First reading: Acts 2:14a,36–41

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.

Second reading: 1 Pe. 2:20b–25

Beloved: If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.

When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Gospel: Jn. 10:1–10

Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

In other words

Fr. Bar Fabella, SVD (Santa Catalina Parish, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro)

In Sta. Catalina Parish, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, my new parish assignment, I am genuinely inspired by a group of young professionals who dedicate their Sundays to teaching young children about the Catholic faith through biblical stories. They refer to these children as “Mga Munting Alagad ni Kristo” (MAK) (roughly, Little Servants of Christ). This commitment requires them to sacrifice time for lesson preparation each week.

These young professionals are former members of the parish’s youth ministry. Although their careers now demand more of their time, they volunteer at a new level, different from their teenage years when they had more availability. Their involvement has deepened their understanding of Jesus, evolving from the basic catechism they received in elementary school to their active roles in the youth ministry, and now as young leaders in the community.

It’s commendable how they maintain the same enthusiasm. Just as Jesus knows His sheep, I hope the example set by these young professionals encourages others to deepen their knowledge of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and to cultivate intimacy in their faith journey toward abundant life within the safety of His care.

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Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him. But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. For David says of him: I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.

“My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption. God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured him forth, as you see and hear.”

Second reading: 1 Pe. 1:17–21

Beloved: If you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb.

He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Gospel: Lk. 24:13–35

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?”

They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.”

And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.

As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”

So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

In other words

Fr. Sisoy Cellan, SVD (Nuestra Senora de los Remedios Parish, Zamboanga Sibugay)

In 2003, I, together with a confrere, embarked on a 285-km journey by bicycle from Nairobi, Kenya, to Arusha, Tanzania. With no escort vehicle, we pedaled our bikes loaded with personal items, tools, and food supplies. At times we looked like two lonesome figures winding through endless valleys and sparsely populated terrain. At other times, we cut an image of lost explorers wandering in the heat of the African sun. It took us two days to cover the distance. Amateur and untrained cyclists that we were, we had to rely on our wits and grits. We did it again the following year when we made a reverse ride (Arusha to Nairobi) in 2004. After accomplishing the twin feats, I realized the near-impossibility of it all. Regardless, reaching the destination was just my way to a goal, for the goal was to become a strong cyclist.

There is another journey in today’s Gospel. Two disciples of the Lord were walking towards Emmaus, discussing the recent events. Luke tells us that their faces were downcast when someone else walked with them and joined their conversation. They did not recognize the Lord right away. Only after they sat at table and broke bread with Him were their eyes opened.

We go through different journeys in life with predetermined purposes. Some journeys are intended for us to see places for the first time, encounter another culture, or meet new friends. Other journeys are meant to stimulate our minds or invigorate our weary bodies. At other times, we go on a journey to travel back in time, revisit familiar sights, and rekindle memories. Regardless of purpose, a journey can be two-directional: outward and inward Initially, the journey of the two disciples from Jerusalem to Emmaus and back was about creating a physical distance between the location of a horrible incident they just witnessed and where they thought it would be a place of refuge. Feeling lost and dejected, they decided to leave Jerusalem. In their darkest hour, the Lord manifested his presence to them, slowly restoring their hope and faith in him.

A seven-year-old boy said to his friend, “You know, I’ve already saved up ten dollars. Instead of riding the bus to school, I ran after it.” “You could have saved more had you run after a taxi,” the friend retorted.

The value and worth of our journeys could not be measured by their financial or even physical cost alone. Those who travel great distances just to visit their ailing loved ones understand this. Hence, the whole point of a journey is not the journey itself, not even the destination, but what becomes of us and what it does to us.

The disciples’ walk to Emmaus was a walk of encountering the Lord. Happenstance or by design, may our journeys, too, lead us to a more sublime encounter with God, an encounter that restores our hope, deepens our faith, and strengthens our commitment to the Lord.

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They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Second reading: 1 Pe. 1:3–9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Gospel: Jn. 20:19–31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

In other words

Fr. Marion Bobier Vargas, SVD (Madrid, Spain)

I often meet people living behind their own versions of locked doors. Some are like the disciples in the Gospel, afraid and uncertain, waiting for something to break through their fear. Others, like Thomas, hesitate, wanting proof before fully embracing faith. Jesus’ words to Thomas—“Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed”— remind us that faith is not about having all the answers but about trusting in His presence even when it’s hard to see.

