The Gospel of April 1st of 2020 according to Saint John Chapter 8 Verses 31 to 42 - Lenten Weekday

True Disciples of Jesus

"31.Therefore, Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him:

“If you will abide in my word, you will truly be my disciples. 32.And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”

33.They answered him:

“We are the offspring of Abraham, and we have never been a slave to anyone. How can you say, ‘You shall be set free?’ ”

34.Jesus answered them:

“Amen, amen, I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35.Now the slave does not abide in the house for eternity. Yet the Son does abide in eternity. 36.Therefore, if the Son has set you free, then you will truly be free. 37.I know that you are sons of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill me, because my word has not taken hold in you. 38.I speak what I have seen with my Father. And you do what you have seen with your father.”

39.They responded and said to him,

“Abraham is our father.”

Jesus said to them:

“If you are the sons of Abraham, then do the works of Abraham. 40.But now you are seeking to kill me, a man who has spoken the truth to you, which I have heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41.You do the works of your father.”

Therefore, they said to him:

“We were not born out of fornication. We have one father: God.”

42.Then Jesus said to them:

“If God were your father, certainly you would love me. For I proceeded and came from God. For I did not come from myself, but he sent me."

The Holy Gospel

Highlights

God Bless Us

Sources

Catholic Public Domain Version

The didache Bible, Ignatius Bible Edition, 2015, Ignatius Press

La Bible Expliquée, 2004, Société Biblique française

Bíblia Sagrada, Edição Pastoral, 2007, Editora Paulus

2020 Apr 1 Wed: Lenten Weekday Jn 8: 31-42

Check with USCCB

The Gospel of March 31th of 2020 according to Saint John Chapter 8 Verses 21 to 30 - Lenten Weekday

Jesus Alludes to His Death

"21.Therefore, Jesus again spoke to them:

“I am going, and you shall seek me. And you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you are not able to go.”

22.And so the Jews said,

“Is he going to kill himself, for he said: ‘Where I am going, you are not able to go?’ ”

23.And he said to them:

“You are from below. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world. 24.Therefore, I said to you, that you will die in your sins. For if you will not believe that I am, you will die in your sin.”

25.And so they said to him,

“Who are you?”

Jesus said to them:

“The Beginning, who is also speaking to you. 26.I have much to say about you and to judge. But he who sent me is true. And what I have heard from him, this I speak within the world.”

27.And they did not realize that he was calling God his Father.

28.And so Jesus said to them:

“When you will have lifted up the Son of man, then you shall realize that I am, and that I do nothing of myself, but just as the Father has taught me, so do I speak. 29.And he who sent me is with me, and he has not abandoned me alone. For I always do what is pleasing to him.”

30.As he was speaking these things, many believed in him. 31.Therefore, Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him:

“If you will abide in my word, you will truly be my disciples."

The Holy Gospel

Highlights

As the time of the crucifixion comes, Jesus speaks more openly about this moment.

And, as the moment when he is crucified approaches, the Son of God presents the final judgment to the humans. We have our choices, and we are the ones responsible for seeking or not seek the divine teachings of Christ.

God Bless Us

Sources

Catholic Public Domain Version

The didache Bible, Ignatius Bible Edition, 2015, Ignatius Press

La Bible Expliquée, 2004, Société Biblique française

Bíblia Sagrada, Edição Pastoral, 2007, Editora Paulus

A woman who had been caught in adultery

The Gospel of March 30th of 2020 according to Saint John Chapter 8 Verses 1 to 11 - Lenten Weekday

"1.But Jesus continued on to the Mount of Olives. 2.And early in the morning, he went again to the temple; and all the people came to him. And sitting down, he taught them.

3.Now the scribes and Pharisees brought forward a woman caught in adultery, and they stood her in front of them. 4.And they said to him:

“Teacher, this woman was just now caught in adultery. 5.And in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such a one. Therefore, what do you say?”

6.But they were saying this to test him, so that they might be able to accuse him.

Then Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the earth. 7.And then, when they persevered in questioning him, he stood upright and said to them,

“Let whoever is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”

8.And bending down again, he wrote on the earth.

9.But upon hearing this, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, with the woman standing in front of him.

10.Then Jesus, raising himself up, said to her:

“Woman, where are those who accused you? Has no one condemned you?”

11.And she said,

“No one, Lord.”

Then Jesus said:

“Neither will I condemn you. Go, and now do not choose to sin anymore.”"

The Holy Gospel

Highlights

God forgives the one who is in repentance and looks for an amendment.

The accusers should look to be merciful to the woman and not try to kill her under stones.

It is relevant at the say of Christ, do not choose to sin anymore. God doesn’t accept sin; Our Father recognizes repentance and reconciliation.

God Bless Us

Sources

Catholic Public Domain Version

The didache Bible, Ignatius Bible Edition, 2015, Ignatius Press

La Bible Expliquée, 2004, Société Biblique française

Bíblia Sagrada, Edição Pastoral, 2007, Editora Paulus

The Gospel Saint John Chapter 11 Verses 1 to 45 - Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life - March 29th of 2020 the FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life

"1.Now there was a certain sick man, Lazarus of Bethania, from the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2.And Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was sick. 3.Therefore, his sisters sent to him, saying: “Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick.” 4.Then, upon hearing this, Jesus §said to them: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” 5.Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister Mary, and Lazarus. 6.Even so, after he heard that he was sick, he then still remained in the same place for two days. 7.Then, after these things, he said to his disciples, “Let us go into Judea again.” 8.The disciples said to him: “Rabbi, the Jews are even now seeking to stone you. And would you go there again?” 9.Jesus responded: “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the daylight, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10.But if he walks in the nighttime, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11.He said these things, and after this, he said to them: “Lazarus our friend is sleeping. But I am going, so that I may awaken him from sleep.” ...

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OUXyvljKnnN9hXlTWfFw67zYJf50uk0_wey5S_VTsgw

The Division among the People and The Unbelief of Those in Authority - with Highlights

The Gospel of March 28th of 2020 according to Saint John Chapter 7 Verses 40 to 53 - Lenten Weekday

"40.Therefore, some from that crowd, when they had heard these words of his, were saying, “This one truly is the Prophet.” 41.Others were saying, “He is the Christ.” Yet certain ones were saying: “Does the Christ come from Galilee? 42.Does Scripture not say that the Christ comes from the offspring of David and from Bethlehem, the town where David was?” 43.And so there arose a dissension among the multitude because of him. 44.Now certain ones among them wanted to apprehended him, but no one laid hands upon him. 45.Therefore, the attendants went to the high priests and the Pharisees. And they said to them, “Why have you not brought him?” 46.The attendants responded, “Never has a man spoken like this man.” 47.And so the Pharisees answered them: “Have you also been seduced? 48.Have any of the leaders believed in him, or any of the Pharisees? 49.But this crowd, which does not know the law, they are accursed.” 50.Nicodemus, the one who came to him by night and who was one of them, said to them, 51.“Does our law judge a man, unless it has first heard him and has known what he has done?” 52.They responded and said to him: “Are you also a Galilean? Study the Scriptures, and see that a prophet does not arise from Galilee.” 53.And each one returned to his own house."

The Holy Gospel

Highlights

This passage is straightforward about the division of the people. The Jews were divided between the ones who believed in Jesus Christ, in his teachings, in his act, and in his divine mission. And the other that considered him a blasphemer or something else than him as the Son of God.

The Old Testament had taught that the new Messiah would come from Bethlehem. And most of the people did not know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. And Bethlehem Was the city of King David. Also, Christ was a descendant of David. The Old Scriptures had predicted all of these.

The holiness of Christ, by this point, was a public fact, the public debate about it was established and the powerful needed to deal with it. Even among the strong ones, there were some who believed in Jesus, like Nicodemus, who helped the Son of God.

God Bless Us

Sources

Catholic Public Domain Version

The didache Bible, Ignatius Bible Edition, 2015, Ignatius Press

La Bible Expliquée, 2004, Société Biblique française

Bíblia Sagrada, Edição Pastoral, 2007, Editora Paulus

Is This the Christ

The Gospel according to Saint John Chapter 7 Verses 1-2, 10 and 25 to 30 - Lenten Weekday. Day of abstinence from meat - March 27th of 2020

Is This the Christ

"1.Then, after these things, Jesus was walking in Galilee. For he was not willing to walk in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2.Now the feast day of the Jews, the Feast of Tabernacles, was near.

10.But after his brothers went up, then he also went up to the feast day, not openly, but as if in secret.

25.Therefore, some of those from Jerusalem said: “Is he not the one whom they are seeking to kill? 26.And behold, he is speaking openly, and they say nothing to him. Could the leaders have decided that it is true this one is the Christ? 27.But we know him and where he is from. And when the Christ has arrived, no one will know where he is from.” 28.Therefore, Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying: “You know me, and you also know where I am from. And I have not arrived of myself, but he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29.I know him. For I am from him, and he has sent me.” 30.Therefore, they were seeking to apprehend him, and yet no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come."

