DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 John 5:1-6; John 20:19-31

In the year 2000, Pope St. John Paul II canonized St. Faustina, and changed the second Sunday of Easter, which was celebrated as Low Sunday to be celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday. Low Sunday means Easter celebrated in a lower degree.  

St. Faustina was a Polish nun gifted with mystical visions, messages, and revelations from the Risen Jesus. This is a rare instance when a private revelation is recognized and raised to the level that it becomes a Sunday celebration by the Universal Church. The feast situates well following Easter Sunday to show that the events of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus for the redemption of humanity were out of God’s gratuitous mercy. God’s mercy is gratuitous because humanity did nothing to merit it. 

St. John, in the second reading, obeyed the voice that said to him, “Write on a scroll what you see” (Revelation 1:11). Following her spiritual director’s advice, St. Faustina wrote a diary. She wrote in her diary, “Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All God’s works are crowned with mercy” (No. 301). God is so merciful and ever forgiving that he does not judge us according to our sins (Psalm 130:3). Jesus is the highest expression of God’s merciful love for us. St. John writes, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

If God shows us so much mercy, we are challenged to show mercy to one another. Jesus tells us the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. In the parable, the king asks the unforgiving servant, “Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?” (Matthew 18:33). Jesus encourages us, “Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). St. James writes, “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).

St. Gregory of Nazianzen writes, “Not even night should interrupt you in your duty of mercy. Do not say: ‘Come back and I will give you something tomorrow.’ … The Lord of all asks for mercy, not sacrifice, and mercy is greater than myriads of fattened lambs.”

One of St. Faustina’s visions is the image of the Divine Mercy of Jesus showing two rays, one reddish (symbolizing blood) and the other whitish (symbolizing water), with the words “Jesus, I trust in you” at the bottom. The image takes us back to the passion, crucifixion, and death of Jesus.  When the soldier pierced the side of Jesus, “immediately blood and water flowed out” (John 19:34).

Jesus says during the Last Supper, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). St. Paul writes, “In him we have redemption through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7). St John writes, “This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood” (1 John 5:6).

About water, Jesus declared, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink” (John 7:37). St. Paul writes, “Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:25-26). The word of God is the fountain of life.

Jesus invites us as he invited Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe” (John 20:27). Thomas put his finger into the source of divine mercy and was healed of his doubt. We are more privileged than Thomas because we go beyond touching him to consuming him. May Jesus whom we consume bear lasting fruits in us, especially the fruit of loving mercy.

The faith of the people we read about in the first reading is amazing. “Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them” (Acts 5:15). If Peter’s shadow had such power, imagine how much more the power of the Body and Blood of Jesus!

As we celebrate the Feast of Divine Mercy Sunday, may there be many amazing testimonies of sanctification, deliverance, and physical and spiritual healing. Amen.  

St. Faustina's Prayer for Healing:

“Jesus may Your pure and healthy blood circulate in my ailing organism, and may Your pure and healthy body transform my weak body, and may a healthy and vigorous life throb within me, if it is truly Your holy will” (Diary 1089).

“For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

EASTER SUNDAY YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Acts 10:3, 37-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; 1 Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9

The celebration of the resurrection of the Lord is the greatest Christian celebration because it is the victory over death and the accomplishment of the salvation of humanity. The Easter date is not set as that of Christmas. It was in 325 AD, during the Council of Nicaea, that it was established that Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon, which usually occurs on or after March 21st.  Therefore, Easter is celebrated between March 22nd and April 25th. The Vatican has the Vatican Observatory, which provides Easter dates to the world. 

Easter is celebrated for 50 days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. The 50 days is called Eastertide. 

At Jesus’ crucifixion and death, his mission appeared to have ended up in a failure. But as we read in today’s gospel, “On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb” (John 20:1). An angel of the Lord removed the stone that sealed Jesus’ tomb (Matthew 28:2). Jesus was freed from the darkness of the tomb. Jesus’ mission came alive again with an explosion. From a few followers in Israel, Christianity became a world religion that has influenced every aspect of human existence. At present, out of about 8.2 billion of the world population, Christians are about 2.52 billion. This makes Christianity the largest religious group worldwide. The world population of Catholics is about 1.39 billion.

St. Peter explains what Easter means, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Easter means new birth and living hope. St. Paul tells us that Christianity is what it is because of the event of the resurrection. He writes in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching, empty too your faith.”

