First Week of Lent

Deut. 26:16-19 & Mt. 5:43-48

Ez. 1 8:21-28 & Mt. 5:20-26,

"If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven." What did Jesus mean in these words to His disciples? He was talking about those Pharisees who appeared to live good lives, upholding the law and performing all the necessary religious duties. They could not be faulted on their outward behaviour but Jesus knew that their goodness was often superficial. There was a vast difference between their appearance, and their inner thoughts and attitudes.

Esther 14:1, 3-5, 12-14 & Mt. 7:7-12.

Is your Christian faith a means of escape from the hard realities of life? Our critics often argue that people who cannot face unpleasant facts run away and hide in a make-believe world of pleasant fantasies. I suppose you can say that for some individuals this might be true.

Jonah 3:1-10 & Lk. 11:29-32

Crowds were following Jesus and listening to His preaching but He seemed to be having no effect on them because they insisted on asking for some sign as proof of His identity. They had seen the miracles He had performed and heard His words of wisdom but still they were not convinced.

Is. 55:10-11 & Mt. 6:7-15

Lev. 19:1-2, 11-18 & Mt. 25:31-46.

We shall all have to face the final judgement. On what will we be judged? Both today's readings make it clear that we must love our neighbour as we love ourselves, and at our trial we shall have to show evidence of having done this.
Moses stresses some of the things that we must not do to our neighbour. We must not steal from him, slander him, bear a grudge against him. We must not exploit employees or show contempt for the disabled. We would not like to be treated in this way ourselves, so why treat others like this?

Gen. 9:8-15; 1 Pet. 3:18-22 & Mk 1:12-15.

There are two simple but powerful sentences in today's Gospel reading. But they are stated so casually that their significance could easily be overlooked. The sentences are, “After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There He proclaimed the Good News from God.” On the surface these words appear to be nothing more than a simple historical statement. Mark is dating the public ministry of Jesus and saying it started in Galilee right after John had been imprisoned by Herod.

Dan. 9:4-10 & Lk. 6: 31-38

Deut. 26:16-19 & Mt. 5:43-48

Ez. 1 8:21-28 & Mt. 5:20-26,

"If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven." What did Jesus mean in these words to His disciples? He was talking about those Pharisees who appeared to live good lives, upholding the law and performing all the necessary religious duties. They could not be faulted on their outward behaviour but Jesus knew that their goodness was often superficial. There was a vast difference between their appearance, and their inner thoughts and attitudes.