Vox Divini Meditation Notes: March 2026

March 1, 2026 – Second Sunday of Lent
Gospel Reading: Mt 17:1–9 (The Transfiguration)
Context: In the ancient world, high mountains were seen as places where heaven and earth almost touched. People climbed them only with great effort and respect. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a steep path. Their legs ache. Their breath is short. At the top something wonderful happens. Jesus’ face shines like the sun. His clothes become dazzling white. For Jewish people this bright light reminded them of the cloud of God’s glory that filled the temple long ago. Moses and Elijah appear beside Him. They represent the Law and the Prophets. The disciples fall on their faces in fear. In that moment of terror Jesus does not stay far away. He comes close. He touches them gently. He speaks softly. He brings them back to the ground. Even in His glory, He remains close and kind.
Word: “Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and do not be afraid.’” (Mt 17:7)

Engage 1: Jesus uses His moments of success and glory not to show off, but to give His friends the strength they will need for future trials.
Incidents: Jesus appears on the road to Emmaus to warm the hearts of discouraged friends (Lk 24:32); Jesus shows His wounds to Thomas to replace fear with peace (Jn 20:27).
Engage 2: Even when He is at His most powerful, Jesus remains gentle enough to offer a simple, physical touch to calm a frightened soul.
Incidents: Jesus takes the hand of Jairus’ daughter to wake her from death (Mk 5:41); Jesus touches the eyes of the blind man to restore his sight (Mt 9:29).

March 2, 2026 – Monday
Gospel Reading: Lk 6:36–38
Context: In Jesus’ time, people often lived by the rule “hurt me and I hurt you back.” Revenge was normal. Mercy was rare. Jesus teaches a completely different way. He uses an everyday picture from the grain market. When a merchant sells grain he presses it down. He shakes the basket. He piles it high until it overflows into the buyer’s lap. That is how God gives mercy. He does not measure with a small cup. He pours with a full bucket that never runs dry. In a hard world where people kept strict accounts of wrongs, Jesus says God keeps no record of debts. He gives freely. He invites us to do the same. Mercy is not weakness. It is the strongest power of all.
Word: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Lk 6:36)

Engage 1: Jesus looks at people’s potential for change rather than their past mistakes.
Incidents: Jesus eats with Zacchaeus, ignoring the whispers of the crowd (Lk 19:5-7); Jesus calls Levi the tax collector to be an Apostle (Mk 2:14).
Engage 2: Jesus invites us to give more than what is strictly “fair” because He knows that generosity heals the giver as much as the receiver.
Incidents: Jesus feeds five thousand people when they only asked for a teaching (Mt 14:14-21); Jesus provides the best wine at Cana (Jn 2:7-10).

March 3, 2026 – Tuesday
Gospel Reading: Mt 23:1–12
Context: In Jerusalem, the Pharisees wore large leather boxes called phylacteries on their foreheads and arms. Inside were tiny scrolls of Scripture. They made the boxes bigger to look more holy. People respected them for their learning and long prayers. Titles like “Rabbi” and “Father” were used with great honour. Jesus stands in the temple area and speaks plainly. He says real greatness is not in big boxes or fancy titles. It is in humble service. In that culture, servants did the lowest work. Jesus turns everything upside down. He says the greatest person is the one who serves like a servant. He wants us to stop performing for others and start caring for others quietly. Humility is the real path to God.
Word: “The greatest among you must be your servant.” (Mt 23:11)

Engage 1: Jesus finds beauty in “hidden” service that no one else sees or applauds.
Incidents: Jesus notices the widow putting two small coins into the treasury (Mk 12:41-44); Jesus washes the dusty feet of His friends (Jn 13:5).
Engage 2: Jesus values humility because it keeps us grounded and connected to the people around us.
Incidents: Jesus allows Himself to be baptized by John, standing in line with sinners (Mt 3:13-15); Jesus chooses to live in a “nowhere” town like Nazareth for thirty years (Lk 2:51-52).

March 4, 2026 – Wednesday
Gospel Reading: Mt 20:17–28
Context: Jesus is walking toward Jerusalem. He knows arrest and death are coming. On the way James and John send their mother to ask for the best places in His kingdom. They are thinking about power and honour. Jesus is thinking about the cross. The other disciples become angry. Jealousy spreads quickly. In Roman society, leaders ruled with force. The biggest person sat highest. Jesus gathers them all. He says His kingdom is different. The greatest is the one who serves. The leader is the one who carries the heaviest load for others. In a world that admired power, Jesus shows that real strength is love that serves. He lived it every day.
Word: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” (Mt 20:28)

Engage 1: Jesus remains focused on His mission of love, even when those closest to Him completely misunderstand Him.
Incidents: Jesus continues to teach even when the crowds only follow Him for free bread (Jn 6:26); Jesus heals the ear of the high priest’s servant during His own arrest (Lk 22:51).
Engage 2: Jesus invites us to measure our “greatness” by how much we help others succeed, rather than how much we win for ourselves.
Incidents: Jesus spends all night healing the sick who crowd His door (Mk 1:32-34); Jesus feeds the disciples on the beach after they failed at fishing (Jn 21:9-12).