I see these locked doors in different forms in Europe, particularly in Spain. Many people, especially the youth, are caught in a world of distraction, looking for meaning in fleeting pleasures rather than in Christ’s eternal promise. Secularism often leaves a spiritual emptiness where faith feels outdated or irrelevant. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the locked doors take on more complex forms. The unceasing growth of economic poverty traps families in cycles of struggle, and political affiliations often keep leaders locked in their selfish and greedy interests. These locked doors reflect systems that prioritize personal gain over the common good, leaving many yearning for justice and renewal. Yet, in both Spain and the Philippines, Jesus’ words echo: “Peace be with you.” His peace enters through fear, doubt, and division, offering hope and transformation.

Thomas’ encounter with Jesus is striking. When he touched the open wounds, he didn’t just find proof but a deeper understanding of Jesus as the Risen Lord. In Spain, the wounds are often spiritual—loneliness, disconnection, and a loss of shared faith. In the Philippines, they are visible—poverty, natural disasters, and inequality. Yet, Christ’s wounds remind us that pain can be transformed into redemption and that healing and hope are always possible in His presence.

I cannot help but think of the people in Acts, laying their sick on cots and mats, desperate for healing, trusting even in the passing shadow of Peter. This scene feels so alive to me today. In Spain, I see these cots and mats in the hearts of those yearning for emotional and spiritual healing—people searching for purpose, for peace, for something that can fill the emptiness they carry. In the Philippines, I see these cots and mats in overcrowded hospital rooms, in the aftermath of typhoons, where families cling to their faith as their only source of strength in unimaginable struggles. In both places, I am reminded of Christ’s presence in those moments of vulnerability. His healing power is still at work, offering not just relief but a renewal of life. Through the hands of His Church, through the faith of His people, Jesus whispers His eternal message: “Peace be with you.”

When Jesus said, “Peace be with you,” He didn’t stop there. He breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This breath is the breath of life, courage, and mission. It empowers us to go beyond our fears and doubts, unlock the doors of our hearts, and become witnesses of His peace and presence in the world. Whether in Spain, the Philippines, or anywhere else, this Spirit transforms fear into faith, calling us to believe and share His life-giving message with others. Blessed are we who receive and believe!

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Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Second reading: Col. 3:1–4

Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Gospel: Jn. 20:1–9

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

In other words

Fr. Jose H. P. Mateo, SVD (Paraguay)

Today we celebrate EASTER SUNDAY! Jesus Christ is risen today! Alleluia! Praise the Lord! Amen! With great joy we celebrate Easter for these reasons:

One reason is that the Resurrection of Jesus is the solid foundation of our faith. This is the teaching of the Catholic Church: “The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ, a faith believed and lived as the central truth by the first Christian community; handed on as fundamental by Tradition; established by the documents of the New Testament; and preached as an essential part of the Paschal mystery along with the cross” (CCC 638). It is a historical event verified by the sign of the empty tomb. It also transcends history and remains a mystery of our faith. The resurrection is a work of God and proves that Jesus is the Son of God. “If Christ has not been raised, then empty is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; but now Christ has been raised from the dead” (1 Cor. 15:14–20). Exult! Be glad! Rejoice! He is risen indeed, alleluia!

Moreover, the Resurrection of Jesus is the wellspring of our hope. The First Preface for Masses for the Dead beautifully expresses our hope for life eternal: “In Him, the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned, that those saddened by the certainty of dying might be consoled by the promise of immortality to come. Indeed, life is changed, not ended, and when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made for them in heaven.” Easter is the certainty of our immortality. Easter is the assurance of our own resurrection. “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live” (Jn. 11:25).

As a final thought, the Resurrection of Jesus is the basis of our charity. Before Jesus died, He spoke to His disciples about the commandment of love. Jesus made it clear to them that they must continue His work by observing His command to love one another. Love is the foundation of our discipleship and the only motivation for our mission. “By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn. 13:35). The Risen Christ is now seated at the right hand of God the Father in heaven, but here on earth, God’s love must be sown everywhere, and God’s mission must truly be our own.

Happy Easter! May God bless you always!

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The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.

The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.

