LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

Table of the Word
First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5–9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 147:12–13, 15–16, 19–20 (R. 12a)
Verse before the Gospel: cf. John 6:63c, 68c
Gospel: Matthew 5:17–19

Theme: Keepjng God’s Ordinances

Reflection
“…give heed to the statutes and the ordinances which I teach you, and do them; that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, gives you.”
(Deuteronomy 4:1, 5–9)

Dearest friends in Christ. Once again, the Lord has granted us the gift of a new day.
In the light of this gracious opportunity, God, through Moses who was a great leader of the Israelites admonishes us to pay careful attention to the statutes and ordinances He has set before His people. Moses urges the people to listen, observe, and faithfully practice these divine laws so that they may live and inherit the promises of God.

This admonition carries with it the promise of blessings: long life, prosperity, and well-being, which we all desire. Yet, we must remember that the promise of God goes far beyond the fleeting realities of this earthly life. It ultimately points us to the eternal life of communion with God.
Therefore, adherence to God’s statutes and ordinances places us on the right path in our relationship with Him throughout our earthly pilgrimage. Obedience to God’s law is not merely a duty; it is the pathway to life and holiness.

Finally, remember: “Keep the law of God, and God will keep you alive.”
Peace be with you.

Prayer
O God, our Founder and Ruler, drive away the sins that assail us, that we may always be pleasing to you and ever safe under your protection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thought for the Day
“The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.”

— Pope Gregory the Great

Lenten Commitment
This Lent, I resolve to keep God’s ordinances not only in words but in concrete actions through obedience to His Word, sincere repentance, forgiveness of others, and faithful charity so that my life may truly reflect my love for God.

© ARCHIVE 11032026

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
Table of the Word
First Reading: Daniel 3:25, 34–43
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4–5, 6–7, 8–9 (R. 6a)

Verse before the Gospel: Joel 2:12-13
Gospel: Matthew 18:21–35

Theme: Mercy Received Must Become Mercy Given

Reflection
In the Gospel today, Peter approaches Jesus with what seems like a generous question:
“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” (Mt. 18:21)
In Jewish tradition, forgiving someone three times was already considered sufficient. Peter therefore thought he was being extraordinarily generous by proposing seven times. Yet Jesus surprises him with a deeper call:
“I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matt. 18:22)
With this response, Jesus reveals that forgiveness in the Christian life cannot be measured or calculated. It must flow endlessly from a heart transformed by God’s mercy.

To explain this truth, Jesus tells the parable of the unforgiving servant. A servant who owed the king an enormous debt was forgiven out of compassion. Yet immediately after receiving mercy, he refused to forgive a fellow servant who owed him a very small amount.
This story exposes a profound spiritual contradiction: receiving mercy but refusing to give it.

In the first reading, Azariah prays in humility while standing in the fiery furnace. He acknowledges the sins of the people and begs for God’s mercy, saying:
“Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in your patience and in your abundant mercy.” (Dan. 3:42)
This prayer teaches us an important spiritual lesson: those who truly recognize their need for God’s mercy become more merciful toward others.

Beloved in Christ, many of us desire God's forgiveness but struggle to forgive those who hurt us. Yet the measure of the mercy we receive is closely connected to the mercy we show. That is why in the Lord’s Prayer we say:
“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Forgiveness does not mean ignoring the pain caused by others, but it means refusing to allow bitterness and resentment to rule our hearts. When we forgive, we imitate the boundless mercy of God.
During this Lenten season, we are invited to examine our hearts:
Is there someone we have refused to forgive?
Is there resentment that still binds our hearts?
True freedom comes when mercy triumphs over resentment.
Peace be with you!

Prayer
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 Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thought for Today
“Be merciful as your Father is merciful. Nothing makes us so like God as being ready to forgive."
—St. John Chrysostom

Lenten Commitment
Today, let us try to bury every hurt done to us by reaching out to any who offends us.