March 5, 2026 – Thursday
Gospel Reading: Lk 16:19–31
Context: In Jesus’ time, rich people wore purple cloth dyed with expensive sea-snail juice. They dressed in fine linen. Poor people wore rough cloth and went barefoot. The rich man in the story is not called evil. He simply lives in comfort and feasts every day. He does not notice Lazarus lying at his gate, covered with sores. In Jewish culture, naming a person gave them dignity. Jesus names the beggar Lazarus but leaves the rich man nameless. This turns the social order upside down. The poor man has a name with God. The rich man becomes invisible. Jesus warns that a heart closed to the poor slowly becomes blind to God.
Word: “Lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus.” (Lk 16:20)

Engage 1: Jesus identifies with the “invisible” people of society and gives them a name and dignity.
Incidents: Jesus stops a whole crowd to find the woman who touched His cloak in secret (Lk 8:45-47); Jesus spends time with children whom others tried to shoo away (Mt 19:13-14).
Engage 2: Jesus encourages us to “wake up” to the needs right at our doorstep before it’s too late.
Incidents: Jesus stops to talk to the blind man by the roadside when everyone told him to be quiet (Mk 10:46-52); Jesus notices the hunger of the crowd before they even realize they are hungry (Mk 8:1-3).

March 6, 2026 – Friday
Gospel Reading: Mt 21:33–43, 45–46
Context: In Israel, vineyards were valuable. They were surrounded by stone walls and had watchtowers to protect the grapes. The owner rented the vineyard to tenants. They were supposed to give him part of the harvest. Instead, they beat the servants and killed the owner’s son to keep the vineyard for themselves. Jesus tells this story in the temple courts. The chief priests and elders listen. They understand He is speaking about them. They feel the sharp truth. The air becomes tense. Jesus knows His words are dangerous. Yet He speaks to them anyway. Truth matters more than safety.
Word: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (Mt 21:42)

Engage 1: Jesus accepts being “rejected” so that He can become a firm foundation for those who feel lost.
Incidents: Jesus is rejected in His hometown but continues His work elsewhere (Lk 4:28-30); Jesus stays silent before Herod’s mockery to maintain His dignity (Lk 23:8-9).
Engage 2: Jesus shows us that being “successful” in God’s eyes often means staying faithful even when everyone else turns against you.
Incidents: Jesus stays on the Cross even when people mock Him to “come down” (Mt 27:41-43); Jesus returns to Judea even when He knows there is a plot to kill Him (Jn 11:7-8).

March 7, 2026 – Saturday
Gospel Reading: Lk 15:1–3, 11–32 (The Prodigal Son)
Context: Jesus sits with tax collectors and sinners. The religious teachers call them “garbage.” They grumble that He welcomes such people. To explain His heart, Jesus tells the story of a father with two sons. The younger son takes his share and leaves home. He wastes everything in wild living. When he returns hungry and ashamed, the father runs to him. In that culture, old men did not run. It was undignified. Yet the father runs. He throws his arms around his son. He puts a robe on him and a ring on his finger. He orders a feast. The older son stays angry. Jesus shows us a God who is not ashamed to run to us. His love is bigger than our shame.
Word: “While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him.” (Lk 15:20)

Engage 1: Jesus shows us a God who is “on the lookout” for us, ready to welcome us before we even say “sorry.”
Incidents: Jesus goes to the Pool of Bethesda to find the man who had been sick for 38 years (Jn 5:5-6); Jesus searches for the man born blind after he was kicked out (Jn 9:35).
Engage 2: Jesus invites us to celebrate when others succeed or return, rather than being jealous or resentful like the “older brother.”
Incidents: Jesus rejoices when the seventy disciples return from their mission (Lk 10:21); Jesus invites everyone to the feast, especially those who can’t pay Him back (Lk 14:12-14).

