March 12, 2026
Thursday of the Third Week of Lent
Gospel: Luke 11:14-23

In our lives, we often face criticism for all that we do. Especially when we spontaneously assist those who are lonely and vulnerable, those who witness our good deeds may, like the crowds who saw Jesus driving out demons (cf. Lk 11:15-16), believe that our achievements are not from good works but from satisfying our own desires to gain praise in this fleeting world.

How should we act when we endure such criticism, that we may be worthy of God’s blessing? If we debate with those who hold different views on certain matters and try to outwit them with our own reason, we would, as Jesus said (cf. Lk 11:17-19), lose the peace God originally bestowed upon us, leading us to fall into eternal perdition together in hatred for one another. But if we strive to learn from Christ, “the One lifted up from the earth [who] will draw all to Himself” (cf. Jn 12:31B-32), we will discover this: in the eyes of the world, the cross was once an instrument of extreme cruelty, sowing hatred among people; yet for those who, through Baptism in Christ, “have crucified the old self with Christ, so that the self belonging to sin might die and we might no longer be slaves to sin” (cf. Rom 6:6); who “rely on the Holy Spirit to put to death the misdeeds of the body and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, becoming children of God” (cf. Rom 8:13-14); and who share “the one cup of blessing which we bless, and the one bread which we break, and are all united in Jesus Christ” (cf. 1 Cor 10:1-17)—for these, the cross is not an instrument of division, but a sign of reconciliation with the Father and all His creation. For the Christ lifted high on the cross once “with loud cries and tears, offered prayers and supplications to the One who could save Him from death” (cf. Heb 5:7). As He hung on the cross, He prayed to the Father: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (cf. Lk 23:34).

We implore your majesty most humbly, O Lord,
that, as the feast of our salvation draws ever closer,
so we may press forward all the more eagerly
towards the worthy celebration of the Paschal Mystery.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica