LENTEN MESSAGE OF POPE FRANCIS

In order to give hope to others, it is sometimes enough simply to be kind, to speak a word of encouragement, to listen amid general indifference.

Are my words filled with kindness?


TODAY'S WORD

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore

Isaiah: 49:1 "The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb He named me."


TODAY'S REFLECTION

FIRST READING

The first time this prophecy was proclaimed, the Israelites were living in captivity under the Babylonians. 


And yet God was promising them a servant who would rescue them, not just from their geographical captivity, but from the captivity of their sinfulness. 


And not only them—the servant would be “a light to the nations,” reaching to “the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). 


God wanted to touch all of humanity. 


Reading these words today, we can see how God has accomplished His plan through the birth, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.


GOSPEL READING


In this morning’s gospel reading three of the disciples at the last supper are singled out by the evangelist, the disciple Jesus loved, Simon Peter and Judas. 


Judas symbolized total failure in discipleship; he left the room and went out into the darkness to betray Jesus. 


Peter symbolized partial failure; he publicly denied Jesus three times but after the resurrection he would renew his love of Jesus and would die a martyr’s death. 


The beloved disciple symbolizes the complete absence of failure; he remained faithful to Jesus at all times, and was the only male disciple at the foot of the cross, according to John’s gospel. 


If we wanted to identify ourselves with any of the three, probably Peter is the one we find it easier to identify with. 


He has that mixture of failure and loyalty that is in us all, to different degrees. 


The beloved disciple is the one we would like to be; we would like to have a love for the Lord that is as faithful as his love for us. 


Yet, it was to Peter that the Lord entrusted the care of his flock, ‘Feed my lambs, feed my flock’. 


The story of Peter reminds us that the Lord does not wait for us to be complete disciples before entrusting us with pastoral responsibility for others. 


We all have been given such responsibility in one shape or form. 


RESOLUTION

Let's resolve to keep on renewing our love for Him. 


PRAYER

Father, may my baptismal light be so bright as to pierce the darkness.


GOOD MORNING 

HAVE AN AMAZING DAY