5TH TUESDAY OF LENT Gospel (John 8:21-30) Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.” They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him. The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for Everyone Dear people of God, Today's Word of God continues to call upon humanity to believe in the Word of Jesus in order to attain eternal life. Jesus came into the world, and everything He spoke to humanity was the truth, coming from God the Father, for He originated from God the Father, came from God the Father, and belongs to God the Father. All that He said, taught, and performed came from God the Father. From the Incarnation to the proclamation of the Good News, to His death and resurrection, all were arranged according to the holy will of God the Father. Jesus did not act according to His own will at all. Jesus always loves all the children that God the Father has created. He knows that His children are walking in darkness, belonging to this world; therefore, He lovingly and kindly invites, explains, and instructs. His Word is the Word of truth. Believe in the Word He teaches to attain eternal life. Jesus foretold that His death and resurrection would bring salvation to humanity. Today's Word of God reveals to humanity that Jesus came down from the Heavenly Kingdom to become man on earth and save humanity, and that His Kingdom does not belong to this world. He invites all who believe in Him to enter and share in happiness with His Father in the Heavenly Kingdom. However, with their darkened hearts and minds, the Pharisees still could not understand those invitations. They only understood through their shallow thinking and limited human minds, and they did not open their hearts to receive the words of truth coming from God. They relied only on theory, judgment, and the limited thinking of human beings, believing only what they can see with their eyes and hear with their ears. They could not fully comprehend that behind that faith lies the truth of God, the Word that brings full and happy life to humanity. The teachings and invitations of Jesus in the past were not only addressed to the Jewish Pharisees of that time, but they continue to echo even to this day: calling the children of God to believe in the words of Jesus Christ, the Second Person of God who came to earth as a man, suffered death, and rose again to save humanity. Those who believe and follow His guidance and teachings will be granted the joy of sharing in His happiness in the Heavenly Kingdom by God the Father. Thanks be to God. Amen.

5TH MONDAY OF LENT Gospel (John 8:1-11) Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,  and all the people started coming to him,  and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman  who had been caught in adultery  and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught  in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin  be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for Everyone Dear people of God, Today's Word of God teaches humanity a very important truth: that we must always recognize ourselves as sinners in the sight of God. Because we are sinners, we must think twice before accusing anyone of their sins, no matter how grave those sins may be. As the Word of God in today's Gospel recounts, the scribes, the Pharisees, and the Jews brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, with the intent of entrap Him regarding His merciful conduct, to have evidence to accuse Him. In truth, they wanted to prove that they were righteous people. Because of such an arrogant and self-righteous attitude, Jesus did not answer them immediately; instead, He only wished to remind them of a fundamental truth that they must stand before God and look directly at their own true selves, thereby to examine their own conscience as to how they have lived, and whether the things they have done and are about to do are worthy and pleasing to God. Through today’s Word of God, God makes known that when we intently scrutinize and look at the faults of others to exalt ourselves, or to justify our own wrongdoings, such conduct is not good. Jesus taught the Jews of that time, as well as people today, that when we come to God to make our petitions, to offer praise, and to glorify His mercy, the first and most important step each of us must take is to examine our conscience sincerely. Examination of conscience is an act of repentance that must be done regularly if we desire to live in a way that pleasing to God. In today’s Word of God, Jesus teaches the Jews that they must examine their own true selves, rather than focusing on the woman's grave faults standing before them. Upon recognizing their own weaknesses and sins, they felt within themselves that they were unworthy of the action they were planning to do, which was to condemn the woman at that moment. This is a truly precious lesson for all people living in this world. Especially in these final days of Lent, God calls upon us to sincerely repent for our sins, to amend and renew our lives, in preparation to receive the grace of salvation. It is for this salvation that Jesus Himself sacrificed His life, suffered death, and resurrected to deliver humanity from the captivity of Satan and sin. In this new age, God is manifesting His love and mercy at the House of the Father. It is God the Father Himself who calls upon humanity to sincerely be converted, to change our lives, change our way of thinking, and our conduct to live in accordance with the Word of God, and avoid all actions that lead to sin. In the final moment of life, all of our actions, whether good or bad, will reveal whether or not we still belong to God. Is each person aware of the vital importance of the salvation that God has bestowed upon them, or are they not? Thanks be to God. Amen.