March 8, 2026 – Third Sunday of Lent (Year A)
Gospel Reading: Jn 4:5–42 (The Samaritan Woman)
Context: Noon is the hottest time in Samaria. Most women came to the well early in the morning or late in the evening. This woman comes alone at noon probably to avoid meeting other people. Jesus sits by Jacob’s well. He is tired and thirsty. He asks her for a drink. In that culture, Jewish men did not speak to Samaritan women in public. They certainly did not ask for water. Jesus breaks every rule to reach her heart. He speaks gently. He sees her pain. He offers living water that will never run dry. She opens her life to Him. She runs to tell her village. Many believe because of her words. Jesus meets us where we are. He is never ashamed to come close.
Word: “If you knew the gift of God… you would have asked him for living water.” (Jn 4:10)

Engage 1: Jesus makes Himself vulnerable by asking for help (a drink), which makes it easier for others to open up to Him.
Incidents: Jesus asks Zacchaeus if He can stay at his house (Lk 19:5); Jesus asks for a piece of fish after the Resurrection (Lk 24:41-43).
Engage 2: Jesus sees the truth of a person’s past without using it to shame them, choosing instead to invite them into a new future.
Incidents: Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you” (Jn 8:11); Jesus looks at Peter with mercy after the denial (Lk 22:61).

March 9, 2026 – Monday
Gospel Reading: Lk 4:24–30
Context: Jesus is back in Nazareth, the village where He grew up. Everyone knows Him. At first, they are proud. “This is Joseph’s son,” they say. Then Jesus speaks hard words. He reminds them that God sent Elijah to help a widow in Sidon and Elisha to heal Naaman the Syrian. Both were foreigners. The people in Nazareth feel insulted. Their local pride is hurt. They become furious. They drag Him to the edge of the hill to throw Him down. The cliff is steep. But Jesus walks calmly through the angry crowd. He goes away in peace. Even when His own people turn against Him He stays gentle and free.
Word: “No prophet is accepted in his own native place.” (Lk 4:24)

Engage 1: Jesus values the truth and the mission of God over the comfort of being liked by His friends and neighbors.
Incidents: Jesus rebukes Peter for trying to stop Him from going to the Cross (Mt 16:23); Jesus tells the wealthy young man the hard truth (Mk 10:21).
Engage 2: Jesus teaches us to keep moving forward with our good work even when the people closest to us don’t support us.
Incidents: Jesus continues to heal people even when He is accused of working for the devil (Lk 11:14-15); Jesus goes to Jerusalem even when His disciples try to talk Him out of it (Jn 11:8).

March 10, 2026 – Tuesday
Gospel Reading: Mt 18:21–35
Context: Peter asks a normal question. “How many times must I forgive someone who keeps hurting me? Seven times?” In Jewish teaching, forgiving three times was already generous. Seven felt very holy. Jesus answers, “seventy-seven times.” This means “always.” He tells a story of a king who forgives a servant a huge debt. The servant then refuses to forgive a small debt owed to him. He throws the man in prison. The king hears and punishes the unforgiving servant. Jesus says if we do not forgive from the heart, our Father will not forgive us. Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is a choice. It frees us as much as it frees others.
Word: “Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?” (Mt 18:33)

Engage 1: Jesus looks at our own need for mercy as the reason to be patient with others’ flaws.
Incidents: Jesus restores Peter after three denials by asking him “Do you love me?” (Jn 21:15-17); Jesus asks the Father to forgive those nailing Him to the cross (Lk 23:34).
Engage 2: Jesus wants us to realize that holding a grudge is a heavy burden that only keeps us in prison.
Incidents: Jesus heals the man at the pool and tells him to “sin no more” so he can be truly free (Jn 5:14); Jesus washes Judas’ feet even though He knows the betrayal is coming (Jn 13:5).

March 11, 2026 – Wednesday
Gospel Reading: Mt 5:17–19
Context: Some people thought Jesus came to destroy the old Law. They were afraid He was against Moses and the prophets. Jesus stands on the mountain and speaks clearly. He says He did not come to abolish the Law. He came to fulfil it. He loves every part—even the smallest letter. In Jewish life, the Law was a gift from God. It guided daily living. Jesus says real obedience is not just following rules. It is living them with love. The heart matters more than the letter. He wants us to do the small things with great love. That is how the Law becomes alive.
Word: “I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Mt 5:17)

Engage 1: Jesus shows us how to respect tradition while bringing a new, living spirit of love into old rules.
Incidents: Jesus pays the Temple tax so as not to cause offense (Mt 17:24-27); Jesus observes the Passover feast with His disciples (Lk 22:15).
Engage 2: Jesus values the “little things” in our spiritual life, knowing they build the foundation for the big things.
Incidents: Jesus notices the faith of someone who gives just a cup of cold water (Mt 10:42); Jesus spends time blessing small children when the disciples thought they were unimportant (Mk 10:13-16).

