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
March 11, 2026 Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19 Jesus Christ: The Fulfiller of All the Law and the Prophets
We often treat our relationship with God casually, according to our own understanding of His holy will. In our view, if everything God bestows upon us is not what we hope to receive from Him in our hearts, we will turn away from Him. When such thoughts dwell in our hearts, our actions will react accordingly—that is, like the Pharisees, we will arbitrarily add to or subtract from all that God has revealed to us through His Church as His holy will, according to our own understanding of His will.
Today, Jesus tells us: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the least stroke of a letter will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (cf. Mt 5:17-18). He came into the world to correct the errors caused by the Pharisees, whose God was a harsh deity whom they arbitrarily altered in the Torah; He also came to correct the errors of the Sadducees, who portrayed God as one who delights in sacrifices. We know that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had made purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (cf. Heb 1:3). St. Paul the Apostle says: “God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as an offering for sin, and condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (cf. Rom 8:1-4). Therefore, He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to restore them to their original state, revealing to us the true God.
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that, schooled through Lenten observance and nourished by your word, through holy restraint we may be devoted to you with all our heart and be ever united in prayer. 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
March 10, 2026 Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35
Today is Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent. The passage from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew presents a dialogue between Jesus and Peter.
St. Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? Up to seven times?” (cf. Mt 18:21) This resonates with the attitude we often hold in daily life. For at times, we too set a limit for ourselves in every matter—a limit that we arbitrarily establish. Thus, when Jesus says, “I tell you, not seven times but seventy-seven times” (cf. Mt 18:22), we might naturally interpret this to mean: for me, I only need to forgive others 490 times, and beyond that limit, I can retaliate justifiably.
In fact, like the servant in the parable told by Jesus today who was unable to repay his huge debt, we have committed many sins. For from the moment we are born into the world, we are stained with the guilt of original sin due to the disobedience of our first parents (Adam and Eve). The infinitely merciful God, in accordance with His divine providence, when the fullness of time had come, sent His only Son into the world so that whoever believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life (cf. Jn 3:16).