5th SUNDAY OF LENT - YEAR A Gospel (John 11:1-45) https://lccmn.blogspot.com/2026/03/fifth-sunday-of-lent-year-gospel-john.html

4TH SATURDAY OF LENT Gospel (John 7:40-53) Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, "This is truly the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But others said, "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David's family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why did you not bring him?" The guards answered, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man." So the Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed." Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them,  "Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?" They answered and said to him, "You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee." Then each went to his own house. The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for everyone Dear people of God, In today's Word, God desires all humanity to listen to the Real and Present Word of God and the Eternal Word of God found in the Old and New Testaments. We must pray for the grace to listen, the grace of gentleness, humility, self-abasement, and simplicity, so that we may practice what God the Father teaches us in the Holy Scriptures and in His Real and Present Word. Believe absolutely that the Word of God teaches humanity what is good and wholesome, bringing eternal life from the Holy Scriptures and the Real and Present Word. The Word of God is always good; it is always light and wisdom, leading humanity toward the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life. However, for those who listen to the Word of God with pride, arrogance, and haughtiness--relying on their own intelligence, brilliance, and vast knowledge-- it becomes very difficult to truly hear and internalize the Eternal Word of God in the Scriptures and the Real and Present Word. Only those who possess a heart of simplicity, gentleness, humility, and self-abasement before the authority of God the Father, before the Real and Present Word and the Eternal Word, will have the Spirit of Light of the Holy Spirit come and dwell within them, transforming and purifying their souls. Only then can they truly hear and practice the Word of God. Otherwise, Satan will come to steal the Word, causing confusion in the hearts and minds of those people, making it difficult for them to understand or listen to the Word of God, leading them into contradictory reasoning. Consequently, they fail to practice the Word of God and cannot live in gentleness, humility, self-abasement, and simplicity. Just as today's Word clearly teaches us, when Jesus preached in the Temple of Jerusalem, many people came to listen. Some believed in the Word Jesus taught, recognizing Him as a prophet and the Christ. Yet, there were others who considered themselves learned and deeply knowledgeable; they claimed to have studied the Scriptures and knew where the Christ should come from, and because of this, they found it very difficult to listen to the Word of God or understand what Jesus was teaching in the Temple. From there, they engaged in speculation, deduction, and circular, convoluted questioning. Ultimately, Satan led them to reject Jesus as the Christ and to refuse the teachings Jesus offered in the Temple to guide humanity toward the life of the Kingdom of Heaven and the resurrection. Today's Word teaches us that when listening to the Word of God, we must ask for the grace of humility, self-abasement, and simplicity. We must empty ourselves before the Real and Present Word and the Eternal Word of God, listening with a simple heart. Whatever God says, we must do exactly as He commands, without questioning, without debating, and without circular, convoluted reasoning. For those who engage in such convoluted questioning easily fall into the hands of Satan. As today's Word reveals, when the Chief Priests and the Pharisees, who prided themselves on their knowledge of the Scriptures, refused to believe that Jesus was the Christ from Bethlehem, they sought every means to oppose Him, to cast Him out of the synagogue, out of human life, and out of their own hearts. From there, Satan led them into confusion and division within the community, the environment, and the synagogue, and in doing so, Satan triumphed over them. Today's Word of God teaches all His children to be simple, self-abased, humble, and gentle in listening to the Word of God taught in the Holy Scriptures and in the Real and Present Word, and by following it, you will be pleasing to God both in this life and the life to come. Thanks be to God. Amen.

4TH FRIDAY OF LENT Gospel (John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30) Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, "Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from." So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, "You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me." So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come. The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for Everyone Dear people of God Today's Word of God continues to clarify Jesus’ identity for the Jewish people as well as for all humanity, revealing where He originates. Jesus reveals that He originates from God the Father Himself. He was sent into the world by the Father to save humanity. God is the invisible One; therefore, to dwell with and accompany humanity, He carried out His plan by sending His Son to come down to earth to become man like all others, except for sin. And when the time came to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven publicly, God clearly revealed to humanity that the true Divinity of Jesus is that He is indeed God Himself, who came into the world to become man. He originates from God the Father. He came down to earth from heaven, and only the One who comes from heaven can know God the