LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

Table of the Word:

First Reading: Jonah 3:1-10

Resp. Psalm: Psalm 51:3-4.12-13.18-19 (R. see 19b)

Verse before the Gospel: Joel 2:12-13

Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

Theme: A Call for Repentance

Reflection

"If you repent of your sin, I will forgive you." (cf. Jonah 3:10). God is merciful and loving. It is out of His love that He sent Prophet Jonah to the land of Nineveh to preach repentance. 

The Ninevites heard and repented. And "when God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the evil which He had said He would do to them; and He did not do it" (Jonah 3:10). Today this word is being addressed to us as we continue our Lenten observances.

We need a U-turn in our way of life; there should be some elements of detachment. If we do this, He will not inflict pain on us — closed doors will be opened, the barren womb will conceive, the desert will have water flowing through it, and our lands shall be fertile and yield in hundreds and thousands. 

We need His mercy to forge ahead, as He further invites us in the Gospel acclamation: "Even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, for I am gracious and merciful" (Joel 2:12-13).

Finally, dearest friends in Christ, what then are we waiting for? Let us join the psalmist today in prayer: "Create a pure heart for me, O God; renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). In doing this, we will make amends for our shortcomings, and God, whose promise has never failed, will certainly hearken to our plea. Peace be with you!

PRAYER 

Look kindly, Lord, we pray, on the devotion of your people, that those, who by self-denial are restrained in body, may by the fruit of good works be renewed in mind. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and  reigns forever and ever. Amen.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

"As Lent is the time for greater love, listen to Jesus' thirst. He knows your weakness. He wants only your love, wants only the chance to love you."

— St. Teresa of Calcutta

Lenten Commitment:

Today, I commit to a sincere examination of my conscience. I will identify one habit or attitude that draws me away from God, and with humble and contrite heart, I will bring it before Him in prayer, trusting in His boundless mercy to restore and renew me.

© ARCHIVE 25022026

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Table of the Word:

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19 (R. see 18b)

Verse before the Gospel: Matthew 4:4

Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

Theme: The Power in His Word

Reflection 

From word today's table of the Word, prophet Isaiah reminded us of the power in God's word saying: Thus says the LORD: "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I intend, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Dearest in the Lord, God's word remains alive and active. In moment of challenge and cares of life, let us not forget His promise towards us all as His children. He is always and ever faithful to His Words. As Prophet Isaiah reechoed the efficacy of this very Word, which all creatures in creation were made, let us be faithful to it. Believe every bit of it and surely, that desert or wilderness of our lives will be watered and then become fertile for cultivation. 

Let us keep on reminding God of His promise through our deeds accompanied by prayers. The same prayer that Evangelist Matthew presented before us today in the gospel pericope. Here he gave us modus of prayer as the Lord taught His disciples (cf. Matthew 6:7-15). Using the Lord's word to pray makes our prayers more active than ever. In the course of this Lenten spiritual journey, the Gospel pericope reemphasizes the efficacy of prayers, with a warning by our Lord not to heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do., and He then taught us this ancient and ever new pattern of prayer which contains all that we need in life as Christians. The Lord prayer is the most effective and all comprehensive prayer tailored to the need of mankind. It consists of Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving as well as Supplication (ACTS) being the hallmark of a sound Christian living.

As we continue to journey with the Church for these forty days of intense prayer, self-denial (fasting and abstinence) and active charity. Let us keep in mind that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Peace be with you!  

PRAYER

Look upon your family, Lord, that, through the chastening effects of bodily discipline, our minds may be radiant in your presence with the strength of our yearning for you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“You don’t know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and as soon as you have said, ‘Lord, I don’t know how to pray!’ you can be sure you’ve already begun.” 

- St. Josemaría Escrivá

LENTEN COMMITMENT 

Deny yourself one comfort today,  whether food, social media, idle conversation, or any habit that has quietly occupied the space meant for God. Offer that emptiness to Him as a vessel, and trust that He will fill it with something eternal.

© ARCHIVE 24022026

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Monday of the First Week of Lent

Table of the Word

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15 (R. cf. John 6:63c)

Verse before the Gospel: 2 Corinthians 6:2

Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

Theme: Do not oppress one another.

Reflection

"I am the LORD; you shall not oppress your neighbour or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:13-14)

From the very beginning, God's love for humanity has been boundless and immeasurable. His deepest desire has always been to draw us into closer communion with Himself -  a desire that remains unchanged to this day (cf. Genesis 1:26). 