Second reading: Phil. 2:6–11

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel: Mt. 26:14–27,66

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”’” The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Then Jesus said to them, “This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed; but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him in reply, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.” Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And all the disciples spoke likewise.

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!” Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the people. His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him.” Immediately he went over to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and he kissed him. Jesus answered him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesus put his hand to his sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?” At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me. But all this has come to pass that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Peter was following him at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard, and going inside he sat down with the servants to see the outcome. The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward who stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God and within three days rebuild it.’” The high priest rose and addressed him, “Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I order you to tell us under oath before the living God whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “You have said so. But I tell you: From now on you will see ‘the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power’ and ‘coming on the clouds of heaven.’” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need have we of witnesses? You have now heard the blasphemy; what is your opinion?” They said in reply, “He deserves to die!” Then they spat in his face and struck him, while some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy for us, Christ: who is it that struck you?”

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about!” As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away.” At that he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly.

When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? Look to it yourself.” Flinging the money into the temple, he departed and went off and hanged himself. The chief priests gathered up the money, but said, “It is not lawful to deposit this in the temple treasury, for it is the price of blood.” After consultation, they used it to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of a man with a price on his head, a price set by some of the Israelites, and they paid it out for the potter’s field just as the Lord had commanded me.

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” But he did not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed him over. While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him.” The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus. The governor said to them in reply, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They answered, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” But he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. Look to it yourselves.” And the whole people said in reply, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him.

As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross.

And when they came to a place called Golgotha—which means Place of the Skull—they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink. After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And they placed over his head the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross!” Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.

From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “This one is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink. But the rest said, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.” But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit.

And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!” There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the tomb.

The next day, the one following the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember that this impostor while still alive said, ‘After three days I will be raised up.’ Give orders, then, that the grave be secured until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ This last imposture would be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “The guard is yours; go, secure it as best you can.” So they went and secured the tomb by fixing a seal to the stone and setting the guard.

In other words

Fr. Raul Caga, SVD (Sacred Heart Parish Shrine, Kamuning, Quezon City)

Palm Sunday opens the holiest of weeks in the year, during which we, as Catholic Christians, meditate on the significance of Christ suffering and death on the cross for our redemption. This year, our meditation centers on the infamous role of Judas Iscariot, which led to Jesus’ persecution.

“The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”

These are the harsh words of Jesus pointed at Judas Iscariot as he was agonizing over his impending death. More than words of prediction of the fate that awaited Jesus, they described the act of betrayal that Judas willingly carried out, using his complete freedom and knowledge, at the price of thirty pieces of silver. The hefty money at the time was only a consequence of a disciple who followed Jesus throughout his public ministry but never was transformed deep down.

Judas Iscariot’s story is very much everyone’s story.

We profess to follow Jesus, but we are not transformed deep down after all these years. 

We claim to follow Jesus but only to pretend we are convinced of the truth of his teachings.

We appear to follow Jesus but betray him countless times in minor and serious matters.

Our insincerity in following Jesus is not only a betrayal; it also slowly but effectively diminishes the significance and merits of the liberating sacrifice of Christ for humanity.

This Holy Week, let us once again retrace the path of the cross and the sufferings of Jesus with genuine sorrow in our hearts, purge ourselves of Judas Iscariot’s insincere character, and be transformed deep inside.

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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.

Second reading: Rom. 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.

Gospel: Jn. 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.

In other words

Fr. Raymun J. Festin, SVD (Christ the King Mission Seminary, Quezon City)

Our Lord Jesus Christ often uses striking metaphors to characterize His person and mission. “I am the Bread of Life,” “I am the Light of the world,” “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” “I am the Vine,” and “I am the Good Shepherd.” In the Gospel today, He claims with force and conviction, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

These are extraordinarily bold assertions that no mortal of good sense will ever dare to pronounce. Only Jesus can make such profound self-referential identifications. (There is this deluded cult leader who declared himself to be the “appointed son of God.” No one in his/her right mind believed him because he is a fool and a fraud.)

We have to note here that Jesus’ use of the expression “I Am” is reminiscent of Yahweh’s cryptic self-disclosure to Moses on Mt. Sinai: “I Am Who Am.” Whenever Jesus employs the phrase “I Am,” He refers to His divinity and Godship—and rightly so, for He is the Son of God.

