GOOD FRIDAY, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42

The 40 days of the Lenten season reaches its climax today, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. Today has been a day of fasting, abstinence, and prayer. It has been a day of meditation on the agony and death of Jesus Christ. Good Friday is the only day of the year the Catholic Church does not celebrate the Eucharist. This is because Good Friday’s ceremony is a commemoration of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is the meaning of Eucharistic celebration.

In the Bible, we read of 40 days of rain (Noah), 40 years of wilderness (Israelites), and 40 days at Mount Sinai (Moses and Elijah), 40 days in the desert (Jesus), 40 days of Lent; what does 40 mean? The number 40 signifies a period of testing, trial, preparation, and of cleansing leading to new beginnings. 

What is good about Good Friday meanwhile it is a somber day, the innocent Son of God was tortured and brutally executed by his crucifixion on the Cross? In the first reading, Isaiah explains why Good Friday is good, “… it was our infirmities that he bore, our suffering that he endured … he was pierced for our offences, crushed for our sins.” “… upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.” “ … because he surrendered to death … he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.”  Jesus himself says that it was necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory (Luke 24:25-26).

In the second reading from Hebrews, we are reminded that we have an important part to play to merit the ‘good,’ “…and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. It is very clearly stated. The ‘good’ is for those who obey him!

Why did Jesus have to suffer in a gruesome manner to accomplish our salvation? God’s plan for humanity’s salvation is a mystery beyond human’s full comprehension and clear understanding.  The psalmist says, “Our God is in heaven and does as he wishes” (Psalm 113:3).

Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). And he cried out while hanging on the Cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).

When you do not understand your cross, and you ask, “Why me?” Look at the Crucifix. As we contemplate and venerate the Crucifix today, may we draw strength and courage from it. May we be empowered by it to carry our own crosses with hope.  May our crosses become bridges to safety and ladders to heaven. The message of the cross means nothing to a lot of people, but to us, it is God’s power (1 Corinthians 1:18). Through our crosses, may we enter into glory as it was for Jesus.

Yes, we do condemn Judas who betrayed Jesus; the soldiers who arrested him, tortured him, and crucified him; the disciples who deserted him; the chief priests and the people who accused him falsely and insisted that he must die; Pilate who sentenced him to death; the soldier who gave him vinegar to drink; the soldier who pierced his side; and so on. But how could our salvation have been possible without the role these people played? Many times, good comes out from the worst. The ‘good’ of Good Friday is that the death and burial of Jesus are not the end of the story. His resurrection is. Let us cling to the old rugged Cross, it will someday be exchanged for a crown! Amen.

On our own part, let us be like Pontius Pilate’s wife who do not support evil; like Simon of Cyrene, an instrument of relief to the suffering; like Veronica, an instrument of empathy and consolation to the grieving; like daughters of Jerusalem, who weep over evil; like Mary, the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala, who offer ministry of presence to the distressed and the grieving; like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who do works of mercy.

We identify with the Passion of Christ as we all carry our various crosses. Some of us are praying that our crosses be removed. Some of us have fallen several times under the weight of our crosses. Some of us are feeling as if we are hanging and abandoned on our crosses. Some of us are feeling as if we are offered vinegar to drink for our thirst. Some of us are feeling crushed by all kinds of infirmity. As we venerate the Cross, we pray with Jesus, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). The second reading encourages us to “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help” (Hebrews 4:16). Jesus promises us, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (John12:32). Draw us to yourself, O Lord, that by your stripes we are healed. Amen.

HOLY THURSDAY, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15

Holy Thursday begins the three days of liturgical celebrations which re-enact the three days of Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection. The three days are called the Sacred Paschal Triduum. The word paschal originates from the Aramaic ‘paskha’ meaning passover. Triduum is a word formed from two Latin words: ‘tri’ meaning three and ‘dies’ meaning day.

Holy Week Wednesday is sometimes called Spy Wednesday. It is so called because Judas Iscariot had become a spy for the chief priests. He had received thirty pieces of silver from them and was seeking an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them (Matthew 26:14-16). We are not to be like Judas who spied and betrayed Jesus. We are invited to look out for, care for, protect, and support the well-being of one another. We are invited to be faithful and honest with one another.