In today's First Reading, He instructs Moses with words meant for all of us: a solemn call to holiness that echoes the great Decalogue found in Exodus 20. The directives set before us in Leviticus 19:11ff. are not merely religious prescriptions rather they are a blueprint for how we are to relate to one another as brothers and sisters made in the image of God.

The logic of love is plain: if we cannot love our neighbour whom we see with our own eyes, we cannot sincerely claim to love God whom we have never seen. It is precisely in our love for one another that our love for God finds its truest and most visible expression (cf. 1 John 4:20). Love, therefore, is not an abstract feeling reserved for private devotion; it is a concrete, daily act of justice, mercy, and respect toward every person we encounter.

Wherever we find ourselves in a position to help, let that help flow freely without discrimination, without partiality, without delay. Let every person receive what is rightly due to them. Let no one be exploited, overlooked, or pushed to the margins because of who they are.

Beloved in Christ, the Church has graciously set aside this sacred season to invite us into deeper reflection on the Word of God and to put that Word into action through faithful Lenten observance. Let our works speak louder than our words. Let every resolution be matched with action  for a righteousness that lives only on the lips is no better than that of the scribes and Pharisees. Love one another beyond every wall, every barrier, every boundary. Peace be with you!

Thought for Today

"It is not from your own goods that you give to the beggar; it is a portion of his own that you are restoring to him. The earth belongs to all. So you are paying back a debt and think you are making a gift to which you are not obliged." 

-St. Ambrose of Milan

Prayer

Convert us, O God our Saviour, and instruct our minds by heavenly teaching, that we may benefit from the works of Lent. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lenten Commitment

This week, I commit to examining my relationships,  at home, at work, and in my community, and identifying one person I may have overlooked, shortchanged, or treated unjustly. I will take a concrete step to make it right: whether through a kind word, a fair act, a prompt payment, or a genuine gesture of charity. I will let my love for God be measured not by what I profess, but by how I treat the person standing right in front of me.

© ARCHIVE 23022016

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (YEAR A)

Table of the Word: Genesis 2:7–9; 3:1–7; Romans 5:12–19; Matthew 4:1–11

Theme: From Temptation to Triumph.

Today the Church invites us to reflect on one of the most defining moments in the earthly life of our Lord, the temptation in the wilderness. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, Jesus was confronted by the tempter in a decisive spiritual battle that would shape the course of His salvific mission.

In the first reading from the Book of Genesis, we are presented with the tragic account of humanity’s fall. Adam and Eve, placed in the Garden of Eden, were given everything they needed for life and happiness. Yet, through disobedience, they succumbed to the temptation to become like God on their own terms. This act of distrust fractured their relationship with God and introduced sin into the human family.

However, in the Gospel today (Matthew 4:1–11), we encounter Jesus the New Adam who enters the wilderness not as a victim, but as a victor in the making. Where the first Adam failed in the garden of plenty, the second Adam triumphs in the desert of deprivation. Each temptation presented by the devil turning stones into bread, testing God’s protection, and seeking power without sacrifice is firmly rejected by Christ through His unwavering fidelity to the Word of God.

St. Paul, in the second reading, beautifully contrasts these two figures. Through the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners; through the obedience of one man, many will be made righteous (Rom. 5:19). Lent, therefore, becomes our opportunity to move from the failure of Adam to the faithfulness of Christ.

Temptation is an inevitable part of our human experience. Yet, victory over it does not lie in our strength alone, but in our reliance on God’s grace. Jesus shows us that the Word of God is our greatest weapon against the forces of evil.

As we journey through these forty days, let us confront our own deserts those areas of weakness, doubt, and spiritual hunger with courage and trust in God. Let us learn to say “no” to sin, so that we may say “yes” to grace.

May this season lead us from temptation to triumph, from sin to salvation, and from ashes to Alleluia.

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Table of the Word: Isaiah 58:9–14; Luke 5:27–32

Theme: Follow Me!

Reflection
The theme above forms the central message of today’s Gospel pericope, which recounts Christ’s encounter with Levi, the tax collector. Although the Evangelist Luke does not explicitly identify him as “Matthew,” Mark refers to him as the son of Alphaeus, while Matthew himself, in his own Gospel account, reveals the true identity of this tax collector as Matthew.

We are told in today’s Gospel reading that when Christ called him, he got up, left everything, and followed Him. In this penitential season, this same call is placed before us through the Church to let go of those things that build walls against our relationship with God and with one another.

The first reading, drawn from the prophecy of Isaiah, directs our attention to those aspects of our lives that keep us on the right path, such as giving alms to the poor and keeping the holy day sacred. These admonitions are accompanied by words of blessing from the Lord:
“Then you will call and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here I am!” (Isaiah 58:9).