St. Paul tells us in the second reading that the Easter event makes us people who are raised with Christ (Colossians 3:1). Jesus is no longer in the tomb. Let us not remain in the tomb of sin and sorrow. May the angel who removed the stone over the tomb of Jesus visit us and remove every spiritual or physical stone that prevents us from being raised with Christ.

St. Paul encourages us to be transformed by the Easter event to become a people who “think of what is above, not of what is on earth” (Colossians 3:3). This means that we think and act according to what is pleasing to God, as St. Paul states in Philippians 4:8, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

St. Paul instructs us in the second reading to hide our life with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). In this world of violence, trials, and temptations, we must hide our lives with Christ in God. To be guided, protected, and defended from the onslaught of this world, the Evil One and his agents, we must hide our life with Christ in God.

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have become what St. Augustine calls “Easter people.” He says, “We are Easter people, and Alleluia is our song.” Pope St. John Paul II adds, “The joy of Easter should not be a shallow joy, but rather a joy that comes from faith, that grows through unselfish love, that respects the fundamental duty of love of neighbor, without which it would be unbecoming to speak of Joy. … An Easter person constantly reflects and asks himself or herself two important questions, ‘How can I become Jesus to my neighbor?’ and ‘How can others see Jesus in Me?”’

Jesus’ resurrection followed his passion, cross, crucifixion, and death. Therefore, the resurrection story is a story of hope, especially as Pope Francis calls us to celebrate this year as a of hope. We are not to give up in times of passions, crosses, crucifixions, and deaths but to look forward with hope to resurrection and glory that follow.

May our pains yield gains. May our thorns lead to crowns. May our crosses bring us victory. May the light of Christ, which we began to celebrate with Holy Saturday ceremonies, light our way and dispel every force of darkness. We pray with St. Paul that the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead give life to our mortal bodies also (Romans 8:11). Amen.

Happy and Spirit-filled Easter to you all!

GOOD FRIDAY, 2025 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.

What is good about Good Friday? Being such a gloomy day, the innocent Son of God was tortured and brutally executed by his crucifixion on the Cross? It is called ‘good’ because Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, and death are for our salvation and, therefore, for our good.

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.

Why did Jesus have to suffer gruesomely to accomplish our salvation? Could not our salvation be achieved by some other way? Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, and death is God’s plan for humanity’s 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 whatever he wills” (Psalm 113:3). Jesus cautioned the two men on their way to Emmaus, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26).

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 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?” May be, we will understand someday. May be, we will never understand. All are in God’s hand! As we contemplate and venerate the Cross 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 of safety and ladders of heaven. Amen. The message of the cross means nothing to a lot of people, but to us, it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Many times, we condemn those God used to bring to fulfilment the prophecies about our salvation; such as Judas who betrayed him; 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 and so on. How could our salvation have been possible without all these people? Every one of them played a role in God’s salvation plan for us. Many times, God uses what we consider unfavorable for our good.

The goodness of Good Friday is that the death and burial of Jesus are not the end of the story. His resurrection is. No matter our malefactors: the Judas, those who desert us, our false accusers, the Pilate, the jeering crowd, and the soldiers, let us pray and look forward to our own resurrection testimony. Cling to the old rugged Cross. It will one day be changed for a crown!

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 like we are offered vinegar to drink for our thirst. Some of us, as Prophet Isaiah states in the first reading, are crushed in 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).

On our own part, let us be like Pontius Pilate’s wife who did not support evil. Let us become instruments of relief like Simon of Cyrene to those who are suffering. Let us become instruments of empathy and consolation like Veronica. Let us not be silent but weep over evil like daughters of Jerusalem. Let us support the distressed and the grieving like Mary, the wife of Clopas and Mary of Magdala. Let us not relent in corporal works of mercy like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.

God did not abandon the Israelites when they sinned and were attacked by ferocious snakes. He directed Moses to mold a bronze serpent and place it on a pole, so that “anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed” (Numbers 21:9). If the bronze serpent gave healing, how much more we will receive healing by venerating the Cross? Jesus promises us, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (John12:32). Prophet Isaiah prays for us in the first reading, “… by his stripes we are healed.” Amen.

HOLY THURSDAY, 2025 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. 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).

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. We read in the second reading, “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.

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, “Do this in remembrance of me.” However, we are all “priestly people” (1 Peter 2:9) as we partake in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Jesus commanded all of us, “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 non-negotiable but to be obeyed as stated!