Three major events took place on Holy Thursday:

The first event: During the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Catholics believe that Jesus celebrated the first Holy Mass on Holy Thursday. The second reading says, “The Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me’” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). By Jesus’ proclamation, “This is my body,” “This is my blood,” Catholics believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament because Jesus did not say, “This is a symbol of my body,” or “This is a symbol of my blood.” He did not say, “This represents my body,” or “This represents my blood.” The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus said what he meant, and he meant what he said.

The Holy Mass is, also, the highest prayer of the Catholic Church. Vatican II’s Lumen Gentium (No. 11) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Nos. 1324 and 1327) teach that the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life,” and “The Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith.”

The second event: On Holy Thursday, Jesus instituted the ministerial priesthood (the Sacrament of the Holy Orders) when he commanded his apostles, “Do this in remembrance of me.” By this, the apostles became the first New Testament priests. Subsequently, the ministerial priesthood (validly ordained priests) function in the person of Christ (‘in persona Christi’). That is why Catholic priests repeat the words of Christ during the prayer of consecration of bread and wine at Mass; and during the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the priest prays over the penitent, “… through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins…” However, through our Baptism, we all are incorporated into the Body of Christ and share in his three-fold mission as priest, prophet, and king. By this, we share in a common (universal) priesthood and a life of service and witness. This is why we are called priestly people.

The third event: Holy Thursday is also called Maundy Thursday, which can be translated as Command Thursday or Mandate Thursday. The word ‘maundy’ is derived from the Latin word ‘mandatum,’ meaning mandate. Jesus commanded the apostles and us, “Do this in remembrance of me,” and “You call me teacher and master, and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (John 13:13).

The Eucharistic command and witnessing command are among the final demands of Jesus before his crucifixion. They are commands that are to be obeyed as stated! We are commanded to wash each other’s feet. We are called to wash real dirty feet. The dirtier the feet we wash, the deeper our relationship with God. Washing of feet means witnessing Christ.

The first reading narrates the feast of the first Passover, which symbolized the spiritual food for the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land. The Eucharist is our spiritual food for our journey of faith and our journey to eternal life. Jesus says, “My flesh is real food, and my body is real drink” (John 6:55).

God commanded the Israelites to put the blood of the lamb on the lintel of every house in order to be saved from the angel of death. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and has purchased us by his blood. St. Paul writes, “In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). In prayer, we surrender ourselves, our sins, and our sorrows to the redemptive power of the precious Blood of Jesus Christ. May the precious Blood of Jesus save us from angels of death. Amen.

PALM SUNDAY, YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Matthew 21: 1-11; Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66

Today, Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, is the sixth and last Sunday of Lent. It commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. The passion narrative from the Gospel of Matthew invites us, once again, to participate step by step in the passion journey of Jesus Christ, which we began with our participation in the Stations of the Cross.

Almost all Jewish prophets prophesied the coming of the messiah who would redeem Israel from her oppressors. At the time of Jesus, Israel was governed by the Romans. Jesus’ disciples were convinced that Jesus was a political messiah who would lead a rebellion against the Roman colonial rule and drive out the Romans. Therefore, on arriving in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, he was given a rousing and heroic welcome: “The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest’” (Matthew 21:8-9).

John’s Gospel is specific about palm branches: “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the king of Israel!”’ (John 12:13). The name ‘Palm Sunday’ is based on John’s Gospel. In many cultures, waving of palm branches is an expression of victory. ‘Hosanna’ is an Aramaic word which means, “save us, we pray” or “please deliver us.” Unknowingly, the crowds proclaimed Jesus’ victory over death and him as the savior of the world. Like the crowds, we pray to Jesus to save us and deliver us from our afflictions.

Palm Sunday celebration is not only a re-enacting of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, but we are also re-enacting the vision of John in Revelation 7:9-10, “I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.’” Our celebration is our prayer that we will transcend from re-enacting to reality and from performance to become what we perform.