Father. Yet, mortal humans did not believe in the Word of Jesus; they claimed that He spoke untruthfully and even blasphemously. With the limited minds and reasoning of humans, they only believe what they see with their eyes and hear with their ears once it is clearly verified and confirmed; they only accept as true what aligns with their own logic and ways of thinking. But humanity does not realize that God is the Almighty and the All-Perfect One. He can do all things and holds absolute authority over the human body. The error of humanity lies in using limited intellect, coupled with selfishness and arrogance, and failing to open their hearts to listen to and receive the graces and fruits that come from God, so as to see the good works and teachings of the Son of God. The words, actions, and condemnations directed by people against Jesus serve only to demonstrate the magnitude of human sinfulness further. When they said, “As for this Jesus, we know where He comes from, but when the Christ comes, no one will know where He is from,” this very statement demonstrates their sinfulness. The words of Jesus in today's Gospel are also being fulfilled. For this new era is the Age of the Holy Spirit’s activity. People in today’s world also presume to understand all of God's power, claiming to fully understand God's ways, His thoughts, and His works, as if they know everything about Him. Those who harbor such thoughts and attitudes do not please God. To understand the ways, thoughts, and works of God, let each person pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that we may learn to be humble and self-abasing, recognizing our sinful, weak, and lowly state before God. to practice self-emptying, and to acknowledge their own sinful, fragile, and lowly nature before God. In this way, we ask for the grace of enlightenment to recognize the saving works of God's plan of salvation, which are being carried out in the House of the Father during this New Era. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary Gospel (Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a) Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for Everyone Dear people of God In today's Word of God, the Lord speaks to all humanity, calling us to look to the example of faith set by our forefather Abraham and St. Joseph, both of whom were chosen by God and placed within His plan of salvation. It was through their belief in God's love and mercy that they obeyed Him absolutely, without the slightest hesitation, upon hearing His commands. Forefather Abraham was chosen by God to collaborate in His work of salvation. God established him as a model of faith and righteousness. Through the Old Testament and the letters of St. Paul, humanity knows that Abraham possessed the strongest faith among all people—a gift from God to humanity, for through him, humanity learn the lesson of faith. Abraham always trusted, relied upon, and hoped in God in every circumstance and every event of his life. One could say he hoped even in the face of life's hopelessness. Abraham believed completely in God's promise to grant him numerous descendants even when his wife was past childbearing age. He believed in God's promise to make him the father of many nations, even while he had only one son, whom God demanded he sacrifice. God tested Abraham severely regarding his obedience to God’s holy will, requiring absolute obedience from him and all his descendants. Those who possess such absolute faith will overcome these trials, just as our forefather Abraham did, becoming the father of all who believe. By the time Jesus was born into the world, there was St. Joseph, also a descendant of our forefather Abraham. St. Joseph was a man of firm faith in God, believing in His love and providence. As he walked according to God's plan, the Lord always presented St. Joseph with difficulties and trials of faith. St. Joseph was called a righteous man of God: - Because St. Joseph listened and obeyed, carrying out the holy will of God. - Furthermore, he was a man who lived purely and transparently, always possessing a selfless heart toward others. This was specifically evident in the event of the Virgin Mary's pregnancy by the power of the Holy Spirit. Not knowing what had happened to the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph sought to leave quietly to spare her from being stoned; such was the charity and selflessness of the righteous St. Joseph. - What is even more outstanding about St. Joseph, the righteous man, is that he listened to God's word and put it into practice: he took Mary into his home and nurtured Jesus. St. Joseph collaborated with Mary and Jesus in God's work of salvation. This was a great blessing that God bestowed upon St. Joseph and a significant privilege He granted to him. It was because of St. Joseph's obedience and his loyalty and faithfulness until his final breath that he fulfilled his responsibility as the foster father of Jesus, the Son of God who came down to earth as man. To this day, God desires everyone throughout the world to know the glorious name of St. Joseph, so that anyone who comes to pray to him may receive his intercession. Especially in the Holy Land of God, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is titled the Mother of Healing for the whole world, God has also appointed St. Joseph as the patron of all the sick and sinners throughout the world. Anyone who comes to pray with absolute faith and trust in God, and who follows the example of St. Joseph's virtues—living purely, transparently, and in obedience, poverty, and absolute trust in God—will receive the grace of healing. God also calls all humanity to look up to and live according to the example of St. Joseph, fulfilling the duties that God has entrusted to each person here on earth, so that they may be rewarded with the happiness of the Kingdom of Heaven. Thanks be to God. Amen.

