Monday
23 February 2026 – I Week in Lent (Year A)
Mass
Readings: Lev 19:1-2.11-18
Ps 19 Mt 25:31-46
The Gospel of today presents before us the
powerful scene of the Last Judgement for our reflection. The meaning of love
and the meaning of salvation are measured by our understanding and practice of
God’s love. God’s love necessarily embraces the love of one’s neighbour. Life
becomes meaningless if we fail to recognise God in our needy neighbour.
In the first reading from the Book of Leviticus,
the Lord clearly outlines the way to love and respect one’s neighbour. One must
not steal or deal falsely. We should neither oppress nor rob our neighbour.
Doing injustice to another is sinful. We must never withhold the wages of a
hired servant, nor act in ways that threaten the life or dignity of another.
More importantly, the Lord commands, “You shall not hate your brother in your
heart.” Hatred begins within the heart, and therefore, the Lord calls us to purify
our inner attitudes. Instead of nurturing resentment, we are encouraged to
correct one another with love and sincerity. The Lord further instructs us not
to bear grudges against our own people. Finally, He gives the supreme command:
“You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Lev 19:18).
This message is central to the season of Lent.
God the Father, out of His infinite love, came down to show us the perfect
model of loving one another through His Son, Jesus Christ. As Mother Teresa
said, “Love until it hurts.” Jesus loved us to the very end—even unto death on
the Cross. We are called to follow the Saviour in His exemplary love, bearing
the burdens and sins of others, as foretold by the prophet Isaiah: “He was
wounded for our transgressions” (Is 53:5).
In today’s Gospel, God separates people into two
groups. On His right are the sheep—those who showed mercy and compassion to the
least in society. On His left are the goats—those who failed to show mercy and
love to their neighbour. Those who refused to love will go to eternal
punishment, while those who showed mercy—the righteous—will enter into eternal
life. God, seated on the throne of judgement as King, follows only one
criterion: whether we have shown love to our neighbour.
The Lord clearly declares, “Truly I tell you,
just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,
you did it to me” (Mt 25:40, 45). If we refuse acts of love toward our
neighbour, we refuse to love God Himself. God identifies Himself with the poor,
the hungry, the naked, and the suffering. If we fail to feed the hungry or
clothe the naked, God says, we have failed to do it for Him. God is present in
our neighbour. This truth is further revealed in the experience of Saint Paul. When
the risen Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus, Jesus asked, “Saul,
Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4; 22:7). Jesus did not say, “Why do
you persecute my followers?” but “Why do you persecute me?”—because Christ
lives in His people.
The Lord also declares in the first reading, “You
shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev 19:2). This holiness code
summarises the entire moral life. We have a holy God, and He calls us to
reflect His holiness. As Jesus Himself teaches, “Be perfect, therefore, as your
heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48). The fear of the Lord, as mentioned in
Leviticus, is not mere fear of punishment, but a deep reverence and respect for
God, expressed through our love and justice toward others.
As we reflect on these readings, we must ask
ourselves: Do I allow the love of God to rule my heart? Do I truly love my
neighbour as myself? What is my response to God’s command: “You shall be holy,
for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev 19:2)?
Mass
Readings: Is 55:10-11 Ps 34 Mt 6:7-15
Every time we make the Sign of the Cross, we are
reminded that we have a Father in heaven, in whose name we begin and end all
our activities. Yet, we often forget this profound truth. This Father in heaven
is not distant or indifferent; He is our loving heavenly Father. In today’s
Gospel, Jesus outlines the filial relationship that should exist between us and
God when we pray to Him with sincere and trusting hearts.
The season of Lent must first of all be a time of
prayer. During this sacred season, the Church invites us to deepen our prayer
life, and for this reason, Jesus’ teaching on prayer becomes especially
important. Prayer is not about impressing God with words, nor is it about
pretending before Him. Rather, prayer is opening our hearts to God with
complete confidence, humility, and love. God already knows all our needs. We do
not need to think that God has forgotten us because we have not been regular in
our prayers or in attending church. God is present in our lives; He is the
source of all that we are and all that we have. He knows us better than we know
ourselves and understands our needs even before we express them. God listens to
our prayers.
The “Our Father,” taught by Jesus Himself, is the
most perfect form of prayer. Through this prayer, we come to see God not only
as the all-powerful Creator but as our loving Father. The very word “Father”
fills our hearts with reverence, trust, and love. Jesus therefore warns us not
to imitate empty repetitions, thinking that God will hear us because of many
words. Sometimes, a simple and sincere prayer, like that of the tax
collector—“Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Lk 18:13)—is enough. How comforting
and liberating it is to know that God is our Father! When we truly believe
this, fear and anxiety give way to trust and surrender. We begin to seek not
our own will, but the glory of the Father, His kingdom, and His divine will.