There are other meanings of palm leaves. In some cultures, in times of crisis or misunderstanding, carrying palm leaves or presenting palm leaves is a gesture of peace and reconciliation. Today, the Church gives us palm leaves as a symbol of peace and reconciliation to take to our homes and places. Let us share the message of peace and reconciliation with one another. You may take a palm leaf from this Mass to someone as a gesture of peace and reconciliation. Blessed palm leaves are not to be thrown around or discarded as trash. They are kept reverently until next year when they are returned to the church and burned and the ashes used during Ash Wednesday liturgy.

I do not think that the crowds would have cried to Jesus to save them if they knew that he was not a political messiah. A few days later, the crowds shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” It could be that the crowds were frustrated and disappointed that Jesus did not meet their expectation. If Jesus had overthrown the Roman leadership, the crowds would have stood behind him. He would not have been crucified. Are we the same? When our expectations are not met, how to we react? Do we enter crucifying mode?

As we read in the gospel, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a colt (a young donkey). Jesus chose to enter Jerusalem on a donkey, which was, at that time, the means of transportation for the poor; instead of a horse, which was the means of transportation for the rich, the high and the mighty. By riding a donkey, a beast of burden, Jesus made himself our ‘beast of burden’ thereby fulfilling Isaiah 53:54, “He took up our pain and bore our suffering.” Like the donkey, Jesus carries our pains and sufferings.

By riding a donkey, Jesus identified himself with the poor and the lowly, and he teaches us to do the same. He wants us to identify with the burdened, the needy, the sick, and the suffering. And by riding a donkey, Jesus teaches us the importance of detachment and humility. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, “Learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart.”

Today’s celebration becomes even more meaningful if Jesus makes a triumphal entry into our lives, grant us peace, victory over evil, salvation, and eternal life. Let us not stop Jesus’ entry into our lives by our sins. Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me” (Revelations 3:20).

Lastly, St. Andrew of Crete writes, “Let us imitate those who have gone out to meet him, not scattering olive branches or garments or palms in his path, but spreading ourselves before him as best as we can with humility of soul and upright purpose … It is ourselves that we must spread under Christ’s feet…”

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 

 

Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalm 130:1-8; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. How is your Lenten journey going? Have you fulfilled the Lenten obligations of Repentance (Confession), Almsgiving (works of charity), Fasting and Abstinence, and Prayer?

The first reading was Ezekiel’s prophecy to the people of Israel while they were in exile in Babylon. They had resigned to hopelessness that they would never be free and would never return to their homeland. Through Ezekiel, God gave hope to them. Ezekiel prophesied, “I will open your graves and have you rise from them… I will put my spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you upon your land…” Ezekiel prophesied spirit, life, and restoration in place of death and grave.

This prophecy was fulfilled in about 597 BC when King Cyrus of Persia released the people of Israel to return to their land. They did not fight for their freedom. An additional blessing they received was that they left Babylon with so much gold and silver (5,400 articles of gold and silver) to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Following the King’s decree, the Babylonians provided the Israelites with silver and gold, goods and livestock, and freewill offerings for the temple (Ezra 1:1-11). Although the Israelites never believed that there was hope for them to return to their homeland, but when it was God’s time, it came very fast and with unexpected blessings.

In the gospel, Lazarus was dead and was in the grave for four days. Jesus brought him back to life. It was a hopeless case before Jesus arrived. When Jesus was told that Lazarus was ill, he did not proceed immediately to visit Lazarus. It took him four days before he arrived. Jesus ordered that the stone be taken away and ordered Lazarus to come out. Lazarus came out with hand and foot tied with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. Jesus ordered, “Untie him and let him go.” Jesus is the one who commands “prisoners: come out” and “those in darkness: Show yourselves,” as prophesied in Isaiah 49:9. But we are the ones who obey or disobey.

After seventy years in captivity, the Israelites got their freedom. After four days in the grave, Lazarus came back to life. This means that, sometimes, challenging times can last for a long time. Since we do not know God’s divine will, we are encouraged to stand strong in faith and persevere in prayer. Jesus promises in Matthew 24:13, “The one who perseveres to the end will be saved.”

The Israelites never believed that they would return to their homeland. Nobody could have imagined that Lazarus would live again having been buried for four days. “With God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:6). God promises, “I will open your graves and have you rise from them … I have promised and, I will do it” (Ezekiel 37:14). “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15).