© Archive 10032026

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Monday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Table of the Word
First Reading: 2 Kings 5:1–15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 42:2–3; 43:3–4 (R. 42:3)
Verse before the Gospel: cf. Psalm 130:5,7
Gospel: Luke 4:24–30

Theme: Faith in Little Things

Reflection
According to James Hudson Taylor: “Little things are little things, but faithfulness in little things makes them great.”
Most often, what we consider little according to human calculations is great in the sight of God. Biblically, the image of children is often used to teach us lessons about humility. Why children? They are often considered ignorant or naïve. Yet God deliberately uses this image to teach us that what the world considers insignificant or worthless can be transformed by Him into an instrument of glory.
Among such examples are the stories of David, Joseph, Elizabeth who was barren, and many other related events in Scripture.
In another place, Scripture also reaffirms that God chooses the weak of the world to shame the strong, and the foolish to shame the wise (cf. 1 Cor. 1:27).

In today’s Liturgy of the Word, we see an element of pride in Naaman when the prophet Elisha sent a message to him. In anger, Naaman replied:
“Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper.” (cf. 2 Kgs. 5:1–15)
Here we see a lack of faith born out of pride. His disregard for the prophet’s instruction may have been the result of his position, prestige, or expectations. Yet Scripture exhorts us: “Whoever is faithful in very little is faithful also in much.” (Lk. 16:10)
For Naaman, his expectations betrayed him, because he believed the prophet needed to perform a series of dramatic rites before his healing could occur.

However, this is one of the major problems in our spiritual lives. We often expect our blessings to come like thunder before we believe that we are serving a mighty God. Abraham believed in God despite the uncertainties of his journey. That is why the book of Habakkuk says: “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Hab. 2:4).

Similarly, St. Paul, addressing the Church in Corinth, says:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7).

Beloved in Christ, it is only when we begin to look at every event through the eyes of faith that we realize that great things often happen through gentle and simple means. We must allow the Spirit to speak to us in moments of difficulty through prayer and meditation. By doing so, we will overcome every doubt that may engulf us.
Peace be with you!

Prayer
May your right hand, we ask, O Lord, protect those who make their entreaty to you. Graciously purify us and instruct us, so that, finding solace in this life, we may attain the good things to come. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thought for Today
“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary; to one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
— St. Thomas Aquinas

Lenten Commitment
Today try as much as you can and put a smile on someone's face either with words of consolation or with active clarity.

© ARCHIVE 09032026

LENTEN DIGEST with Fada PIUSRALPH

Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

Table of the Word
First Reading: Micah 7:14–15, 18–20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1–2, 3–4, 9–10, 11–12 (R. v. 8a)
Gospel Acclamation: Luke 15:18
Gospel: Luke 15:1–3, 11–32

Theme:The Grace of Perfect Contrition

*Reflection*
Contrition remains the first and indispensable step on the path of reconciliation. Time and again, God reaches out to us in tender mercy, drawing us back to Himself despite our repeated shortcomings. The movement of contrition requires genuine repentance for all our sins, a deep longing for God above every transgression, and a firm faith that through the Cross of Jesus Christ we are redeemed and restored.

The Scriptures return often to this theme. Texts such as Psalm 34:18, Psalm 51:17, and Isaiah 57:15 give voice to it,  the word "smitten" in Isaiah 66:2 giving it a particularly vivid colour. In each instance, contrition is closely bound to the heart: a contrite heart, a broken heart - one that has been cracked open by the weight of its own sinfulness and the revelation of God's holiness. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines contrition as the grief experienced as a consequence of sin made manifest through the preaching of the law (cf. Jer. 23:29).

Psalm 51 offers perhaps the most luminous biblical portrait of contrition. Written in the wake of the Prophet Nathan's confrontation with David over his sin with Bathsheba, it lays bare the anatomy of a soul undone by its own wrongdoing yet reaching desperately toward the mercy of God. In much the same spirit, the Prophet Micah speaking on behalf of a sinful people  lifts up this prayer of intercession and repentance in today's First Reading, trusting that the God who delights in steadfast love will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea (cf. Micah 7:14–15, 18–20).

The Gospel pericope brings this truth to life with extraordinary tenderness. The younger son, having squandered his inheritance in reckless living, comes to himself in the depths of his misery. His contrition is not merely sentimental, it is resolute and purposeful. He rises and says: "I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you" (Luke 15:18). These words, the Gospel Acclamation for today, are among the most beautiful acts of contrition ever uttered and they set in motion one of the most moving scenes of mercy in all of Scripture.