The priest used to end the Eucharistic celebration with the Latin words, 'Ite missa est,' translated, “Go, it is the dismissal.” A more meaningful translation of 'Ite missa est is,' “Go, you are sent on mission,” the mission of witnessing. Catholics call the Eucharistic celebration ‘Mass,’ derived from the Latin word 'missa,' a catchword in the Latin dismissal farewell.   

Acting 'in persona Christi' (in the person of Christ), after each Eucharistic celebration, the priest re-commissions everyone to go and 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 C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56 

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 Luke invites us, once again, to participate step by step in the passion journey of Jesus Christ, which we began with the Stations of the Cross.

Almost all Jewish prophets prophesied the coming of the messiah who was to 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. For that reason, on arriving in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, he was given a rousing and heroic welcome. We read in today’s gospel, “As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest”’ (Luke 19:36-38).

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. Waving of palm branches is an expression of victory. ‘Hosanna’ is an Aramaic word which means, “save us now.”

Palm leaves have more meanings. 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, 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. In some cultures, palm leaves are used to identify sacred or secured or prohibited places or objects. Therefore, the palm leaves mean that in Jesus, we are made sacred and secured. Jesus has placed his mark of prohibition on us against the evil one. However, the effectiveness of the prohibition or the lifting of the prohibition is determined by us. In Jesus we are, “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, … called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). Remaining in the wonderful light is determined by us.

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 to be burned and the ashes are put on our forehead on Ash Wednesday.

I don’t think that the people would have given Jesus such a rousing and heroic welcome if they knew he was not a political messiah. A few days later, the same crowd shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” I guess that the people were frustrated and disappointed that Jesus did not fulfill their expectation. If Jesus had overthrown the Roman leadership, everyone would have stood behind him. He would not have been crucified. Are we like the crowd? Do we get very disappointed, frustrated, and upset when our expectations are not met or when we fail to get what we want? Do we then become aggressive, destructive, or even murderous?

As we read in the gospel, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a colt (a young donkey). Jesus chose to ride on a donkey instead of a horse.  During Jesus’ time, horse was the means of transportation for the rich, the high and the mighty, while donkey was the means of transportation for the poor. By riding on a donkey, Jesus identified himself with the poor and the lowly. By riding on a donkey, Jesus teaches us the importance of detachment and humility.  Jesus says, “Learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Paul writes in the second reading that although Jesus was God, he emptied himself of his God-ness to become a human being. “… he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

Jesus identified himself with a donkey, which is a beast of burden to fulfill Isaiah 53:54, “He took up our pain and bore our suffering.” As donkeys carry loads, Jesus carries our pains and sufferings. Jesus is acting through us when we help to take up others’ pains and bore others’ sufferings.

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…”

Today’s celebration becomes even more meaningful if Jesus makes a triumphal entry into our lives. May nothing prevent Jesus’ entry into our lives. Amen.

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 1-6; Philippians 3:8-14; John 8:1-8

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. As we draw near to the Holy Week, the readings of today encourage us to confront and free ourselves from whatever keeps us in sin and bondage so as to welcome the new things God is doing.

The first reading is Isaiah’s prophecy to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. God was going to do a new thing: to liberate them and return them to their own land. The prophecy was fulfilled when God used Cyrus, king of Persia, to free the Israelites from the Babylonian captivity (Ezra 1:2-4). Isaiah prophesied God’s plan. “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!” The immediacy of God’s plan is reflected in these words, “Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19). 

It is in the spirit of such freedom that St. Paul declares in the second reading, “I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him… Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit towards the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8).

This Sunday’s readings and reflection are a continuation of the theme of last Sunday’s readings and reflection. The last Sunday’s gospel was about the prodigal son who was able to rise from the severe famine stricken country and the wretched state he landed himself into and returned to his father. He is an inspiration to many of us to rise from sin; to rise from the events of the past; to rise from things of long ago; to rise from what lies behind; and go forward to freedom; go forward to something new; go forward to what lies ahead; go forward to a new life in Christ. What sin, what events of the past, what things of long ago have I clung to? Last Sunday, St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5: 17, “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: old things have passed away, behold, new things have come.” This Sunday, he continues, “… forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead.”

In today’s gospel, the scribes and the Pharisees had judged and condemned the woman caught in adultery. The woman committed adultery with a man. Where was the man? We see this type of ‘selective injustice’ all around us. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy when he said to them, “Let the one who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. … And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders.” The inconsistency in the application of rules, laws, and privileges is almost seen as normal in our society. George Orwell writes in his novel _Animal Farm,_ “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

We also see all kinds of prejudice and humiliation against women in many cultures and institutions. Unfortunately, though, some women bring themselves low by the things they do by themselves and the things they do to themselves.