The prayer “Our Father” also reminds us that we
are all brothers and sisters. It is not merely a personal prayer but a communal
one. It expresses the universal brotherhood established through Christ, who
shed His blood for all humanity. This prayer is both filial and fraternal. That
is why Jesus insists on forgiveness. We may be sinners, but we can still call
God “Our Father,” provided we are willing to forgive others and free our hearts
from resentment. Only then can we truly live as children of God.
This Lenten season invites us to renew our
relationship with God as our loving Father. Lent is a time to return to Him
with trust, humility, and sincerity in prayer. It is a time to move away from
superficial prayer and develop a deeper, more personal communion with God. When
we truly pray “Our Father,” we commit ourselves to live as His
children—trusting Him completely, seeking His will, and loving and forgiving
others as He loves and forgives us. Lent calls us to rediscover the beauty of
prayer, not as an obligation, but as a loving conversation with our Father who
is always close to us.
As we reflect today, let us ask ourselves: Do I approach my
heavenly Father with filial love and trust when I pray? What is my image of God
when I stand before Him in prayer? Do I leave prayer and the Eucharist
strengthened, renewed, and filled with faith?
The prayer “Our Father who art in heaven” can
also be understood as “Our Father who is with us” and “Our Father who is close
to us.” He is not far away—He is near, loving, and always ready to receive His
children. Above all these forty days must be days of raising one's heart and
mind towards God. Lent is the time to pray more, to dialogue with God more, to
come to terms with our own selves. The holy silence and solitude, prayer and
penance suggested by this season must lead us to discover the place where we
are in our lives, the direction that we have taken and following for ourselves
(Lk 15:17-18).
Wednesday
25 March 2020 – I Week in Lent (Year A)
Mass
Readings: Jon 3:1-10 Ps 51 Lk 11:29-32
The Liturgy of the Word today brings before us
the powerful example of the repentance of the people of Nineveh and the
preaching of the Prophet Jonah. In the Gospel, Jesus expresses His
disappointment and frustration with the religious authorities who demand a sign
from Him to prove His authority. They had already heard His preaching—a message
that was deeply challenging and transformative—yet they refused to believe.
Now, instead of opening their hearts, they ask for a sign.
Jesus knew very well that even if He performed
extraordinary miracles, their hardened hearts would still refuse to believe.
They failed to recognise His presence as the moment of God’s visitation. They
refused to accept His works as the works of the Messiah. Therefore, Jesus
refers them to the example from the Old Testament, when the people of Nineveh
listened to the preaching of Jonah and repented sincerely. As Scripture tells
us: “The people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and
everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When the news reached the king of
Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with
sackcloth, and sat in ashes” (Jon 3:5–6). Their repentance was
immediate, humble, and wholehearted.
The Jews were also familiar with the story of the
Queen of the South, who came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of King
Solomon. She recognised and admired his wisdom. In the same way, the people of
Nineveh recognised the voice of God in Jonah’s preaching and converted. But
Jesus reminds them that someone greater than Jonah and greater than Solomon is
now present among them. Solomon represented wisdom, but Jesus Himself is the
fullness of divine wisdom. As Saint Paul reminds us, “the
wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Cor 3:19). Jesus
stood before them as the very presence of God, yet His Messiahship was not one
of worldly power, but of suffering and sacrifice on the Cross—a mystery the
religious leaders could not accept. As Saint Paul says, “the
message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who
are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor 1:18).
Therefore, when the people demanded a sign, Jesus
declared that the greatest sign would be His death and resurrection. This is
the ultimate sign of God’s love and the sure sign of our salvation. God gives
us many signs of His presence and love, but the Cross remains the greatest
sign. The preaching of Jesus and His healing miracles were already clear signs,
yet many refused to repent. In contrast, the people of Nineveh responded
immediately to God’s word. Seeing their sincere repentance, God showed them mercy:
“When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil
ways, God relented and did not bring upon them the destruction he had
threatened” (Jon 3:10). God always responds with mercy when He sees
sincere conversion.
Today’s readings invite us to examine the
openness of our hearts to God’s Word. Often, like the religious leaders, we may
ask God for signs, while ignoring the many ways He already speaks to us—through
Scripture, through the Cross, through the sacraments, and through daily life.
Lent is a time to imitate the people of Nineveh—to listen attentively, repent
sincerely, and return to God wholeheartedly. True conversion does not require
extraordinary signs; it requires a humble and receptive heart. When we accept
Christ, especially Christ crucified, we discover the true wisdom and power of
God. If we allow His Word to transform us, God will renew our lives with His
mercy and grace.
As we reflect today, let us ask ourselves:
What is my attitude toward the Word of God this Lent?