The Holy Gospel

Highlights

Jesus completed the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the promised Messiah.

But the people of the crowd were not open-eyed to his divine mission. They didn’t understand the deep of his acts and teachings.

For some, he was the Messiah, for other a prophet, or for other ones a blasphemer.

The place of birth of Jesus may be one of the causes of this mixture perception. The Son of God was born in Bethlehem, the same city where King David was born and the city where the new king of Israel would come from.

But Jesus grew up in Nazareth, not in Bethlehem. So, many thought that he was from Nazareth, not the city of King David.

It is nice to see that some Jews already believed in Jesus Holiness at that time.

God Bless Us

Sources

Catholic Public Domain Version

The didache Bible, Ignatius Bible Edition, 2015, Ignatius Press

La Bible Expliquée, 2004, Société Biblique française

Bíblia Sagrada, Edição Pastoral, 2007, Editora Paulus

The Testimony to Jesus

The Gospel according to Saint John Chapter 5 Verses 31 to 47 - Lenten Weekday - March 26th of 2020

The Testimony to Jesus

"31.If I offer testimony about myself, my testimony is not true. 32.There is another who offers testimony about me, and I know that the testimony which he offers about me is true. 33.You sent to John, and he offered testimony to the truth. 34.But I do not accept testimony from man. Instead, I say these things, so that you may be saved. 35.He was a burning and shining light. So you were willing, at the time, to exult in his light. 36.But I hold a greater testimony than that of John. For the works which the Father has given to me, so that I may complete them, these works themselves that I do, offer testimony about me: that the Father has sent me. 37.And the Father who has sent me has himself offered testimony about me. And you have never heard his voice, nor have you beheld his appearance. 38.And you do not have his word abiding in you. For the one whom he sent, the same you would not believe. 39.Study the Scriptures. For you think that in them you have eternal life. And yet they also offer testimony about me. 40.And you are not willing to come to me, so that you may have life. 41.I do not accept glory from men. 42.But I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you. 43.I have come in the name of my Father, and you do not accept me. If another will arrive in his own name, him you will accept. 44.How are you able to believe, you who accept glory from one another and yet do not seek the glory that is from God alone? 45.Do not consider that I might accuse you with the Father. There is one who accuses you, Moses, in whom you hope. 46.For if you were believing in Moses, perhaps you would believe in me also. For he wrote about me. 47.But if you do not believe by his writings, how will you believe by my words?”"

The Holy Gospel

Highlights

Jesus Christ was questioned by some teachers of the Laws of the Old Testament, and the Son of God responded with rabbinical arguments.

He was accused of violating the Sabbath rest rule. He defended himself, arguing that he did not offend the sabbath rest. This law was not violated when you are serving God or your neighbor.

Under the Law of Moses, just one testimony was not enough to prove something; it was necessary two or more testimonies to your side be accepted by a judge.

So, Jesus presented three proofs:

His acts,

John Baptist’s testimonial,

and The scriptures that were announcing what Jesus was doing.

With these three proofs, like said before, Jesus answered to his accusers of violating the sabbath with rabbinical arguments.

God Bless Us

Sources

Catholic Public Domain Version

The didache Bible, Ignatius Bible Edition, 2015, Ignatius Press

La Bible Expliquée, 2004, Société Biblique française

Bíblia Sagrada, Edição Pastoral, 2007, Editora Paulus

“The Birth of Jesus Foretold”

The Gospel of March 25th of 2020 according to Saint Luke Chapter 1 Verses 26 to 38 - ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD S

"28.And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” 29.And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be. 30.And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God. 31.Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS. 32.He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity. 33.And his kingdom shall have no end.” 34.Then Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?” 35.And in response, the Angel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God. 36.And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has herself also conceived a son, in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her who is called barren. 37.For no word will be impossible with God.” 38.Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the Angel departed from her."

The Holy Gospel

Highlights

In this passage, among other teachings, we can have a special look to Mary's role in the work of God in giving us our Savior.

In parallel to the divine work in the immaculate conception, we can see the free consent of Mary. We see her choice when she says, "Let it be done". Mary had the will to become the Mother of Jesus. She turned the salvation for herself and for all humanity.

In The Annunciation, Angel Gabriel praises her condition of being full of grace, she is the perfect body, without the Original Sin. The Son of God was conceived as a human being throughout the labor of the Holy Spirit.

The Annunciation is the initial of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. The other Mysteries are The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Presentation of our Lord, and The finding of Jesus in the Temple.