Jesus freed the woman by saying to her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on, do not sin anymore.” Jesus Christ sets us free from ourselves, from others, from the world, and from the evil one. Jesus says, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Therefore, let us come to him for true freedom.

Jesus wrote on the ground, then said, “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” (John 8:6-8). Up till now, theologians and Bible interpreters continue to try to guess what Jesus wrote on the ground twice. I think that Jesus wrote what he wanted to say to his questioners, he said it to them, and rewrote it to let them know that he was not a hypocrite like them who were so deceptive that their words cannot be trusted. Let us not be like the scribes and the Pharisees whose words and actions are different from the hidden ulterior motives in their minds; people who cannot be trusted.

A story is told of a child who threw his coin into a bottle-neck vase. He put his hand in the vase and picked his coin. Lo and behold, he couldn’t bring out his hand. His father came to his aid but realized that the child’s hand could not come out from the bottle as long as the child held the coin. The father said to him, “Drop the coin, free your fingers, keep your fingers straight, and bring your hand out.” The child replied, “No, dad, I can’t let go of my coin.” The father said, “Son, listen to me; let go of the coin and free yourself!” Many of us are trapped like this child as long as we do not let go. Let us let go and let God.

Isaiah prophesied to the Jews as we read in the first reading: “Thus says the Lord, who opens a way in the sea… I am doing something new… In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers…I put water in the desert and river in the wasteland for my chosen to drink…” Today, this prophecy is for us. May this prophecy be fulfilled in us and be fulfilled in many helpless cases. Amen.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Joshua 5:9, 10-12; Psalm 34:2-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday (Sunday of Joy). 'Laetare,' Latin word, meaning ‘rejoice’ is 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 the austere practices and celebrate. Laetare Sunday foreshadows the hope and joy that await us at Easter as we continue our Lenten journey.

On arrival in the Promised Land, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. Before the celebration of the Passover, God commanded Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise Israel… None of those born in the wilderness during the journey after the departure from Egypt were circumcised… When the circumcision of the entire nation was complete, they remained in camp where they were, until they recovered. Then the Lord said to Joshua: Today, I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you” (Joshua 5:1-9).

The circumcision is a sign of cleansing and reconciliation with God. In the same way, we are required to go through spiritual circumcision, that is the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as we journey through the Lenten season and as we prepare to celebrate Easter. If physical circumcision was capable of removing the “reproach of Egypt” and sanctifying the entire nation; even more so the Sacrament of Reconciliation is capable of obtaining forgiveness and removing the reproach of our sins. The power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is as St. Paul states in the second reading: It makes us new creatures in Christ, old things pass away, and new things come. St. Paul continues, “All this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation…”  Therefore, the ministry of reconciliation is God’s creation, not the Church!

God said to Joshua, “Today, I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.” We stand on this word of God and pray that God makes the same declaration upon us. Let us present to God our various ‘reproaches’ inflicted on us by difficulties of life. We pray that God removes them as he removed that of the Israelites. Amen.

One more lesson from the first reading: “On the day after the Passover they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain. On that same day after they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who [from] that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan” (Joshua 5:11-12). This means that “manna” does not fall forever. Some children, some young people, some adults, some organizations, some countries, and some leaders lack this wisdom. The blessings, talents, time, opportunities, and resources God gives us must not be taken for granted or waisted but be well appropriated since at a certain time, “manna” will cease to fall.

We have a lot to learn from the four individuals in today’s gospel reading.

The servant was hasty with his response to the question of the older brother. The servant’s emphasis on the slaughtering of the fattened calf was a trigger and setting a fire. “Your brother has returned, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf…” He was not asked about the fattened calf. Proverbs 10:19 says, “Where words are many sin is not wanting.” St. James says, “The tongue is a fire” (James 3:6). We pray with Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard, Lord, before my mouth, keep watch over the door of my lips.”

The older brother represents the Pharisees, the scribes, and the chief priests who did not believe that there was salvation for tax collectors, sinners, and the Gentiles. Like the older brother, they were “angry and refused to enter the house…” Jesus is the ‘house.’ In our time, the older brother represents people who write off others. The older brother represents people who work very hard but are very unhappy, full of complaints, envy, resentment, anger, and grudges.

