samaritan woman living water and she showed an intriguing interest. There was the matter of sin in her life, of worship, of the Messiah, and of labouring for God. Therefore, Jesus began to discuss these subjects with her one by one.

This is one the most profound revelations of Jesus: He is the Living Water, the water which people can drink and thereby never thirst again.

1. Jesus left Judea (v.1-9)

a. He left out of necessity

          1) For John’s sake

          2) For his destiny: He had to go

b. He left to confront a Samaritan woman

          1) He entered Sychar, Samaria

          2) He was weary, sat by a well

          3) He requested drink from a woman

          4) The disciples had gone for food

c. The woman questioned Jesus

          1) She was shocked that Jesus talked with her

          2) She questioned racial prejudice

2. Living water is alive (v.10)

a. Is “of God”

b. Is “the gift” of God

c. Is given by asking for it

3. Living water is from a person much greater than a religious father (v.11-12)

4. Living water is the only water that will quench thirst (v.13-14)

The Subject of Sin, Jn 4:15-18

Jesus promised the living water of spiritual rebirth from the subject of sin.

1. There was the request for living water (v.15)

2. There was the first essential: Facing the truth, the fact of sin (v.16-18)

a. Jesus stirred conviction

b. Jesus accepted no evasion

c. Jesus knew all

d. Jesus reproved sin

The Subject of Worship, Jn 4:19-24

Man’s whole concept and approach to worship is changed by Jesus in this passage.

1. The woman was troubled (v.19-20)

a. She  sensed Jesus to be a prophet

b. She sensed her sin and the need for true worship

2. Fact 1: The place of worship is not what important (v.21)

3. Fact 2: True worship and salvation are from the Jews (v.22)

4. Fact 3: True worshippers worship God in spirit and in truth (v.23-24)

The Subject of Messiah, Jn 4:25-30

This is the dramatic picture of conversation and witnessing. The Messiah was discovered, and the discovery was excitedly shared.

1. There  was the sense that Jesus was the Messiah (v.25)

2. There was the great claim of Jesus: He is the Messiah (v.26)

3. There was the spirit contrary to the Messiah: A spirit of evil thought and pride (v.27)

4. There was the proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah (v.28-29)

5. There was the response of searching for the Messiah (v.30)

The Subject of Labour for God, Jn 4:31-42

The believer is to labor for God. His/her life is to be focused upon the will and work of God. His purpose for being on earth is to serve God, to obey and work for Him.

1. Physical vs. spiritual concerns (v.31-35)

a. The disciples’ concern: physical nourishment

b. Jesus’ concern: spiritual food-to do the will and work of God

c. Jesus’ challenge: Work and labor for God right now

2. Labor-for the harvest is ripe, the task is urgent (v.35)

3. Labor-for there are rewards and great benefits (v.36-38)

a. Wages

b. Eternal life

c. Joy and rejoicing

d. The privilege of having a specific part in God’s great work

e. The privilege of being sent by God

f. The privilege of serving with other great servants of God

4. Labor-for results follow (v.39-42)

a. Many believed the woman’s testimony

b. Other opportunities were given

c. Many more believed: “This man really is the Saviour of the World.”

Thought. The “living water” offered by Jesus was the Holy Spirit. The living water that cleanses us from sin.

Lent is a time to hasten to recover the life in the Spirit if we have lost it, and a time to realise its preciousness.

 We must open our eyes in order to look God. We cannot see ahead or around us if we do not open our eyes to look.

Believers are sent by God. They are to be single-minded. They are not allow their goals and energy to become entangled with business and affairs of the world.

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SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-A

I Reading: Genesis 12: 1-4: The call of Abraham, the father of God’s people.

II Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8-10: God calls and enlightens us.

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9: His face shone like the sun.

Jesus did not allow the three disciples Peter, James and John the brother of James to share their experience about the transfiguration of Jesus because it could not be understood by the people immediately. It was just incredible to grasp until after the resurrection. This charge to keep silent baffled the disciples because the scribes had always taught that Elijah was to come and proclaim the Messiah (cf. Mal: 4: 5). Even the disciples of Jesus did not understand the true meaning of Messiahship of Jesus so they asked such question. Jesus explained them clearly and said that John the Baptist was the prophet like Elijah who was to come. The people killed him; the Messiah too was to suffer at the hands of the people. God is there to strengthen Jesus and the disciples to suffer and to die for the kingdom of God.

The Transfiguration: Strengthened to Bear the Cross, Mt 17:1-13

The transfiguration of Jesus Christ is a most unusual experience, but Christ and the disciples needed unusual strength to face the future. The future held the cross for both.

Jesus had just entered the last stage of training for the disciples (Mt 16:21-28). The disciples grasp God’s plan for the world that Jesus was the Messiah to save the world through death and not through earthly power and conquest (Mt 1:1;11:2-3;Lk 7:21-23). He was to bear cross for the sins of the world (1Pet 2:24, Mt 16:24-28). They both needed very special portion of strength to face what lay in front of them.

The transfiguration was God’s answer to their need. God used five things to strengthen Jesus and the disciples. The same five things are applicable to the great needs we face. God will use the same kinds of things to strengthen us.

1. Jesus was on a high mountain (v.1)

a. Time: 6 days later

b. Three witnesses

2. The strength of God’s glory (v.2)

a. His face shone as the sun

b. His clothes gleamed

3. The strength of greats prophets/saints (v.3)

a. Moses: The lawgiver

b. Elijah: The first great prophet

4. The strength of heavenly experience (v.4)

a. A taste of glory

b. A staggering request

5. The strength of God’s presence (v.5-8)

a. The cloud: The Shekinah glory was given

b. The voice of God: Proclaimed Jesus to be His Son-Listen to Him

c. The disciple’s reaction: They prostrated themselves-terrified

d. The Lord’s intercession: His closeness and presence

e. The Lord’s pre-eminence: They saw no one but Jesus

6. The strength of the resurrection (v.9-13)

a. The misconception of the Messiah

b. The misconception corrected

c. The Messiah must also suffer.

Thought: The message of God was, is and ever will be….This is my Son, whom I love, in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him.

I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins. (Jn 8: 24).

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Believe in him is absolutely essential.

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