What do we do after our sins are forgiven? I believe that among us, there are some brothers and sisters who, like the wicked servant in the parable (Mt 18:28-30)—who, after having all his debt forgiven by his master, still demanded repayment of what was owed to him—remain preoccupied with the things of this world, neglecting the happiness that God has prepared for us from the very beginning of creation. The happiness that God has prepared for us from the very beginning of creation is this: with the assistance of His grace, we are washed clean of our original sin by the living water flowing from Christ’s sacred side, and by receiving the Holy Spirit whom He sent to us after Christ’s Ascension, we begin a new life in the infinite love of Christ.
May your grace not forsake us, O Lord, we pray, but make us dedicated to your holy service and at all times obtain for us your help. 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
今天教會慶祝羅馬的聖方濟各貞女的自由紀念瞻禮。聖人在於1384年出生於羅馬的一個富裕的貴族家庭。她在著名的納沃納廣場（Piazza Navona）的聖依搦斯蒙難堂（Chiesa di Sant’Agnese in Agone）領洗。聖人在11歲的時候想成為修女，可是，她的父母在她12歲的時候強迫她嫁給洛倫佐·龐齊亞尼（Lorenzo Ponziani），他是羅馬教宗軍隊的指控官，家境極其富裕。儘管這場婚姻是父母安排的，可是，在她婚後四十年以來，她過得幸福美滿。 羅馬教宗與西方天主教會大分裂期間，洛倫佐為教宗服務。據說：他們的兒子巴蒂斯塔（Battista）被作為人質送給了那不勒斯軍隊的指揮官。聖人遵從其神師的命令，將兒子帶到了坎皮多利奧（Campidoglio）。途中，她停在當地的阿拉科埃利教堂（Church of the Aracoeli），將兒子的生命託付給了聖母。當他們到達指定地點時，士兵們試圖將她的兒子放在馬上，以便將他押送至囚禁地。然而，儘管士兵們狠狠地抽打馬匹，它卻一動不動。士兵們認為這是天主的旨意，於是將男孩交還給了他的母親。 1425年8月15日，聖母升天節，她創立了奧利韋坦聖母獻身會（Olivetan Oblates of Mary），這是一個由虔誠女性組成的團體，隸屬于羅馬聖母新修道院（Abbey of Santa Maria Nova in Rome）的奧利韋坦修士管理之下，但她們既不隱修，也不受正式誓言的約束，因此她們可以遵循她的模式，將祈禱生活與滿足社會需求相結合。 約1650年 1433年3月，她在坎皮多利奧附近的托爾德斯佩基創立了一座修道院，以供那些自稱為“共濟會”成員的人過共同生活。這座修道院至今仍是該修會唯一的院所。同年7月4日，該團體獲教皇尤金四世批准，成為具有私人宗教誓言的獻身者修會。該團體後來簡稱為“羅馬聖方濟各獻身者”。 聖人在自己丈夫生命的最後七年裡，她一直照料著他在戰鬥中受傷的丈夫。當丈夫于1436年去世時，她搬進了修道院，並成為了院長。她於1440年去世，並被安葬在新聖母堂。 1608年5月9日，教宗保祿五世冊封她為聖人，1925年，教宗庇護十一世把她宣為汽車駕駛員的主保，因為有傳言說：她在出行的時候，有天使用燈照亮她的前路，使她遠離危險。在本篤會中，她也被尊為奉獻者的主保。聖人也是寡婦的主保聖人。
今天教会庆祝罗马的圣方济各贞女的自由纪念瞻礼。圣人在于1384年出生于罗马的一个富裕的贵族家庭。她在著名的纳沃纳广场（Piazza Navona）的圣依搦斯蒙难堂（Chiesa di Sant’Agnese in Agone）领洗。圣人在11岁的时候想成为修女，可是，她的父母在她12岁的时候强迫她嫁给洛伦佐·庞齐亚尼（Lorenzo Ponziani），他是罗马教宗军队的指控官，家境极其富裕。尽管这场婚姻是父母安排的，可是，在她婚后四十年以来，她过得幸福美满。 罗马教宗与西方天主教会大分裂期间，洛伦佐为教宗服务。据说：他们的儿子巴蒂斯塔（Battista）被作为人质送给了那不勒斯军队的指挥官。圣人遵从其神师的命令，将儿子带到了坎皮多利奥（Campidoglio）。途中，她停在当地的阿拉科埃利教堂（Church of the Aracoeli），将儿子的生命托付给了圣母。当他们到达指定地点时，士兵们试图将她的儿子放在马上，以便将他押送至囚禁地。然而，尽管士兵们狠狠地抽打马匹，它却一动不动。士兵们认为这是天主的旨意，于是将男孩交还给了他的母亲。 1425年8月15日，圣母升天节，她创立了奥利韦坦圣母献身会（Olivetan Oblates of Mary），这是一个由虔诚女性组成的团体，隶属于罗马圣母新修道院（Abbey of Santa Maria Nova in Rome）的奥利韦坦修士管理之下，但她们既不隐修，也不受正式誓言的约束，因此她们可以遵循她的模式，将祈祷生活与满足社会需求相结合。 约1650年 1433年3月，她在坎皮多利奥附近的托尔德斯佩基创立了一座修道院，以供那些自称为“共济会”成员的人过共同生活。这座修道院至今仍是该修会唯一的院所。同年7月4日，该团体获教皇尤金四世批准，成为具有私人宗教誓言的献身者修会。该团体后来简称为“罗马圣方济各献身者”。 圣人在自己丈夫生命的最后七年里，她一直照料着他在战斗中受伤的丈夫。当丈夫于1436年去世时，她搬进了修道院，并成为了院长。她于1440年去世，并被安葬在新圣母堂。 1608年5月9日，教宗保禄五世册封她为圣人，1925年，教宗庇护十一世把她宣为汽车驾驶员的主保，因为有传言说：她在出行的时候，有天使用灯照亮她的前路，使她远离危险。在本笃会中，她也被尊为奉献者的主保。圣人也是寡妇的主保圣人。
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