March 12, 2026 – Thursday
Gospel Reading: Lk 11:14–23
Context: Jesus heals a man who could not speak. The crowd should rejoice. Instead, some people whisper that He uses the power of Beelzebul. Others ask for a sign from heaven. Jesus stays calm. He answers with simple logic. A house divided against itself falls. Why would Satan fight against Satan? He says His healings are the finger of God at work. The kingdom is coming near. In that culture, people feared demons. They looked for signs of God’s power. Jesus does not argue or get angry. He points to the good that has happened. A man can speak again. That is the real sign.
Word: “If it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Lk 11:20)

Engage 1: Jesus remains calm and logical even when faced with unfair and malicious accusations.
Incidents: Jesus answers the high priest’s trick questions with wisdom (Mt 22:21); Jesus tells the Pharisees that the Sabbath was made for man (Mk 2:27).
Engage 2: Jesus teaches us to stay focused on the “good” being done, even if people are arguing about the details.
Incidents: Jesus tells His disciples not to stop someone from healing in His name just because they weren’t in the “inner group” (Mk 9:38-40); Jesus eats with sinners because they are the ones who need a doctor (Mt 9:12).

March 13, 2026 – Friday
Gospel Reading: Mk 12:28–34
Context: In the temple courts, a scribe asks Jesus a serious question. “Which commandment is the first of all?” This was a common debate among teachers. Some said many rules were equally important. Jesus answers simply: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbour as yourself. The scribe agrees. He says these two are greater than all burnt offerings. Jesus looks at him and says, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” In a time of many arguments, Jesus finds common ground. He honours the man’s honest heart. Love is the heart of everything.
Word: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” (Mk 12:34)

Engage 1: Jesus looks for common ground and encourages anyone who is moving toward the truth, even His critics.
Incidents: Jesus has a late-night conversation with Nicodemus (Jn 3:1); Jesus commends the faith of the Roman Centurion (Mt 8:10).
Engage 2: Jesus shows us that “knowing” the rules is good, but “living” the love is what brings us close to God.
Incidents: Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan to show that a “neighbor” is anyone in need (Lk 10:36-37); Jesus allows the woman to wash His feet because her great love was more important than the rules (Lk 7:47).

March 14, 2026 – Saturday
Gospel Reading: Lk 18:9–14
Context: Jesus tells a story of two men praying in the temple. One is a Pharisee. He stands in front and thanks God he is not like other sinners. He lists his good deeds. The other is a tax collector. He stands far back. He cannot even lift his eyes to heaven. He beats his breast and prays, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” In that culture, Pharisees were admired. Tax collectors were hated. Yet Jesus says the tax collector goes home right with God. Humility opens the door to mercy. Pride closes it. God sees the heart not the position.
Word: “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” (Lk 18:13)

Engage 1: Jesus values raw honesty about our weaknesses more than a polished image of our strengths.
Incidents: Jesus calls the “unclean” woman “daughter” after she admits to touching His cloak (Mk 5:34); Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of those holding stones (Jn 8:7).
Engage 2: Jesus teaches us that the best way to grow is to stay humble and realize we always have more to learn.
Incidents: Jesus allows Mary to sit at His feet and listen, saying she chose the “better part” (Lk 10:42); Jesus asks the blind man what he wants, listening to his needs first (Mk 10:51).

March 15, 2026 – Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year A)
Gospel Reading: Jn 9:1–41 (The Man Born Blind)
Context: In Jerusalem, people believed blindness was punishment for sin. The man born blind was blamed from birth. He sat begging every day. Jesus sees him differently. He is not a problem. He is a person. Jesus makes mud with spit and earth. He puts it on the man’s eyes. He tells him to wash in the pool of Siloam. The man obeys. He comes back seeing. The neighbours argue. The Pharisees question him. They throw him out. Jesus hears and finds him. In a world that judged quickly, Jesus sees with love. He gives sight to the eyes and dignity to the heart.
Word: “I came into this world… so that those who do not see might see.” (Jn 9:39)

Engage 1: Jesus treats the man with personal dignity, involving him in the healing process rather than just performing a distant miracle.
Incidents: Jesus tells the paralyzed man, “Pick up your mat and walk” (Mk 2:11); Jesus asks blind Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mk 10:51).
Engage 2: When the man is cast out by his community for following Jesus, Jesus goes out specifically to find him and offer him comfort.
Incidents: Jesus leaves the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep (Lk 15:4); Jesus searches for the disciples in the upper room (Jn 20:19).