God Bless Us

Sources

Catholic Public Domain Version

The didache Bible, Ignatius Bible Edition, 2015, Ignatius Press

La Bible Expliquée, 2004, Société Biblique française

Bíblia Sagrada, Edição Pastoral, 2007, Editora Paulus

The Gospel Saint John Chapter 5 Verses1 to 16 with Highlights - March 24th of 2020 Lenten Weekday

"1.After these things, there was a feast day of the Jews, and so Jesus ascended to Jerusalem. 2.Now at Jerusalem is the Pool of Evidence, which in Hebrew is known as the Place of Mercy; it has five porticos. 3.Along these lay a great multitude of the sick, the blind, the lame, and the withered, waiting for the movement of the water. 4.Now at times an Angel of the Lord would descend into the pool, and so the water was moved. And whoever descended first into the pool, after the motion of the water, he was healed of whatever infirmity held him. 5.And there was a certain man in that place, having been in his infirmity for thirty-eight years. 6.Then, when Jesus had seen him reclining, and when he realized that he had been afflicted for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7.The invalid answered him: “Lord, I do not have any man to put me in the pool, when the water has been stirred. For as I am going, another descends ahead of me.” 8.Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your stretcher, and walk.” 9.And immediately the man was healed. And he took up his stretcher and walked. Now this day was the Sabbath. 10.Therefore, the Jews said to the one who had been healed: “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to take up your stretcher.” 11.He answered them, “The one who healed me, he said to me, ‘Take up your stretcher and walk.’ ” 12.Therefore, they questioned him, “Who is that man, who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk?’ ” 13.But the one who had been given health did not know who it was. For Jesus had turned aside from the crowd gathered in that place. 14.Afterwards, Jesus found him in the temple, and he said to him: “Behold, you have been healed. Do not choose to sin further, otherwise something worse may happen to you.” 15.This man went away, and he reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had given him health."

The Holy Gospel

Highlights

We can learn that Christ is above the Sabbath. The life of everyone is above the laws for Jesus when he heals someone in the Sabbath.

Our lord offered healing without being asked for. But Jesus told the healed: do not choose sin.

This passage shows us Jesus acting with the authority of God, the power over illness, and sin.

Just some Jews did not see Jesus as God made man and consider him just a blasphemer. We have to remember that not all Jews, not all Pharisees, were against the divinity of Christ, the Jews as a whole are not sinners. They were like every human, imperfect, fallible.

Paragraph 1505 of Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that:

"(Christ) healings were signs of the coming of the Kingdom of God. They announced a more radical healing: the victory over sin and death through his Passover. On the cross Christ took upon himself the whole weight of evil and took away the "sin of the world,". of which illness is only a consequence. By his Passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion."

God Bless Us

The Gospel of March 23th of 2020 according to Saint John Chapter 4 Verses 43 to 54 - Lenten Weekday -

"43.Then, after two days, he departed from there, and he traveled into Galilee. 44.For Jesus himself offered testimony that a Prophet has no honor in his own country. 45.And so, when he had arrived in Galilee, the Galileans received him, because they had seen all that he had done at Jerusalem, in the day of the feast. For they also went to the feast day. 46.Then he went again into Cana of Galilee, where he made water into wine. And there was a certain ruler, whose son was sick at Capernaum. 47.Since he had heard that Jesus came to Galilee from Judea, he sent to him and begged him to come down and heal his son. For he was beginning to die. 48.Therefore, Jesus said to him, “Unless you have seen signs and wonders, you do not believe.” 49.The ruler said to him, “Lord, come down before my son dies.” 50.Jesus said to him, “Go, your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and so he went away. 51.Then, as he was going down, his servants met him. And they reported to him, saying that his son was alive. 52.Therefore, he asked them at which hour he had become better. And they said to him, “Yesterday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him.” 53.Then the father realized that it was at the same hour that Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And both he and his entire household believed. 54.This next sign was the second that Jesus accomplished, after he had arrived in Galilee from Judea."

The Holy Gospel

Highlights

The Gospel of today tells us about believing in the Word of Christ.

Everyone can believe, the ruler was a pagan officer with faith in the holy Word only. He did not have to see the cure of his son to trust in the holiness of the Son of God. The Word was more than enough.

The sick son also is a sign of the power of the resurrection of Jesus.

Christ prays for us, and we should believe in him,

St. Augustine teaches three dimensions of his prayer: "He prays for us as our priest, prays in us as our Head, and is prayed to by us as our God. Therefore let us acknowledge our voice in him and his in us.

God Bless Us