Many fall into sin, yet never arrive at this threshold of true contrition. They may feel regret, perhaps even shame but there is a crucial difference between sorrow that merely stings the pride and contrition that breaks open the heart before God. It is not sin itself that draws forth the mercy and forgiveness of God, but rather humble, sincere contrition, the honest acknowledgment of our weakness and our need. It is this openness of the contrite heart that becomes the fountain through which His mercy flows freely, bringing forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation.

As we press forward in our Lenten journey, we are exhorted to examine our hearts with honesty, acknowledge our failings with genuine contrition, release the hurts and grievances we have held against others, and then approach with confidence the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is at this sacred tribunal of mercy:  this Temple of God's compassion that we too, like the returning son, shall be dressed in the finest robe, adorned with a ring, and welcomed to the feast of the fatted calf. The Father is already running to meet us. Peace be with you!

Prayer
Bestow upon us, Lord, abundance of grace and protection; grant health of mind and body; grant fullness of fraternal charity, and make us always devoted to you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thought for Today
"The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works. You do the truth and come to the light."
— St. Augustine of Hippo

Lenten Commitment
Extend mercy to someone who has wronged you. Write their name down, and consciously pray for them. Forgiveness, even when unspoken, is itself a form of almsgiving — releasing another from the debt of hurt they owe you.

© ARCHIVE · 07032026

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Friday of the Second Week of Lent

Table of the Word
First Reading: Genesis 37:3–4, 12, 17–28
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105:16–17, 18–19, 20–21 (R. v. 5a)
Gospel Acclamation: John 3:16
Gospel: Matthew 21:33–43, 45–46

Theme: The Immeasurable Love of God.

Reflection
The love of God poured out upon us can in no way be measured, for it far transcends the capacity of mere words to contain. In our daily experience of life, people encounter this great attribute of God in different ways,  some perceive it plainly in the ordinary events of life, others misread or misinterpret it entirely, while still others make a sincere and conscious effort to live it out in concrete terms through their relationships with one another. It is precisely in this light that today's Liturgy of the Word revolves around the virtue of love.

We encounter this love first in the Old Testament, where Israel lavished affection upon Joseph as the child of his old age, favouring him above his brothers. This outpouring of paternal love, beautiful as it was, stirred deep envy in the hearts of his siblings, ultimately leading to Joseph being cast into a pit and sold into slavery (cf. Gen. 37:3–4, 12, 17–28). Even here, the hidden hand of a loving Providence was at work, directing all things toward a greater good.

The Gospel pericope draws us further into the heart of God's love for humanity. Through the Parable of the Tenants, we see the extraordinary lengths to which the Father goes sending servant after servant, and finally His own beloved Son as a ransom offered for the human race (cf. Matt. 21:33–43, 45–46).

The Gospel Acclamation captures the very essence of this love in its most sublime expression, as the Evangelist John declares: "God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

In response to so generous a gift, the Book of Deuteronomy reminds us of our sacred obligation to love the Lord our God with our whole heart, with all our soul, and with all our might (cf. Deut. 6:5). Love, when truly received, cannot remain passive; it must be returned and shared.
And yet the fundamental question remains before each of us today: How deeply do we love? Is our love unconditional or do we love only when it is convenient, when it costs us nothing, when those we love are easy to love? Does our love for God and neighbour stretch beyond comfort and familiarity? These are the questions Lent places quietly but urgently in our hearts, inviting us to move from a love that is merely spoken to one that is lived, sacrificial, and enduring a love modelled on the One who first loved us. Peace be with you!

Prayer
Grant us, O Lord, we pray, health of mind and body, that by constancy in good deeds we may always merit the defence of your protection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thought for Today

"We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father's love for us."

— St. Pope John Paul II

Lenten Commitment
Choose to fast from indifference. Make a deliberate effort today to notice someone you might ordinarily overlook, a colleague, a family member, a stranger and offer them a moment of genuine attention and kindness.


© ARCHIVE · 06032026

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Table of the Word
First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5–10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1:1–2, 3, 4 & 6 (R. Ps. 40:5ab)
Gospel Acclamation: Luke 8:15
Gospel: Luke 16:19–31

Theme: A Call to Trust in God.

Reflection
The terms trust and faith are closely related and can be used interchangeably depending on context. In general usage, both denote "a firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something."