March 16, 2026 – Monday
Gospel Reading: Jn 4:43–54
Context: A royal official works for Herod. His son is dying in Capernaum. He walks a long way to Cana to find Jesus. He begs Him to come and heal the boy. Jesus says, “Go. Your son will live.” The man believes the word and starts the journey home. On the way, servants meet him. They say the fever left at the very hour Jesus spoke. The man and all his household believe. In a time when people wanted to see miracles, Jesus asks for trust in His word alone. Faith grows when we act on what He says, even before we see the result.
Word: “Go; your son will live.” (Jn 4:50)

Engage 1: Jesus helps us grow in faith by asking us to trust His Word even when we cannot see immediate results.
Incidents: Jesus tells the disciples to cast their nets again after a night of catching nothing (Lk 5:4-5); Jesus tells the ten lepers to “show themselves to the priest” before they are healed (Lk 17:14).
Engage 2: Jesus responds to the heart of a parent’s love, no matter their social status or job.
Incidents: Jesus heals the daughter of a Canaanite woman (Mt 15:28); Jesus goes to the house of Jairus to help his sick daughter (Mk 5:23-24).

March 17, 2026 – Tuesday
Gospel Reading: Jn 5:1–16
Context: Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem stood the pool of Bethesda. It had five porches. Sick people waited there, hoping the water would move and heal them. One man had been ill for thirty-eight years. He had no one to help him into the water. Jesus sees him lying there. He asks a strange question: “Do you want to be well?” The man explains his problem. Jesus says, “Stand up. Take your mat and walk.” The man does. It is the Sabbath. Some leaders are angry because carrying a mat was work. Jesus meets a forgotten man in a place of waiting. He gives him back his life and his dignity.
Word: “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” (Jn 5:8)

Engage 1: Jesus approaches those who have been forgotten by everyone else and gives them back their sense of hope.
Incidents: Jesus heals the woman bent double for eighteen years (Lk 13:11-13); Jesus heals the mother-in-law of Peter who was sick with a fever (Mk 1:30-31).
Engage 2: Jesus encourages us to take the first step toward healing, even when we feel like we’ve failed for a long time.
Incidents: Jesus tells the man with the withered hand to “stretch it out” (Mk 3:5); Jesus tells Peter to “come” out of the boat and walk on water (Mt 14:29).

March 18, 2026 – Wednesday
Gospel Reading: Jn 5:17–30
Context: The leaders are upset because Jesus healed on the Sabbath. They say He breaks the law. Jesus answers quietly. He says His Father is always working. So He works too. He does only what He sees the Father doing. He listens to the Father’s heart. He does not seek His own will. He seeks the will of the One who sent Him. In Jewish life, the Sabbath was holy rest. Jesus shows that God’s work of love never stops. Healing and mercy are God’s work every day. Jesus lives in perfect union with the Father. Every step He takes flows from that deep listening.
Word: “The Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing.” (Jn 5:19)

Engage 1: Jesus models a life of “active listening,” where every action flows from a deep, quiet connection with God.
Incidents: Jesus goes off to a deserted place to pray before the sun rises (Mk 1:35); Jesus spends the whole night in prayer before choosing His Apostles (Lk 6:12).
Engage 2: Jesus teaches us that true power comes from being “connected” rather than being “in charge.”
Incidents: Jesus reminds the disciples that the branch must stay on the vine to bear fruit (Jn 15:5); Jesus prays in the garden, “not my will, but yours be done” (Lk 22:42).

March 19, 2026 – Thursday (Solemnity of St. Joseph)
Gospel Reading: Mt 1:16, 18–21, 24
Context: Joseph was a carpenter in Nazareth. He was a just man. When he learned Mary was with child, he planned to divorce her quietly. He did not want to shame her. An angel came in a dream. The angel told him the child was from the Holy Spirit. Joseph woke up. He did not argue. He did not ask for more signs. He simply did what the angel said. He took Mary as his wife. He named the child Jesus. In a small village, everyone talked. Joseph chose silence and protection. He worked with his hands. He guarded the Holy Family with steady love.
Word: “When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him.” (Mt 1:24)

Engage 1: Jesus learned the value of quiet, humble obedience and hard work from His earthly father, Joseph.
Incidents: Jesus works as a carpenter in Nazareth for thirty years (Mk 6:3); Jesus remains “obedient” to Mary and Joseph during His childhood (Lk 2:51).
Engage 2: Jesus shows us that being “just” means choosing the way of kindness even when the rules might allow us to be harsh.
Incidents: Jesus saves the woman from stoning (Jn 8:7); Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan to broaden the definition of love (Lk 10:30-37).