Curiously, the term Resurrection comes before the word Life in the epithet “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” Perhaps the explanation for this lies in Jesus’ succeeding words right after He expressed the Resurrection-and-Life metaphor: “[W]hoever believes in [M]e, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in [M]e will never die.”

The term Life in Jesus’ locution refers to eternal life—not terrestrial life. For, as mortals, we shall all die someday—physical death being our common lot. But physical or biological annihilation is not the conclusion or termination of our human existence.

Our Christian faith teaches that there is a Resurrection and eternal Life. We believe “in the forgiveness of sins, the Resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.” Now, resurrection and eternal life are not some future events or abstract external reality. They are embodied or enfleshed in the very Person of the Incarnate Word.

And this is precisely the point of Jesus’ metaphor. He is, factually, the Resurrection and Life personified.

The metaphor “I am the Resurrection and the Life” must be juxtaposed and understood alongside another locution of Jesus: “I am the Bread of Life.” In John 6:51, Jesus says, “I am the living Bread which came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he shall live forever. And the Bread I will give is my flesh…”

In the Holy Eucharist, we do not only eat the Bread of Life—that is, literally—but also eat the Resurrection and the Life—Jesus Christ Himself, the One who “dwells in unapproachable light,” the One who, by His Word, “holds things together.”

In the Gospel, Jesus asks Martha, “Do you believe this?” Martha’s answer is: “Yes, Lord…”

May we also answer Jesus question with sincere and deliberate affirmation. “Yes, Lord, I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

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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.

Second reading: Eph. 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.”

Gospel: Jn. 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 neighbors 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.”

In other words

Fr. Edwin Fernandez, SVD (Divine Word College of Urdaneta, Pangasinan)

Many years ago, a person who got sick with cancer questioned God why He allowed him to suffer such illness. He (the sick person) was sure that he had not committed any grave sin to deserve what he was going through.

In our Gospel reading today, Jesus rejects the widespread belief that sin was the cause of the man’s blindness. He instead states the purpose for which the man was born blind: so that the works of God might be made visible through him.

Jesus calls us to a different way of looking at things. Jesus turns the misfortune of man’s blindness into an opportunity to reveal the glory of God and manifest His great goodness and love. He heals the blind man, courageously doing it even on a Sabbath.

In the Gospel, it is essential to note the difference between the blind man and the Pharisees. While the healed blind man was growing in faith toward Jesus, worshipping Him as Lord in the end, the Pharisees obstinately rejected Jesus as coming from God for having violated the law of the Sabbath. They could not see the presence of goodness in Jesus’ act of healing.

The blindness of the Pharisees, which is spiritual in nature, is far worse than a physical one. It cannot be healed unless there is humility and openness on their part to listen to Jesus and to be awed by the unfathomable mystery of God. Sadly, they chose to be misled by their pride, arrogance, and attachment to power, fame, and wealth. They judged by appearance and could not look deeply into a person’s heart (First Reading).

The healed blind man, however, was bold enough to stand for the truth and endure its consequences from unjust religious authorities. He chose to be a light no matter what, and exposed the blindness of the Pharisees and the darkness in their hearts.

In the story of this blind man whom Jesus healed, we can see how God reveals His glory in our own misfortunes and leads us to a new life of faith and goodness, to the light of truth that sets us free.

As we continue our Lenten journey, let us humbly ask the Lord to heal us of our physical infirmities and spiritual illnesses, which hinder us from being light to others and sowers of hope in our dark and deeply wounded world.

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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?”

Second reading: Rom. 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.

Gospel: Jn. 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 savior of the world.”

In other words

Fr. Simon Boiser, SVD (Berlin, Germany)

Maria, a Filipino migrant in Germany, struggled with homesickness and exhaustion. Working as a caregiver, she spent her days isolated, sending money back home while longing for something more profound. One cold winter evening, she sat alone in her apartment, staring at a picture of her children. The weight of loneliness pressed heavily on her heart. Maria whispered a prayer, asking, “Lord, is this all there is? Where can I find joy again?” With renewed hope, she realized that God was with her, even in her struggles.