4TH WEDNESDAY OF LENT Gospel (John 5:17-30) The Word of God for Everyone Dear people of God, In today's Word of God, God makes known to all humanity the eternal resurrection in the Kingdom of Heaven, which has an intimate connection between life and death, and between God the Father and humankind. Among all of humanity, God alone is the only One who brings eternal life to humankind. He is the only One who brings love, life, or death. God is the master of all things, all beings, and all creatures, whether it be the source of human life existing in this world, or the source of the soul’s life after departing from the body. God alone is the One who can grant these to humanity. Apart from Him, there is no other god who can give eternal life, bring about death, or provide the source of life to humanity in this world, except for God. When God lets humans live, then humans live. When God appointed that humans must die, then humans die. Whether under the mighty hand of God or under the captivity of Satan, who is the master of life and death? Truly, it is God alone! Satan, human life, and every creature in this world all indeed belong to God. That is what humanity must absolutely believe. Only God alone could create the world, the universe, the heavens, the earth, and all things and all creatures. No one has the authority to interfere in changing the world or alter the order of the universe, if the power of God the Father does not permit it nor allow it to happen. Humanity’s life, deaths, and sufferings are also held under God’s Sovereign hands. He sees everything! Whomever He grants life in this world and in this universe lives according to His divine decree. Love, life, and death are always in the presence of God, under His guidance and governance. We must glorify Him and orient ourselves toward Him. For only in Him can eternal life be brought to mankind. Therefore, today's Word of God presents the debate between Jesus and the Jews regarding the authority, power, and the grace of giving life to humanity, which is manifested through God the Father. Jesus' reasoning with the Jews lets people of both the past and the present know that only God can bring eternal life to humans! Only God is the One who directs all things throughout this entire world and universe. If He decrees that something shall not happen, then nothing whatsoever can take place. Yet, if He permits things to occur within His Divine Providence and guidance, then they are allowed to happen. Even if evil occurs in this world, all things remain under God's control. All of God's children existing in this world should place their hope, faith, and trust in God’s power. Through listening to today’s Word of God, Jesus lets us know that anyone who places their trust, hope, and entrusts themselves to God—believing absolutely that God alone is the master of the universe, God alone is the Creator of heaven and earth and all creatures and living things, and only God can bring eternal life to humanity will be saved, but on the condition that we must absolutely believe in His Word as taught in the Old and New Testaments. And today, God further grants the working of the Holy Spirit upon the REAL PRESENT WORD OF GOD to provide direct teachings to humanity. Those who place their absolute trust in God, believing that He alone can bring life, peace, and happiness to humanity, should come to Him, remain in Him, listen to Him, revere Him, obey Him, and carry out all that He teaches in the Holy Scriptures and the Real Presence Word of God, for they will always have a life of peace and happiness in this life and the next. Let us place our absolute trust in the teaching of Jesus Christ through today's Word of God: Whoever believes in God the Father will have eternal life and will not face judgment, and will pass from death into life. Those who believe absolutely in the death and resurrection through which the Son of God came into the world to become human to redeem humanity, will receive eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Thanks be to God. Amen

3RD TUESDAY OF LENT Gospel (John 5:1-3a.5-16) The Word of God Everyone Dear people of God, Today's Word of God recounts how Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. After healing him, Jesus said to him: “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” This suggests that his paralysis was the consequence of his many sins. When he sinned repeatedly, it was the opportunity for Satan to enter and torment his body, waiting for the right moment to seize his soul. He was controlled by the devil for 38 years, a very long time. The devil can do anything except giving life. They can cause people illness, inflict suffering on the soul and body, and lead to death. They triumph over humanity when people do not live rightly, do not follow the teachings of God, and do not walk in the light and truth of God. Today's Gospel also shows us that when God wished to heal the paralyzed man, He respectfully asked him: “Do you want to be made well?”. God desires to save and heal humanity, but He always respects and grants human beings their freedom. Therefore, those who wish to be healed by God must cooperate and unite with Him. Yet, people today do not wish to cooperate with God, and He grants them that freedom. Therefore, anyone is facing illnesses that cause pain to both soul and body, and if they wish to be healed by God and desire a life of peace and happiness, they should run to God, the merciful Father, to ask for healing and guidance, so that they may do everything according to God’s direction, so that Satan will no longer have the opportunity to attack the human soul and body. The Word of God in today’s Gospel reading also speaks of how the Jewish leaders observed the law in a purely formalistic way. God is the Lord of the Sabbath. When He came to heal the souls and bodies of people, bringing peace and love, He was condemned by the Jewish leaders. When the paralyzed man, who had suffered for so long in soul and body, was finally healed by God and freed from the shackles of Satan, these leaders did not rejoice but instead condemned their brother, saying: “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat!” The very mat that had been with him throughout his paralysis. They used the law in a formalistic way to forbid, condemn, and exclude their brother. This is a misguided way of observing the law that is not pleasing to God the Father. Today, God also grants the grace of exorcism and healing to those He chooses, so that they may help cast out demons and heal the sick of all ailments of soul and body. Yet, these good deeds are condemned, forbidden, and excluded by some members within the Church. Such people are not different from the Jewish leaders of old: they also condemned and forbade Jesus from healing on the Sabbath, and forbade the man who had been paralyzed for 38 years from carrying his mat on the Sabbath after Jesus had healed him. Those who hold thoughts or perform actions inconsistent with God's way of observing the law should examine their own conscience, looking deep into their hearts to see if they have truly kept the law of love: to love God above all things and their neighbor as themselves. Have we lived in a way that is pleasing to God? God loves humanity, and so He is calling upon those who are being tormented by Satan in soul and body: - to run to God the Father, for He alone has the power to heal and cast out demons. - to return and reconcile with Him, walking the path of light that God teaches. - to resolve to abandon sin and convert your life, and you will be healed by God in both soul and body. - not to sin anymore, as Jesus instructed the paralyzed man long ago, and as He teaches each of us: “Look, you are well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” Thanks be to God. Amen.