Biblically, to trust in God means to believe wholeheartedly in His reliability, His Word, His power, and His ability to act on our behalf. This is precisely why Scripture warns: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the Lord" (Jer. 17:5). Trusting in mere mortals is conditional and temporal, it does not hold. But those who anchor their hope in God stand firm like Mount Zion, unshaken. The Book of Proverbs echoes this truth: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding" (Prov. 3:5).

Our Lord Jesus Christ likewise beckons us into a life of active, living faith, declaring: "Have faith in God… whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (Mk. 11:22, 24). There is absolutely nothing impossible for a heart that trusts in God. He is ever ready and always disposed to intervene in our situations, provided we place our confidence in Him. Out of this boundless love, He gave His only begotten Son, so that all who believe in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (cf. Jn. 3:16).

In affirmation of this promise, God declares: "I the Lord search the mind and try the heart, to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings" (Jer. 17:10). God knows it all. Our thoughts, worries, cares, and deepest aspirations are laid bare before Him. They will find their fulfilment, provided they are ordered to our good and to His glory. Let us therefore walk with complete trust in Him, for He knows better than we do. Indeed, "God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom" (cf. 1 Cor. 1:25). His omniscience is incomparable, so why worry?

Consequently, we must make a sincere effort to live blamelessly before God and place our trust in Him entirely as the Psalmist celebrates today. In doing so, our petitions and the deepest desires of our hearts shall be granted. Let us put in our best in our day-to-day living, strive sincerely, and above all, trust in God. He will never put us to shame. He will do far more than we could ever expect, for He remains a can-do God. Peace be with you!

Prayer
Abide with us, O Lord, who implore the help of your grace, that we may receive from you the support and guidance of your protection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thought for Today
"He who trusts in himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things."
— St. Alphonsus Liguori

Lenten Commitment
Commit to a daily moment of silent surrender, placing your anxieties, plans, and uncertainties into the hands of God. Resist the urge to rely solely on your own calculations. Simply say from the heart: "Lord, I trust in You."


© ARCHIVE · 05032026

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent 

Table of the Word

First Reading: Jeremiah 18:18–20

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31:5–6, 14, 15–16 (R. see 17b)

Verse before the Gospel: John 8:12

Gospel: Matthew 20:17–28

Theme: Be Humble!

Reflection 

Humility is one of the essential marks of every Christian, for Christ Himself is the true “Icon of Humility” through His self-emptying. Sacred Scripture presents this great virtue as the practice of meekness, obedience to God, self-respect and respect for others, submissiveness, and modesty (cf. Colossians 3:12–13).

One of the outstanding qualities of a humble person is placing the needs of others before one’s own, sacrificing personal comfort for the good of others. This virtue demands courage, discipline, and faith. It is an indispensable treasure for every follower of Christ. 

Indeed, every human person is called to humility; otherwise, life itself will eventually humble us.

God desires this virtue from us. That is why the Prophet Isaiah echoes the mind of God, saying:

“This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word” (Isaiah 66:2).

We are also invited in a special way to imitate the humility of little children in order to inherit the Kingdom of God (cf. Matthew 18:4). As followers of Christ, we must imitate the humility of Jesus, who emptied Himself of His divine glory so that we might share in His kingship.

Reflecting on the earthly life of our Lord, we come to understand more deeply what true humility means, from the crib to the grave. He stripped Himself of heavenly glory by accepting a lowly state, so that we might be raised to honour. Though He possessed nothing in worldly terms, He was the generous Provider who fed thousands on different occasions.

As we continue our spiritual journey with the Church in this season of reconciliation, let us clothe ourselves with humility in the discharge of our duties, in our conversations, and in our relationships with one another. As St. Peter writes in his first letter:

“All of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:5–6).

Peace be with you!

Prayer 

Bestow upon us, O Lord, an abundance of grace and protection. Grant us health of mind and body, fullness of fraternal charity, and make us ever devoted to You. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thought for Today

“…It takes great humility to find oneself unjustly condemned and remain silent; to do this is to imitate the Lord, who set us free from all sins.”

— St. Teresa of Avila

Lenten Commitment 

Today, I will listen more and speak less.

© ARCHIVE 04032026