The father never gave up on his lost son. He celebrated his return and restored him to his former princely position. The finest robe means restoring his royalty. The ring on his finger means renewing the father-son covenant broken by the son’s departure. Sandals on his feet means restoring the son’s lost confidence. He granted his son unconditional forgiveness. God does not give up on us. He forgives us unconditionally when we make a true contrition. And Jesus teaches us to forgive others as God forgives us (Luke 11:4).

The prodigal son represents the tax collectors, the sinners, and the Gentiles who came to believe in Jesus and followed him. The prodigal son’s ability to come to his senses, rise above shame and guilt, and return to his father is very remarkable. A person can only be written off if the person writes himself or herself off. The prodigal son encourages and inspires us not to remain where we have fallen or in our sin or guilt or wound or setback of the past. Jesus’ rising after three falls as depicted in the Stations of the Cross teaches us that fall is not failure. Failure is the inability to rise when one falls.

The Lenten season of grace is a time for spiritual circumcision. It is a time to come to our senses and rise up from where we have fallen.

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15; Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 11; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9

The first reading is about the call of Moses. Moses had fled from Egypt to Midian. There, he was tending the flock of his father-in-law. While in the region of Mount Horeb, he was called by God in an extraordinary way. Moses saw a fire flaming out of a bush, but the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. Moses decided to go and see why the bush was not burned. When Moses came near, God called him from the bush, ‘“Moses! Moses!’ He answered, ‘I am here.’ God said, ‘Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. …’” God, then, gave Moses the mission to go and get the Israelites out of Egypt.

The hymn, “Holy Ground,” comes to mind:

This is holy ground

We're standing on holy ground

For the Lord is present

And where He is is holy

This is holy ground

We're standing on holy ground

For the Lord is present

And where He is is holy

It is important to remind ourselves that the Catholic Church teaches that the burning bush experience gives us a good understanding of the dogma of the perpetual virginity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As the bush burned without being consumed by fire, so Mary conceived Jesus without losing her virginity.

We need not wait for God to call us in an extraordinary way as he called Moses. The Spirit of God may be ministering to our hearts and sending us on a mission to free someone in an affliction or to rescue a situation or to perform a good work. Our excuses and reluctance are the ‘sandals’ on our feet. Some of us are wearing really oversized and heavy ‘sandals’ that prevent us from lifting our feet to doing what God wants us to do.

When the Spirit of God ministers a call in our hearts, let us not reject the call. Let us, rather, pray for the grace we need. St. Bernardine of Siena writes, “This is a general rule that applies to a rational creature. Whenever divine grace selects someone to serve a particular grace or some especially favored position, all the gifts for his state are given to that person and enrich him abundantly.” Simply put, when God gives us a mission, he gives us the grace. God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 2:9).

The ‘sandals’ on our feet are our sins and weaknesses that prevent us from coming close to God. During the Lenten journey, we are invited to remove those ‘sandals.’ The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a great opportunity. Further, we are invited to reconcile and make peace with one another. Jesus warns us in the gospel not to delay to return to God. We are old enough to die as soon as we are conceived in our mothers’ womb. Everyone is only a step away from death. Jesus reminds us that death can be very sudden like those killed when the Tower of Siloam fell on them. St. Paul writes in the second reading, “These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us ... Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall” (1 Corinthians 10:11-12).

The gospel reminds us that although we are sinners and unworthy, yet God gives us opportunities to return to him, or to become what he wants us to become, or to make progress, or rise to greater heights, or to break new grounds, or to bear fruits. Let us not waste such opportunities because some missed opportunities are rare to come by. A proverb says, “Make hay while the sun shines.”

The gospel is also a reminder that we need to be patient with ourselves and with one another and support one another in every way possible. Someone writes, “Be patient with slow growers, late bloomers, and those unseeing.” St. Paul advises us, “We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves; let each of us please our neighbor for the good, for building up” (Romans 15:1-2). Barbara Lee wrote a book she titled, “God Isn’t Finished With Me Yet,” where she encourages us that God does meet us with unexpected grace where we do not foresee it, and when we do not give up.

We are challenged with various invitations on this third week of Lent. Some of us are invited to remove oversized and heavy ‘sandals’ in order to repent from sin and come nearer to God. Some of us are encouraged to accept God’s invitation to do good. Some of us are challenged to rise to greater height. Some of us are invited not to despair or give up. Some of us are encouraged to be patient with ourselves and with others. Some of us are warned not to be overconfident lest we fall. Do you find yourself in any of the invitations?

God said to Moses, “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry of complaint … I know well what they are suffering.” O God, hear our cry of complaint and save us as you saved your people. Amen.