March 20, 2026 – Friday
Gospel Reading: Jn 7:1–2, 10, 25–30
Context: The Feast of Tabernacles was coming. Everyone went to Jerusalem. People whispered about Jesus. Some said He was good. Others said He led people astray. The leaders wanted to arrest Him. Jesus stayed away at first. Then He went quietly. In the middle of the feast, He taught openly in the temple. People argued. “Is this the Christ?” “We know where He comes from.” Jesus speaks plainly. He says they know His earthly home, but not the One who sent Him. He comes from the Father. He speaks the Father’s truth. In a city full of noise and danger, Jesus stays calm. His heart is fixed on the Father.
Word: “You know me and also know where I am from.” (Jn 7:28)

Engage 1: Jesus remains steadfast in His identity even when others try to label Him or limit Him by His background.
Incidents: Jesus continues His work even when His family thinks He is “out of His mind” (Mk 3:21); Jesus tells the high priest He is the Son of God (Mt 26:64).
Engage 2: Jesus teaches us not to judge people based on where they come from or what they look like.
Incidents: Jesus notices the faith of the Centurion who was a Roman soldier (Mt 8:10); Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman, ignoring her reputation (Jn 4:7).

March 21, 2026 – Saturday
Gospel Reading: Jn 7:40–53
Context: In Jerusalem, people listened to Jesus. Some said, “He is the Prophet.” Others said, “He is the Christ.” The temple guards were sent to arrest Him. They came back empty-handed. The leaders asked, “Why did you not bring Him?” The guards answered, “No one ever spoke like this man.” Even those sent to catch Him felt moved by His words. The leaders were angry. They said the guards were deceived. Nicodemus spoke up quietly. He asked for fairness. The argument grew loud. Jesus had already slipped away. His words stayed in the hearts of the guards. Truth has its own power.
Word: “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” (Jn 7:46)

Engage 1: Jesus speaks with a “truth that rings true” to the heart, bypassing the complex arguments of the intellect.
Incidents: Jesus uses the simple story of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:30-37); Jesus teaches the Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12).
Engage 2: Jesus remains peaceful even when people around Him are fighting and arguing about Him.
Incidents: Jesus sleeps in the boat during the storm while the disciples are panicking (Mk 4:38); Jesus stands silently before Pilate, even when His life is on the line (Mt 27:12-14).

March 22, 2026 – Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year A)
Gospel Reading: Jn 11:1–45 (The Raising of Lazarus)
Context: Lazarus was dead four days. In Jewish belief, the soul left the body after three days. There was no hope. Martha and Mary are grieving. Jesus arrives. He does not give long explanations. He sees their tears. He feels deep sorrow. He weeps with them. Then He stands at the tomb. He calls Lazarus by name. The dead man comes out. In a culture that feared death, Jesus shows that love is stronger. He enters human pain. He does not stand above it. He shares it. Then He gives life.
Word: “And Jesus wept.” (Jn 11:35)

Engage 1: Jesus does not rush to the “miracle solution”; He stops to enter fully into the sadness and tears of those He loves.
Incidents: Jesus is moved with pity for the widow of Nain (Lk 7:13); Jesus laments over Jerusalem (Mt 23:37).
Engage 2: Jesus calls Lazarus by name, showing that His love is not for “humanity” in general, but for each unique person.
Incidents: Jesus calls Mary Magdalene by name at the tomb (Jn 20:16); Jesus calls Matthew at his tax booth (Mt 9:9).

March 23, 2026 – Monday
Gospel Reading: Jn 8:1–11 (The Woman Caught in Adultery)
Context: Early in the morning, Jesus teaches in the temple. The scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery. They make her stand in the middle. They say the Law commands stoning. They ask what Jesus says. They want to trap Him. Jesus bends down. He writes on the ground with His finger. The crowd waits. He stands up. He says, “Let the one without sin throw the first stone.” One by one, they walk away. From oldest to youngest. Jesus is left alone with the woman. He asks where her accusers are. He says, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” Mercy meets truth in a quiet moment.
Word: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” (Jn 8:7)

Engage 1: Jesus protects the dignity of the sinner even while addressing the reality of the sin.
Incidents: Jesus defends the woman who washed His feet (Lk 7:44-47); Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners (Mt 9:12).
Engage 2: Jesus gives people a “second chance” to start over without the weight of their past shaming them.
Incidents: Jesus restores Peter after his denial (Jn 21:15); Jesus tells the thief on the cross, “today you will be with me in Paradise” (Lk 23:43).