Maria’s experience is shared by many migrants who sacrifice for their families, yet yearn for fulfillment. This theme is highlighted in today’s Gospel, where Jesus offers the Samaritan woman “living water” at the well. Tired from His journey, Jesus engages her in conversation and reveals that the genuine thirst she experiences is spiritual, not physical. Jesus offers her the water that quenches the soul, something that lasts forever. She is transformed, leaving her water jar behind and becoming a witness to others in her village.

Jesus’ offer of living water is mirrored by the words of St. Augustine: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Just as the Samaritan woman’s heart was restless until she encountered Christ, our hearts, too, long for something more than what the world offers. True fulfillment is found in Jesus alone.

In the First Reading from Exodus, the Israelites are in the desert, complaining about their lack of water. In their frustration, they question whether God is truly with them. But God provides by instructing Moses to strike a rock, from which water flows. This shows that even in the desert, God provides for His people. St. John Chrysostom reminds us, “No one who hopes in God will ever be disappointed.” God’s provision is always faithful, even in our times of dryness.

The Second Reading from Romans emphasizes God’s unconditional love. St. Paul tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. His sacrifice reconciles us to God and pours His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. This reminds us that our true home is in God’s love, which fills us even amid life’s challenges.

Filipinos abroad face loneliness and hardship, feeling as though they are wandering in a desert. Yet, Jesus offers us the living water of His love, which renews and sustains us. This Lenten season, we are invited to seek a deeper encounter with Christ through prayer, reflection, and the sacraments, just as the Samaritan woman did.

Maria eventually found peace through her church community. Surrounded by others who shared her faith, she experienced the living water of God’s love. By sharing God’s love with others, we can become channels of His living water. As we journey through Lent, let us seek Christ, the source of living water, and share His love with those around us. In Him, our thirst is quenched, and our hearts find peace.

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First reading: Gen. 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.

Second reading: 2 Tim. 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 savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Gospel: Mt. 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.”

In other words

Fr. Roger Bag-ao, SVD (University of San Carlos, Cebu City)

Today is Migrant’s Sunday, which is dedicated to all migrants all over the world. People migrate for many reasons: poverty, persecution, exclusion, occupation, or mission assignment. The degree of challenges the migrants face varies depending on the situation and circumstance.

In the First Reading, when Abraham was told to migrate, God promised him abundant blessings. Indeed, not without difficulty, Abraham got this promise of blessings in due time. Several migrants, like some Filipino migrant workers, were not able to obtain the promised blessings from their respective employers, for at the very start, they were trafficked and swindled.

Migration is a natural phenomenon. As part of growth, we are forced to migrate from the old life to the new life, from the old program to the new program, from old knowledge to new knowledge, etc. Sometimes, we resist this natural phenomenon, for it entails a lot of discomfort and uncertainties. But even with our discomfort, we cannot follow the call for change.

The Gospel for today is a fitting guide and inspiration for dealing with our migration experiences in personal and communal living. In the Transfiguration, Jesus showed His disciples the glory they had to expect after His passion and death. The horrible but necessary journey has to happen in view of the coming glory. As we dedicate our prayers this Sunday for migrants, let us pray that they will be strengthened with the hope of transformation in their present struggles and ordeals.

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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.

Second reading: Rom. 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.

Gospel: Mt. 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.

In other words

Fr. Lino E. Nicasio, SVD (Villa Cristo Rey, Christ the King Mission Seminary, Quezon City)

The author Oscar Wilde has this to say about temptation: “The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.” That is, of course, the sinful and cowardly act to deal with the thing, contrary to the Gospel’s message.

First, temptation is part of life. Satan’s task is to lead us to sin, including Jesus, the Son of God. It should be noted that temptation is strongest when we are physically and spiritually weakest; more prayers then are needed and less stress in our daily living.

Second, we are to fight Satan’s wiles by the grace of God: “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Together with prayer, we use as weapon God’s Word, as Jesus did in the Gospel. We do well, therefore, to have Bible verses ready at hand to hurl at Satan even as he tempts us.

Third, God is with us in every temptation to back us up as we, by His grace, fight Satan: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

Lastly, as we pray in the Act of Contrition: “to avoid sin and the near occasions of sin,” we will identify and avoid such danger areas. And remember, just as Jesus Christ triumphed over Satan and his temptations, so will we, by God’s grace, mercy, and strength.

Thus, the way to rid ourselves of temptation is not to yield to it but to fight it by the grace of God.

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