4th Week of Lent 2026 - Monday - Focusing on Christ

 

The fourth Sunday of Lent marks a threshold.  No longer will our weekday readings emphasize prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The Church assumes, that at this point, we have habituated these practices. Rather, from now until Holy Week, our weekday scripture readings will focus on the identity of Jesus as the Divine Messiah, and the mounting hostility he faced leading up to his arrest and crucifixion. 

The gospel book changes as well.  Since Ash Wednesday, the weekday scripture readings have been taken from the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, or Luke.  For the rest of Lent, we will read predominately from the Gospel of John.

Where the Synoptic Gospels are filled with stories of Jesus’ miracles: Matthew includes about 20, Mark, the shortest Gospel has around 18, Luke records about 24, John features only 7. 

The seven miracles of John’s Gospel serve to emphasize to the reader, Jesus’ identity—he is the Word made flesh come to accomplish what no one else can do—to save us from our sins. 

Chronologically, today’s Gospel is the second of the seven miracle stories: the healing of the nobleman’s son.  

It is good for us to remember that has we progress through Lent.  Jesus is not merely a teacher, telling us to be nice to each other.  He just doesn’t cure people’s ailments, like an itinerant medicine man.  He is God come to save us from our sins.  

If the Scripture readings for first three weeks of Lent helped us to focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving, how should we be responding to God’s Word in this latter half of Lent?

I think the answer is this: with deeper faith and focus on Jesus himself. The first half of Lent teaches us what to do. The second half of Lent reminds us why we are doing it, and for whom. We pray, fast, and give alms not as ends in themselves, not as spiritual exercises for their own sake, but to be drawn more fully to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the one who alone can heal and save.

Look at the nobleman in today’s Gospel. He comes to Jesus with faith, though it is still imperfect. He begs for his son’s life. And Jesus calls him to an even deeper faith—not merely faith in what he can see, but faith in the power of Christ’s word. “You may go; your son will live.” And the man believed what Jesus said and left. That is the response these later Lenten readings are meant to awaken in us: to take Jesus at His word, to trust Him more completely, and to entrust our lives to Him.

So in these coming days, as the readings reveal more clearly who Jesus is and as opposition to Him increases, we should ask for the grace for our love, and grace, and sympathy for Him to be deepened. We should not give up on our Lenten practices, but our hearts are not to be fixed on them, but on Jesus—in appreciation, and wonder, and awe, for what he endures for us for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - -  

Let us lift up our prayers to the Father. 

For the Church, that during these latter days of Lent she may proclaim with clarity that Jesus is the Divine Messiah, and lead many hearts to deeper faith in Him.  Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For those preparing to receive the Easter Sacraments, that the Lord may deepen their faith and draw them into a living and lasting friendship with Jesus.  Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For those whose faith is weak, imperfect, or burdened by doubt, that like the nobleman in the Gospel they may learn to trust in the power of Christ’s word and entrust their lives more completely to Him.  Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who oppose the Gospel, persecute Christians, or harden their hearts against Christ, that the mercy of God may soften them and lead them to repentance and faith.  Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For those who are sick, suffering, or carrying heavy burdens for loved ones, that they may turn to Jesus with confidence and find in Him healing, strength, and peace.  Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

For the faithful departed, that they may behold forever the face of Christ, whom they trusted on earth and now see in glory.  Let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, hear these prayers we offer in faith. Deepen our trust in your Son, fix our hearts upon Him, and lead us through this holy season to the joy of Easter. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

4th Week of Lent 2024 - Monday - Promises of New Life

The fourth Sunday of Lent, yesterday, marked a threshold in this liturgical season.  No longer will the weekday readings emphasize prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The Church assumes, that at this point, we have habituated these practices. Rather, from now until Holy Week, our weekday scripture readings will focus on the identity of Jesus as the Messiah, and the mounting hostility he faced leading up to his arrest and crucifixion. 

The gospel book changes as well.  Since Ash Wednesday, we’ve read from one of the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark, or Luke.  For the rest of Lent, we will read predominately from the Gospel of John, which presents Jesus as “the resurrection and the life”. 