March 24, 2026 – Tuesday
Gospel Reading: Jn 8:21–30
Context: Jesus is speaking in the Temple treasury. It is a busy place, filled with the sound of coins dropping into offering boxes. People come and go all day with their gifts and prayers. Jesus speaks about His future. He says they will one day “lift Him up.” In that culture, being lifted up usually meant honour as a king. But Jesus means the Cross. He explains that His life is not about seeking fame or human praise. He is a Son who always looks to His Father. He does only what pleases the Father. The religious leaders grow more confused and angry. Yet Jesus stays calm. He has deep inner peace. He knows He is never alone. The Father is with Him always.
Word: “I always do what is pleasing to him.” (Jn 8:29)

Engage 1: Jesus seeks an “audience of One” (the Father), which frees Him from the exhausting need to please the crowd or defend His reputation.
Incidents: Jesus refuses to perform a “magic sign” just to satisfy the curiosity of the Pharisees (Mt 16:1-4); Jesus withdraws to the mountains when the crowd tries to force Him to be their king (Jn 6:15).
Engage 2: Jesus shows us that true strength comes from being “sent”—He doesn’t have to prove Himself because He knows exactly who sent Him and why.
Incidents: Jesus tells the disciples that His “food” is to do the will of the One who sent Him (Jn 4:34); Jesus remains calm during the storm because He knows His mission isn’t finished yet (Mk 4:38-40).

March 25, 2026 – Wednesday (Solemnity of the Annunciation)
Gospel Reading: Lk 1:26–38
Context: In the little village of Nazareth, an angel comes to a young woman named Mary. She is poor. She is unknown. The angel says she will bear a son. He will be called Son of the Most High. Mary asks how this can be. The angel explains the Holy Spirit will come upon her. She listens. She answers, “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” In a world where women had little voice, Mary says yes with courage. God enters human life through her humble “yes.” The Word becomes flesh in a quiet home.
Word: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38)

Engage 1: Jesus began His life in total dependence on a human mother, showing God’s profound respect for our freedom.
Incidents: Jesus honors His mother’s request at Cana (Jn 2:4-5); Jesus ensures His mother is cared for while He is on the cross (Jn 19:26-27).
Engage 2: Jesus shows us that God works through “small” and “hidden” people to do the greatest things.
Incidents: Jesus chooses simple fishermen to be His Apostles (Mt 4:18-22); Jesus says that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny mustard seed (Mt 13:31).

March 26, 2026 – Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Gospel Reading: Jn 8:51–59
Context: The argument in Jerusalem has reached a breaking point. Jesus makes a claim that shocks the listeners to their core. He says that anyone who follows His word will never see death. To the Jewish leaders, this sounded like madness. Even Abraham and the prophets had died. Then Jesus says the most radical thing of all. “Before Abraham was, I AM.” He uses the holy name of God for Himself. He claims to exist outside of time. In their anger, they pick up stones to kill Him for blasphemy. Jesus does not take back His words to save His life. He stands by the truth of who He is. Even when it leads to a death sentence.
Word: “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” (Jn 8:58)

Engage 1: Jesus is courageous enough to tell the full truth about His identity, even when He knows it will be used as the primary reason to execute Him.
Incidents: Jesus tells the high priest “I am” when asked if He is the Christ, knowing it will lead to His condemnation (Mk 14:62); Jesus tells Pilate that His kingdom is “not of this world” (Jn 18:36).
Engage 2: Jesus focuses on the “eternal” life He offers, showing us that our true life is hidden in God and cannot be destroyed by the world.
Incidents: Jesus tells His friends not to be afraid of those who can only kill the body but cannot touch the soul (Mt 10:28); Jesus says that anyone who loses their life for His sake will actually find it (Mt 16:25).

March 27, 2026 – Friday
Gospel Reading: Jn 10:31–42
Context: Again, the people pick up stones to kill Jesus. He stops them. He asks, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of them do you stone Me?” He points to His life. Healings. Mercy. Love. These are the works of God. He says, “If I am not doing the works of My Father, do not believe Me. But if I do them, believe the works.” The works speak. Even when words are rejected, actions remain. Jesus does not shout or fight. He stands calm. Truth and love speak for Him.
Word: “If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me.” (Jn 10:37)

Engage 1: Jesus invites us to let our actions speak louder than our words.
Incidents: Jesus heals the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (Mk 3:4-5); Jesus tells John the Baptist’s disciples to report the miracles they see (Mt 11:4-5).
Engage 2: Jesus stays patient with people even when they are being violent and angry toward Him.
Incidents: Jesus stays silent when He is falsely accused (Mt 27:12); Jesus reaches out to touch the high priest’s servant to heal him during the arrest (Lk 22:51).