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, this is yet another opportunity for us to give a fitting response to this divine call by letting go of those things that hinder our relationship with God.

Admittedly, due to the pleasure rather than true happiness that we derive from such attachments, it may be difficult to leave them behind. Yet, we must be reminded that there is no crown without the cross. If we truly desire the mercy of God, something must be left behind.

Therefore, as we journey with the Lord during these forty days, let us pray for the grace to give a positive response to this universal call to holiness.
O, that today you would listen to His voice: harden not your hearts.
PEACE BE WITH YOU!*m

Thought for Today
“We can appease God by following the instructions which He Himself has given us: God is satisfied by our deeds; we are cleansed from our sins by the merits of mercy.”
— St. Cyprian of Carthage

Prayer
Look kindly, Lord, we pray, on the devotion of your people, that those who by self-denial are restrained in body may by the fruit of good works be renewed in mind. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lenten Commitment
Identify one habit or attachment today that hinders your relationship with God, and consciously make an effort to let it go.

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Theme: A Call for Genuine Piety

The WORD: Isaiah 58:1–9; Matthew 9:14–15

Reflection

We are already in the third day of our Lenten walk with the Lord. Let us pause for a while and reflect on the journey so far. Some may ask: Is it not too early to begin such reflection? Others may agree that it is necessary. The fact of the matter, however, is not how long the walk has been, but how well we have walked thus far.

Today’s first reading from the prophecy of Isaiah (58:1–9) reminds us of the obstacles to genuine salvation. This passage, which forms part of what is often referred to as Third Isaiah, expounds in detail what is required of us as Christians (Catholics in particular) during this sacred season.

Here, the prophet presents before us two kinds of fasting and strongly warns against the type that does not please God (cf. Is. 58:5), while endorsing the kind that is acceptable to the Lord in the verses that follow. He challenges mere outward piety and calls us instead to cultivate an interior life of holiness without any form of public showmanship.

In this season of Lent, as we carry out our Lenten observances, let us ask God in His mercy to grant us the grace of genuine interior piety, rather than an outward display meant to please others. For in doing this, our reward shall indeed be great.

Thought for Today

“We must fast with our whole heart, that is to say, willingly, wholeheartedly, universally and entirely.”

—     St. Francis de Sales

Prayer

Show gracious favour, O Lord, we pray, to the works of penance we have begun, that we may have strength to accomplish with sincerity the bodily observances we undertake. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Lenten Commitment

Remember to fast from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (if possible), and accompany it with the Stations of the Cross devotion.

©  ARCHIVE          20022026

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

The Word: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Luke 9:22-25 

Theme: The Freedom of Choice

Reflection

In today's liturgy of the word, Moses in the first reading presents before us choice between life and prosperity, death and calamity (cf. Deut. 30:15), leaving us at the mercy of our individual choices. The same order that God gave to Jeremiah to the people (cf. Jer. 21:8).   If this were to be question thrown before us, we will all in affirmation to choose life and prosperity. None of us will long for either death or calamity. 

This admonition followed with caveat, to love God, follow His ways, and observe His commandments, statutes and norms. The same invitation the Church has placed before us this penitential season. No one is being compelled to return to God, but we are encouraging to seek for His mercy. That is why Pope St. Leo the Great in the opening paragraph of today’s Office of Readings avers: “Dearly beloved, the earth is always filled with the mercy of the Lord. For every one of us Christians nature is full of instruction that we should worship God” (Sermons of Pope St. Leo the Great, Sermon 6 on Lent, 1-2, Office of Readings for Thursday after Ash Wednesday).

Yes, God out of love sent His only begotten son to come and redeem us from the shackle of sin and reconcile us back to Him through His paschal mystery of passion, death and resurrection. 

In the light of this great love, we are all invited to re-examine our commitment which we made at baptism and re-affirm it. When we do this we will certainly become one of the Easter people, which “Alleluia” will be our song. 

PEACE BE WITH YOU!

LENTEN COMMITMENT: Spend at least 30 minutes in Eucharistic Adoratian today.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“You cannot better appreciate your worth than by looking into the mirror of the cross of Christ; there you will learn how you are to deflate your pride, how you must mortify the desires of your flesh, how you are to pray to your Father for those who persecute you, and to commend your spirit into God’s hand." –St. Anthony of Padua

PRAYER

Prompt our actions with your inspiration, we pray, O Lord, and further them with your constant help, that all we do may always begin from you and by you be brought to completion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.