Do I allow God’s Word to challenge and transform my heart? Do I recognise Jesus
as the true wisdom and the sign of my salvation?
Thursday
26 February 2026 – I Week in Lent
Mass
Readings: Est 4:17k-u Ps 138 Mt 7:7-12
Prayer is one of the
essential pillars of the season of Lent. Just two days ago, we reflected on the
beautiful prayer, the “Our Father.” Jesus taught us to be sincere and authentic
in our prayer, reminding us that God already knows our needs even before we ask
Him. What is required of us is faith and trust in His loving providence. This
is the central theme of today’s Liturgy of the Word. Jesus assures us: “Ask, and it will be
given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for
you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for
everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Mt 7:7–8). The
invitation is clear—we must ask, search, and knock. What matters most is that
we begin in faith; God Himself will bring our prayer to fulfillment according
to His divine will.
In the
first reading from the Book of Esther, we encounter the beautiful and
faith-filled prayer of Queen Esther. In her moment of great distress and
helplessness, she turned to the Lord and poured out her heart before Him. She
knew that only God could save her and her people from the wicked plans of
Haman. Scripture tells us: “Then
Queen Esther, seized with deadly anxiety, fled to the Lord” (Esth
14:1). In her humility and trust, she prayed: “O my Lord, you only are our king; help
me, who am alone and have no helper but you” (Esth 14:3–4). She
sought courage, wisdom, and favor as she prepared to stand before the king. The
Lord heard her prayer and granted her favor, ultimately saving her people.
Esther’s prayer teaches us that when we turn to God with sincere faith, He strengthens
us and acts for our good.
In the
Gospel, Jesus uses the example of a loving earthly father to reveal the
goodness of our heavenly Father. If human fathers, despite their limitations,
know how to give good things to their children, how much more will our heavenly
Father give what is good to those who ask Him? As Jesus says: “If you then, who are
evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Mt 7:11).
God is a loving Father who desires only what is best for His children. He never
ignores our prayers; He answers them according to His wisdom and His perfect
plan for our salvation.
This
Lenten season invites us to deepen our trust in God through sincere and
persevering prayer. Like Queen Esther, we are called to turn to God especially
in moments of weakness, fear, and uncertainty. Lent reminds us that we are not
alone—God is our refuge and strength. We must learn to pray not only in times
of need but also with faith, surrender, and confidence in His loving care.
Sometimes God may not answer our prayers in the way we expect, but He always
gives us what is truly good for our spiritual growth and salvation. Lent is
therefore a time to renew our prayer life, to ask with faith, to seek with
humility, and to knock with perseverance, trusting that our heavenly Father
listens and responds with love.
We need
to learn to pray by looking at the prayer life of Jesus. We often talk about
prayer, study prayer, and recite our prayers, but how many of us truly and
earnestly ask God to teach us how to pray? Jesus Himself dedicated long hours
to prayer. Prayer was not an occasional activity for Jesus—it was the very
foundation of His life and mission. He began His day in communion with the
Father, as we read: “In
the morning, while it was still very dark, He got up and went out to a deserted
place, and there He prayed” (Mk 1:35). He also spent entire nights
in prayer (Lk 6:12). Frequently, Jesus withdrew from the crowds, from the
demands of His ministry, and from daily activities in order to be alone with
the Father. Jesus knew the value and necessity of prayer. It was His source of
strength, clarity, and communion. Prayer was the lifeblood of His relationship
with the Father. Truly, Jesus was a profound person of prayer. Prayer must
become not merely an activity, but a way of life—an intimate and constant
communion with God.
Friday 27
February 2026 – I Week of Lent
Mass
Readings: Ezek 18:21-28 Ps 130 Mt 5:20-26
In today’s Gospel (Mt 5:20–26), Jesus teaches us
that we must never allow anger to take root in our hearts, nor treat our
brother or sister with contempt. Jesus reveals the very heart of the Father by
emphasizing the supreme importance of fraternal love. Significantly, Jesus does
not say, “If you have something against your brother,” but rather, “If your
brother has something against you.” This means that even when we are not
directly at fault, we are called to take the initiative to restore peace and reconciliation.
As Jesus says: “So when you are offering your gift at
the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against
you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your
brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift” (Mt 5:23–24).
Jesus calls us beyond mere external observance of
the law to a deeper righteousness rooted in love, forgiveness, and
reconciliation. Anger, resentment, and hatred destroy relationships and
distance us from God. Therefore, Jesus proposes reconciliation and forgiveness
as the only true path to restoring broken relationships. This teaching is
difficult and challenging from a human perspective, but Jesus Himself has given
us the perfect example. Even while hanging on the Cross, in the midst of
immense suffering, He prayed for His persecutors: “Father, forgive them;
for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23:34).
