These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Thus was innocent blood spared that day. (Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62)
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. (Jn 8:1-11)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032723.cfm
The long story of Susanna and the Elders ends with the statement that innocent blood was spared that day. Well, the gospel tells a quite different story where the guilty walks free. Perhaps Jesus is just too soft on crime.
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.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” (Jn 11:1-45)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032623.cfm
Three times in this powerful chapter the Fourth Gospel tells us that Lazarus is loved by Jesus. Could Lazarus be the Beloved Disciple? Well, it just might explain some fascinating details in this Fourth Gospel. And it certainly tells us how important love is in the Fourth Gospel Community that has gathered around the Beloved Disciple. Perhaps for all of us Beloved Disciples, the home at Bethany, the home of Martha and Mary and Lazarus, is the model for all Christian communities. Communities bases not just on apostolic power, but on apostolic power tempered by love.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means "God is with us!" (Is 7:10-14; 8:10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032523.cfm
The origin of the liturgical calendar is a complicated story. The Roman Empire used a solar calendar rather than a lunar calendar used by the Jews in Israel. Early Christians knew that the first Good Friday was on the 14th of Nisan . . . but wanted to know the corresponding date on the solar calendar. It was determined that it was March 25th. So the feast of the Annunciation was assigned to the date of the Lord's death . . . which is why nine months later we celebrate the Birth of the Messiah on December 25th.
So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come. (Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032423.cfm
“His hour had not yet come” . . . References to the “hour” occur throughout the Fourth Gospel, the one we call “according to John.” Of course, the hour is the hour of Jesus’ glorification on the Cross. As that hour approaches in our liturgical celebrations, we are called to reflect on the Cross which has been transformed from a first century execution device to become the Throne of Glory of the Son of God. Saint Óscar Romero (1917-1980) gave his life for the people of El Salvador.
Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 106)
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
Our fathers made a calf in Horeb and adored a molten image; They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bullock. R.
They forgot the God who had saved them, who had done great deeds in Egypt, Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham, terrible things at the Red Sea. R.
Then he spoke of exterminating them, but Moses, his chosen one, Withstood him in the breach to turn back his destructive wrath. R.
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032323.cfm
According to the Scriptures, at times it’s necessary to remind God about the promise . . . to remind God about mercy. In fact, that is just what Moses does when God threatens to wipe out the people because of their sins and to start all over again. Surely, Lent is a reminder for us about our sins, but Lent is also a reminder to God about the mercy and the promise.