In the gospel of last Sunday, Jesus was asked, ‘“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him’” (John 9:3). Today, we read, ‘“Master, the one you love is ill.’ When Jesus heard this, he said, ‘This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the son of God may be glorified through it’” (John 11:4). We pray that the works of God be made visible and God be glorified through our unpleasant situations. St. Paul writes, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Jesus says to us what he said to Martha, “Did I not tell that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”

The Israelites were under the yoke of slavery in Babylon. We may have our yokes enslaving us. May God free us from our yokes. Lazarus was dead and, in the grave, covered by a stone. He was bound hand and foot, and his face wrapped in a cloth. We may be feeling like being in the grave. We may be feeling like we are weighed down by a large stone. We may be feeling like tied by hand and foot. We may be feeling like our face is wrapped in a cloth. May Jesus weep over our situations as he wept over Lazarus’ death, and free us from our affliction as he freed Lazarus from death. We express our faith in Jesus as Martha did, “But even now [we] know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”

We pray with St. Paul (in the second reading): May the Spirit of the One who raised Christ from the dead give life to our mortal bodies. May the Spirit of the One who raised Christ from the dead break our yokes, remove the stones weighing upon us, raise us up from our graves, untie our bands, and set us free. Amen.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13; Psalm 23:1-6; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is called ‘Laetare’ Sunday, meaning Sunday of Joy. ‘Laetare’ (Latin) means ‘rejoice.’ It comes from the first word of today’s Mass entrance antiphon, “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast” (Isaiah 66:10-11). In the past, the Lenten season used to be very austere. The Fourth Sunday of Lent, being a mid-way of the Lenten season, used to be a day to relax austere fasting. ‘Laetare’ Sunday foreshadows the hope and joy that await us at Easter. It is also known as “Rose Sunday” because rose-colored vestments are traditionally worn.

In the first reading, Samuel did not know who God was going to choose to replace Saul as the king of Israel. God guided him until he anointed David. “Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is here before him.’ but the Lord said to Samuel: ‘Do not judge from appearance or from lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.’” Samuel would have made a wrong choice if he had not followed God’s guidance.  The first reading has a few lessons for us.

 (1) Appearance can be deceptive. Therefore, we must not make judgements and conclusions, hastily, based on appearance, initial impressions, and thoughts. Sometimes, there is more than meets the eye. Sometimes, what is on the surface is only the tip of the iceberg. We hear it often said, “All that glitters is not gold.”  Discernment and prayer are important before decisions are made. It is important to listen attentively to God and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

(2) Samuel did not depend on what was presented to him. He made inquiry: ‘“Are these all the sons you have?’ Jesse replied, ‘There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep.’ Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down to eat until he arrives here.”’ We must not be afraid or reluctant to ask valid questions which may help to a better understanding of the matter or help to unravel the truth. My dad, God rest his soul, used to tell me, "Son, do not call a mirage a river.”

(3) Someone says, “Do not be discouraged. It is often the last key in the bunch that unlocks the lock.” David was the last key in the bunch. If you try and fail, try, try, try again!

(4) Jesse never imagined that the youngest of his sons could be considered for such an exulted position. Let us not underestimate what God can do in and through us or what God can do in and through someone else.

(5) God knows the heart of each one of us. We can deceive our fellow human beings, but we cannot deceive God. The Lord said to Samuel, “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

We pray for those who, by the nature of their calling or responsibility, must make judgements on others that they may be open to the wisdom and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We pray, too, for all of us that we may seek to be guided by the Holy Spirit in our choices and judgements.

In the gospel, the physically blind man who was healed by Jesus, recognized Jesus as a prophet and worshipped him. Meanwhile, the spiritually blind Jews refused to see God’s wonderful work in Jesus and did not recognize that Jesus came from God.

The Jews ridiculed the man who was healed by Jesus and “threw him out” of the synagogue because he continued to insist that Jesus came from God. He was expelled from the synagogue because he rejected falsehood and insisted on the truth. How often does this happen among us, that people who insist on the truth are ridiculed, suppressed, or even eliminated?