March 28, 2026 – Saturday
Gospel Reading: Jn 11:45–57
Context: After Lazarus is raised, many believe in Jesus. But some go to the Pharisees. The leaders gather in fear. They say, “If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him. Then the Romans will come and destroy our place and nation.” Caiaphas, the high priest speaks: “It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.” He speaks from politics. Yet his words describe Jesus’ mission. Jesus withdraws to a town near the wilderness. He prepares quietly for what is coming. Love will lead Him to the cross.
Word: “So from that day on they planned to kill him.” (Jn 11:53)

Engage 1: Jesus accepts the role of the “Scapegoat,” taking on the violence of others to bring about peace.
Incidents: Jesus allows Himself to be arrested so His disciples can go free (Jn 18:8); Jesus carries the cross, taking the punishment meant for others as referred in Is 53:5.
Engage 2: Jesus knows when to “withdraw” to find strength in silence before facing a great challenge.
Incidents: Jesus goes to the desert for forty days before starting His ministry (Mt 4:1-2); Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray before His Passion (Mt 26:36).

March 29, 2026 – Palm Sunday
Gospel Reading: Mt 21:1–11 (Entry) / Mt 26:14—27:66 (The Passion)
Context: Jesus enters Jerusalem on a young donkey. Not a warhorse. A humble animal. The crowd spreads cloaks and branches. They shout, “Hosanna!” They think the king has come. A few days later, the same city cries, “Crucify Him!” The readings move from joyful shouts to the silence of Gethsemane. Jesus eats the Passover with His friends. He washes their feet. He is betrayed. He is arrested. He is tried. He is crucified. Yet His heart stays fixed on love. He forgives. He provides for His mother. He promises paradise to a thief.
Word: “Truly, this was the Son of God!” (Mt 27:54)

Engage 1: Jesus chooses a donkey showing that His power is found in humility.
Incidents: Jesus washes the feet of the disciples (Jn 13:5); Jesus tells His followers to be like the youngest (Lk 22:26).
Engage 2: Even in His greatest agony, Jesus’ motive is the care of others—He forgives His executioners and provides for His mother.
Incidents: Jesus promises paradise to the thief (Lk 23:43); Jesus prays for those who persecute Him (Lk 23:34).

March 30, 2026 – Monday of Holy Week
Gospel Reading: Jn 12:1–11
Context: Six days before Passover, Jesus is in Bethany. He is at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. Mary takes a pound of costly ointment made from pure nard. She pours it on Jesus’ feet. She wipes them with her hair. The house fills with fragrance. Judas complains. He says it could have been sold for the poor. Jesus defends her. He says, “Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of My burial.” The poor will always be with you. But He will not. Mary understands what others do not. She anoints Him for death. Her love is extravagant. It fills the house.
Word: “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial.” (Jn 12:7)

Engage 1: Jesus cherishes “extravagant” love that comes from the heart, even if it seems impractical to others.
Incidents: Jesus praises the widow’s mite (Mk 12:43-44); Jesus welcomes the “sinful woman” who wets His feet with tears (Lk 7:37-38).
Engage 2: Jesus values being “present” with someone in their love, rather than just worrying about budgets or efficiency.
Incidents: Jesus stays at the house of Mary and Martha, letting Mary sit and listen (Lk 10:41-42); Jesus spends time eating with the tax collector Zacchaeus (Lk 19:5).

March 31, 2026 – Tuesday of Holy Week
Gospel Reading: Jn 13:21–33, 36–38
Context: At the Last Supper Jesus is troubled in spirit. He says “One of you will betray Me.” The disciples look at each other. They do not understand. Jesus gives Judas a morsel of bread. It is a sign of friendship. Judas takes it and goes out into the night. Peter asks, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus says, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now.” Peter says, “I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus answers “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly before the cock crows you will deny me three times.” Jesus knows their weakness. Yet He loves them still. He stays faithful even when they will fail.
Word: “Will you lay down your life for me?” (Jn 13:38)

Engage 1: Jesus remains a faithful friend even to those He knows will let Him down or betray Him.
Incidents: Jesus calls Judas “friend” in the Garden (Mt 26:50); Jesus prepares breakfast for the disciples who ran away (Jn 21:12).
Engage 2: Jesus values our honest efforts, even when He knows we aren’t yet strong enough to be perfect.
Incidents: Jesus asks the sleepy disciples to “watch and pray” (Mt 26:41); Jesus encourages the father who says, “Help my unbelief!” (Mk 9:24).