The promise of new life is introduced in our reading from the prophet Isaiah this morning. God announces his plan and his promise to create a new heaven and a new earth where the sufferings and sadnesses of life—caused by sin and death and evil—shall not be remembered, but will be replaced with endless rejoicing and happiness. 

And then how did our Gospel reading show Jesus fulfilling this promise of new life. The weeping of the royal official over his dying son is replaced with joy when Jesus restores health to the boy. Joy is brought to the entire household. 

Yesterday, on Laetare Sunday the liturgy urged us to be joyful, for all who mourn shall be made to exult. And again today, we have this connection with joy and new life. The new life available to all of us through Christ is the cause of our joy. 

Joy should be evident in the life of the Christian. Even as we undergo Lenten penances, there should be joy. Because we know that our Lenten penances bring life. They are aimed at the spiritual growth of our souls, and softening hardened hearts to the life of God. 

Our collect prayer this morning, too, spoke about the renewal God desires to bring about through Christ. What is the renewal God wants for you, right now, and this point in your life? Can you identify it? If not, ask God to help you identify those parts of your mind, body, and spirit that he wants to renew through Christ. And if you do know, ask for the strength to pursue that renewal, that new life. It might not be easy. Renewal might require change and breaking habits and thinking and speaking differently. But that change is good because it is the change desired for you by God. 

May the joy of our salvation in Christ pierce through every darkness and lead us and those we pray for to the eternal light of Heaven for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. 

- - - - -

As the Solemnity of Easter approaches, dear brethren, let our prayer to the Lord be all the more insistent:

That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and those to be fully initiated in the coming Paschal Solemnity

For Peace throughout the nations of the world most threatened by hatred, division, and violence, for the protection of the unborn and the safety of the men and women in our armed forces.  

That all families will commit themselves to fervent prayer this Lent so as to grow in greater love and holiness.  

For the physical, emotional, and spiritual healing of all people, especially the spiritually blind and hard of heart.  

For all those who have died, for all the poor souls in purgatory, for those who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, and for…  

Have mercy, O Lord, on the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in the divine mystery may never be left without your assistance. Through Christ our Lord.

4th Week of Lent 2022 - Monday - Facing Rejection and Inspiring Faith

 

Leading up to Holy Week, our Gospel readings for daily Mass are taken from the Gospel of John.  Where each of the other evangelists record many miracles, John chooses only seven to record in his Gospel: the miracle at the wedding of cana, the healing of the royal official’s son, the healing of the paralytic, the feeding of the five thousand, the walking on water, the healing of the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus.

John carefully records people’s reactions to Jesus’ miracles, as well. Some are amazed by Jesus, some come to believe that he truly is the Son of God, some are initially impressed with his miracles, but then fail to make that leap of faith or walk away because his subsequent teachings are unappealing or deemed too difficult. 

Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus himself testifying how the people of his hometown for the most part rejected him. The rejection of Jesus is a great tragedy. For the Lord explains, “I came, so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” In rejecting Jesus, they are rejecting life, eternal life.

After his rejection in Nazareth, St. John tells us that the Lord traveled to Galilee and healed the royal officials son. Instead of rejecting him, the royal official and his whole household make that leap of faith. 

Jesus was met with both rejection and acceptance—unbelief and belief. So too will we. We mustn’t become too disheartened when our efforts are met with coldness and unbelief. We’re in it for the long haul, as long as God deems it. Jesus himself, the Word made flesh, was rejected in his ministry. And he could read hearts. He spoke with the clearest understanding of the truth men need to hear, and spoke without timidity. He performed miracles and was still rejected.

So when we’re rejected, we who are imperfect instruments in the hands of God, we mustn’t give up on the Gospel mission. We might need to be rejected by a whole town in order to inspire faith in a household. But that household is a seed for the kingdom to grow and flourish. Give me a family on fire with the faith over a lukewarm town any day. 