Spiritual blindness is an impairment of the mind that causes a person to lose sight of right judgement and truth. We are spiritually blind when we do not recognize God’s presence and his wonderful work. We are spiritually blind when we do not recognize God’s goodness in others and in ourselves. We are spiritually blind when we do not recognize the hurts and damage we cause to others and to ourselves.

In one way or another, all of us have some degree of spiritual blindness. St. Paul encourages us in the second reading to “take no part in the fruitless works of darkness” but to receive the light of Christ. St. Paul writes, “Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.”

We pray that as the blind man in the gospel received his healing, our rulers and leaders whose blindness brings so much suffering in our society and in our world be healed of their blindness. Samuel was blind as to who to anoint the king of Isreal until God guided him. May we receive God’s guidance to see the paths forward even where there is dead-end. May the testimonies of God’s guidance and healing glorify his Holy Name. Amen.

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Exodus 17:3-7; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42

In the first reading, the Israelites thirsted for water as they journeyed in the desert. In their difficulty, they did not cry to God. Rather, they grumbled against Moses.

Sometimes, our life’s journey run out of ‘water’ as it was for the Israelites in the desert. Do we behave like the Israelites, grumble against one another, blame one another, and fight one another; instead of coming together, reasoning together, and working together? Do we pray together for God’s intervention, guidance, and direction? When the people grumbled, nothing happened. But when Moses cried to God in prayer, something happened. This event teaches us the power of prayer.

God directed Moses to strike the rock with the miracle staff in his hand. He did, and water flowed from the rock for the people.  The solution was in Moses’ hand, but he did not know it. The solution to our problem may be right before us. We need to always pray for God’s divine guidance and direction.

Many times, God brings solutions through unexpected and unlikely means. May be, the expectation of the people was a rain fall or finding a cistern anywhere nearby for them to have some water.  Rather, God made water flow from rock. Our God is a God of surprises.

St. Paul encourages us in the second reading that our hope in God does not disappoint; in that God pours out his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Such outpouring is empowering and uplifting amid every difficult situation where the Holy Spirit is welcome. With such outpouring, we are never consumed by the hard times. With such outpouring, we look up to our faithful God rather than grumble. Such out pouring binds hearts together.

In the gospel, during Jesus’ time, most Jews, who traveled between Judea and Galilee, would take a longer route which bypassed Samaria to avoid the people there, “For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.” But Jesus, intentionally, went through Samaria on his way to Galilee to show that he came for the Jews and also the Gentiles. St. Paul writes, “For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity” (Ephesians 2:14).

Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down at the Jacob’s well, resting and waiting for his apostles who went to the town to buy food. Then, the Samaritan woman came to draw water. The woman was wounded in many ways. She had had five husbands and was at that moment cohabiting with a man. We do not know her past life with the five men, but we can conclude that it was not a pleasant one. One man is tough enough; how much more are five husbands and cohabiting with a man. That is six men. The Samaritan woman was very resilient!

From all indications, she was bearing the wounds of frustration, disappointment, isolation, and humiliation. She came to draw water alone, at noon, at an hour when she would meet nobody. Usually, water was fetched in the morning and in the evening, hardly in the middle of the day. It was also strange, at that time, for a woman to go anywhere all alone, not in a company of other women. Although the woman came to draw water, but Jesus saw that she needed healing and salvation much more than ordinary water.

The Samaritan woman was healed, liberated, and transformed. Her deliverance had immediate effect. She was filled with the joy of salvation. She became a witness and an evangelizer. She left her jar, meaning that ordinary water was not what she needed. She hurried into the town and testified her experience to her people. Many followed her to see Jesus and began to believe in him. At their invitation, Jesus stayed two days with them preaching to them. Jesus stayed with the Samaritans who were avoided by the Jews. The Samaritans said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”  

There are many people who are dried up like the Israelites in the desert or wounded like the Samaritan woman or discriminated against like the Samaritans. We are spiritually in union with them in our prayers as we celebrate this Eucharist. May we and those we are praying for encounter Jesus, the giver of the living water which wells up to eternal life, so that as Isaiah says, “With joy [we] will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). As water flowed from the rock in the desert, may God’s graces flow from this sanctuary (our spiritual rock) as we celebrate this Eucharist.