Prayer and forgiveness are inseparable. True
prayer transforms the heart and enables us to forgive others. Hatred, revenge,
and violence can never reveal the power of love. That is why Jesus instructs us
to “leave the gift before the altar” and first seek reconciliation. In the
prayer “Our Father,” Jesus teaches us to say: “Forgive us our
trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Mt 6:12).
He makes it very clear that our willingness to forgive others is directly
connected to receiving God’s forgiveness: “For if you forgive
others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you
do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”
(Mt 6:14–15).
We cannot hold on to resentment, anger, or
grudges and still experience true communion with God in prayer. If we refuse to
forgive, we close our hearts to God’s grace. God waits patiently for us to
forgive others, because mercy is both a gift we receive and a gift we must
share. Jesus, in this teaching, establishes a new law—the law of love. He calls
us not only to avoid anger and insults but also to actively seek reconciliation
and peace.
The season of Lent is a privileged time for
reconciliation—with God and with one another. It invites us to examine our
hearts and identify any anger, resentment, or unforgiveness we may be holding.
Lent calls us to imitate Christ, who forgave even those who crucified Him. True
repentance is not complete unless it includes forgiveness of others. When we
forgive, we free our hearts and allow God’s grace to renew us. This season
encourages us to seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to restore broken relationships
in our lives. Only then can our prayer, fasting, and sacrifices become truly
pleasing to God.
As we reflect today, let us ask ourselves:
Am I willing to forgive my brother or sister from my heart?
Do I take the initiative to reconcile with others?
Do I live according to the law of love that Jesus has given me?
It is always better to forgive than to hold on to anger, for God Himself is
love, and He is the perfect example of mercy and forgiveness.
Saturday
28 February 2026- I Week in Lent
Mass
Readings: Deut 26:16-19 Ps 119 Mt 5:43-48
Today’s Gospel (Mt 5:43–48) presents the final
antithesis in the fifth chapter of Matthew: the command to love one’s enemies.
Once again, we hear the familiar formula: “You have heard that it
was said… but I say to you.” With these words, Jesus goes beyond
the Old Law and reveals the fullness of God’s law of love. The Law taught
people to love their neighbour, and many interpreted it as permitting hatred of
one’s enemies. But Jesus raises the standard to a divine level when He says: “Love
your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44). This
teaching is challenging and demanding. When we hear these words, our first
response must be prayer. We must ask Jesus for the grace to live this command
fully and implore the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts so that we may love
and forgive as Christ Himself did on the Cross.
From a human perspective, loving our enemies is
extremely difficult. Our natural tendency is to respond to injury with
resentment or retaliation. At best, we may try to ignore those who hurt us. But
Jesus calls us to go much further—not merely to avoid revenge, but to actively
love and pray for them. Our hearts cannot remain neutral. Indifference prevents
true forgiveness and healing. Therefore, Jesus points us to the example of our
heavenly Father: “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on
the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous”
(Mt 5:45). God’s love is unconditional, universal, and impartial. He does not
love selectively, but generously pours out His mercy on all. In the greatest
act of love, He gave His only Son for the salvation of sinners. We are called
to imitate the Father—not in His power or majesty—but in His goodness, mercy,
and compassion.
Jesus further challenges us by asking: “If
you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax
collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what
more are you doing than others?” (Mt 5:46–47). There is nothing
extraordinary in loving those who love us in return. Christian love goes beyond
reciprocity. It is selfless and unconditional. When we love those who cannot
repay us, we reflect the true love of God and store up treasure in heaven. This
is why Jesus concludes with the profound command: “Be perfect, therefore,
as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48). This perfection is
not about human flawlessness, but about perfection in love—loving as God loves.
The season of Lent calls us to purify our hearts
and grow in the perfection of love. It invites us to examine whether we hold
resentment, bitterness, or unforgiveness toward anyone. Lent is a time to let
go of hatred and allow God’s mercy to transform us. When we pray, fast, and do
acts of charity, we open our hearts to receive God’s grace, which enables us to
forgive and love even those who have hurt us. Loving our enemies is not
possible by our strength alone, but with God’s grace, it becomes possible. When
we forgive, we become true children of our heavenly Father and witnesses of His
love in the world.
As we reflect today, let us ask ourselves:
What effort do I make to love my enemies?
Do I treat everyone with equal love and respect, without partiality?
How does Christ’s command to love my enemies transform my thoughts, attitudes,
and actions?
May this Lenten season help us grow in the perfection of love, so that we
may truly become children of our merciful and loving Father.
Biblical insights are beautifully described and is very useful to daily learn and reflect on the scriptures.Prayers for your mission to touch and heal many lives. Amen.
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