May our Lenten observances help us to persevere and trust God when we face rejection. May we, imperfect instruments in the hands of God, remain faithful to the Gospel mission always, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 - - - - - - 

For an increase in faith for the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity.

That the Church might be delivered and protected from all spirits of error, heresy, schism, and unbelief.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

That those in need may find assist in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

4th Week of Lent 2021 - Monday - Feasting on God's Word

We now begin the second half of Lent.  Leading up to Holy Week, our Gospel readings for daily Mass are taken from the Gospel of John.  

Where St. Luke strives to give a historical, chronological account of the ministry of Jesus Christ, John’s Gospel is arranged, not strictly chronologically, but topically or theologically.  He aims to answer the theological question: Who is Jesus Christ?

Where each of the other evangelists record many miracles, John chooses only seven: the miracle at the wedding of cana, the healing of the nobleman’s son, the healing of the paralytic, the feeding of the five thousand, the walking on water, the healing of the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus.

John carefully records people’s reactions to Jesus’ miracles, as well. After the healing of the nobleman’s son, today, we hear how the whole household began to believe in him.  After his miraculous feeding of the five thousand and his subsequent teaching on the Bread of Life in chapter 6, we hear how many people who were initially following Jesus turned away from him, finding the teaching, that Jesus gives us his flesh and blood to eat and drink too hard to believe.

How do I react to the miracles and teachings of Jesus? Is it in-one-ear-and-out-the-other? Or do I allow the word of God to water my soul? Whether we are attending daily mass or not, we do well, to reflect upon the scriptures throughout the day. 

To ask, what does this teach me? What does this demand of me? Which of my habits does this challenge me to change?

To begin the day with a bit of scripture, and return to it, throughout the day, fills the day with God’s word, and welcomes God’s creative and transformative power into our lives. Like in the prophet Isaiah this morning, God says, “Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth. The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create” This is what the Lord desires to do in us, to create a new heavens and a new earth in us. 

The Royal Official should be our companion all day today, his response of faith and that of his household, Isaiah's promise of God's re-creation. should be considered all day.

The season of Lent should be filled with much more of God’s word, not less. Which is why we fast from the non-essentials, so that we can feast on the Word, throughout Lent; for man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 

Through Word and Sacrament may the Lord continue to strengthen us in Holiness and transform our sins and sorrows into Joy, for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

 

For an increase in faith for the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity.

That the Church might be delivered and protected from all spirits of error, heresy, schism, and unbelief.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

That those in need may find assist in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

4th Week of Lent 2019 - Monday - From superficial to radical faith

Leading up to Holy Week, our Gospel readings for daily Mass are taken from the Gospel of John.  Where each of the other evangelists record many miracles, John chooses only seven: the miracle at the wedding of cana, the healing of the royal official’s son, the healing of the paralytic, the feeding of the five thousand, the walking on water, the healing of the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus.

Through these miracles many come to believe that he is God incarnate. And yet in John’s Gospel, Jesus often appears critical of those who come to him only seeking miracles or impressive spectacles. He has come not as an entertainer, but to reconcile us to God and to restore supernatural life that has been lost through sin. “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy,” Jesus says in John chapter 10.  “I came, so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

The restoration of the supernatural life of grace comes from a restored relationship to God through Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him. So Jesus invites those who encounter Him to not simply observe his miracles from a distance, but to enter into the faith relationship of discipleship.

The purpose of our Lenten penances, isn’t to complete these acts for their own sake, but so that we might become more open to the life and grace which will strengthen us as Christian disciples. The living relationship with Jesus Christ is a matter of life and death, just as it was for the royal official’s son in the Gospel today, and the true living relationship is anything but superficial, it is to affect our every decision and desire and relationship. Just as the royal official’s “whole household” came to believe because of his faith, so to our faith should have a palpable effect upon our families and relationships.

May our Lenten observances continue to deepen our faith, to convert those areas of our life that we keep from God, to move us from superficial faith to radical Christian discipleship for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -


For an increase in faith for the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity.

That the Church might be delivered and protected from all spirits of error, heresy, schism, and unbelief.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

That those in need may find assist in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.