Isaiah 55:1 invites us, “All you who are thirsty, come to the waters ... without money and without cost.” As we have come Mass, may he satisfy our thirst and fill our hunger with good things (Psalm 107:9). Psalm 34:18-21 assures us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those whose spirit is crushed. Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all. He watches over all their bones; not one of them shall be broken.” Psalm 147: 3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds their wounds.” May he pour out his unfailing love upon us [through the Holy Spirit] as we place all our hope in him (Psalm 33:22). Amen.

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Genesis 12:1-4; Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9

Last Sunday’s first reading was about the sin of disobedience of Adam and Eve which caused their expulsion the Garden of Eden. Genesis Chapter 11 is the story of the sin of rebellion of the builders of the Tower of Babel. God scattered the builders over all the earth. After Noah, there was no record in the Book of Genesis of true worshippers of God.

God called Abram to begin a new phase of God’s relationship with human beings, which also marks the beginning of the story of God’s Chosen People. Abram was not a worshipper of God before God called him. Abram and his people who were descendants of Noah were worshippers of Mesopotamian gods. God called Abram to leave his religion, his “kinsfolks, and his father’s house” to where he, God, would reveal himself to him, and make him a great nation. The first reading concludes, “Abram went as the Lord directed him.”

Following Abram response, God began a new relationship with human beings. God is calling us out from our sins of disobedience, our rebellion, and our ‘worship of other gods.’ If we respond to him as Abram did, God will reveal himself in a new way to us. We pray for grace and courage to respond like Abram.

The call of Abram was special. Out of the entire people of Ur of the Chaldeans, God called only one man, Abram, to establish a new relationship and to a great nation. God may be calling anyone of us to something new, to something different, to something great. May we be able to respond positively like Abram and go as God directs.

Abram was 75 years when God called him to begin a new journey and a new life. The call of Abram means that it is never too late to bloom. It is never too late to leave the past sinful and ugly experiences behind and begin a new relationship with God. Let us be patient with ourselves. Let us be patient with late bloomers.

The second reading says, “He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus…” Psalm 130:3-4 says, “If you, Lord, keep account of sins, Lord, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness.” St. Paul says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Abram did not deserve to be called, yet God called him, according to God’s own design. None of us deserves to be called. But God loves us first (1 John 4:19). We respond positively or negatively to God’s love. The Lenten season is God calling us to a new relationship. Is there anything God is calling us “to go forth from” (leave behind) for this new relationship to take place?

In the gospel, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and transfigured before them; “his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” Jesus took them to witness his transfiguration so that they could tell others what they witnessed. It is because the three apostles witnessed the transfiguration that the story of what they witnessed is told till this day.

To transfigure means to transform the appearance of something in order to reveal great beauty or magnificence that is present but hidden. Jesus’ glorious nature which was hidden from the apostles was revealed at his transfiguration.

God made each of us with great beauty and magnificence. In Genesis 1:31, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” We are part of that beauty.  Psalm 139:13-14 confirms that each one of us is wonderfully and beautifully made. Sadly, layers of sins, weaknesses, and ugly experiences hide our wonder and beauty. Therefore, we are invited to transfigure in order that our original beauty and wonder may be revealed. The call to transfigure is a call to conversion and restoration. God tells us in the gospel to listen to Jesus, his beloved Son, if we want to transfigure. Psalm 95:8 calls on us, “Oh, that today you would hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”

God revealed himself in a new way to Abram. Jesus revealed himself in a new way to Peter, James, and John. God wants to reveal himself in a new way to us. Many times, the cost of discipleship, that is the sacrifice, or the selfishness or self-interest, or the mission God is calling us frightens us as the apostles were frightened. Jesus encourages us today, “Rise and do not be afraid.”

There are some other layers that hide our beauty and magnificence, and we pray that God intervenes and removes them: layers of ill-health, of hardship, of trials, of crises, and other afflictions. We need transfiguration in our places of work, places of business, plans, family, parish, Church, and so on. Our Country needs transfiguration. Our political and economic leaders need transfiguration. Our world needs transfiguration. May our hidden beauty and magnificence be revealed and restored. Amen.