LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Table of the Word:

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Resp. Psalm: Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8 (R. see 1b)

Verse before the Gospel: 2 Corinthians 6:2b

Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Theme: A Call to Wholehearted Holiness

Reflection

Dearest in the Lord, in our reflection this morning, we are called to a total reconciliation and not half hearted, for God is not content with a half-hearted relationship. From the very beginning, He has always desired a people wholly devoted to Him - a people set apart, walking in His ways, and keeping His commandments with their whole heart and their whole soul. In today's First Reading, Moses reminds the people of Israel of the solemn covenant they have entered into with God. They are His treasured possession, and He, in turn, will set them in praise and glory above all the nations He has made. This is not merely a privilege; it is a profound responsibility.

The Gospel takes this call even further and stretches it to its most demanding height. Jesus says to us: "Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). This perfection is not one of flawless performance, but of love, a love that extends even to those who wound us, who despise us, and who make our lives difficult. It is easy to love those who love us in return; even people with no faith can do that. But to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us — this is the mark of true discipleship, the hallmark of the children of God. Thus, holiness beyond that of the Scribes and Pharisees.

As we walk through this first week of Lent, the Church invites us to examine the quality of our love. Is our love selective, conditional, and comfortable? Or are we stretching ourselves, by grace, to love as God loves unconditionally and without measure? Lent is precisely the season to close the gap between who we are and who God is calling us to be. Let us not waste this sacred time.

Finally, dearest friends in Christ, the psalmist today shows us the path: "Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord" (Psalm 119:1). Let us pray for the grace to walk this blameless path not by our own strength, but carried by the mercy of a God who loved us first, and loves us still. Peace be with you!

PRAYER

Turn our hearts to you, eternal Father, and grant that, seeking always the one thing necessary and carrying out works of charity, we may be dedicated to your worship. 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

"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."

— St. Teresa of Calcutta

LENTEN COMMITMENT 

Today, I commit to identifying one person I find difficult to love, and I will pray sincerely for them by name. 

© ARCHIVE 28022026

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Table of the Word

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:21-28

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8

Verse before the Gospel: Ezekiel 18:31

Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

Theme: Be Reconciled!

Reflection

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today's readings invite us to reflect on two essential themes of Lent: conversion of heart and reconciliation with one another.

The First Reading, taken from the prophecy of Ezekiel, presents a compelling invitation to true conversion (cf. Ezekiel 18:21-28). Here, the Prophet Ezekiel reminds us that God does not desire the death of a sinner, but rather that the sinner turn away from sin and live. This passage offers a powerful assurance that no matter how far we have strayed, God's mercy remains ever available to us. At the same time, it challenges us with the sobering truth that conversion is not merely about avoiding punishment - it is fundamentally about choosing life in God.

This naturally leads us to examine ourselves: Have we truly sought to change our hearts and our ways, or do we merely ask for forgiveness without genuine repentance?

The Gospel pericope, on the other hand, confronts us directly with the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation as taught by Christ Himself (cf. Matthew 5:20-26). 

The Evangelist Matthew recounts how Jesus takes the Law a significant step further. It is no longer enough to observe the commandments externally; Jesus calls us to an interior transformation. He warns us that harboring anger, nurturing resentment, or refusing to reconcile with others gravely hinders our relationship with God. Reflecting on His words:

"If you bring your gift to the altar and there recall that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there at the altar. Go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24)

By implication, our worship, prayers, and sacrifices remain incomplete so long as we hold grudges or refuse to forgive. This therefore raises some fundamental and searching questions: Are there people in my life whom I need to forgive? Do I allow anger or resentment to rob me of true interior peace?

In light of all of this, it is most pertinent to acknowledge that reconciliation is not always easy. Yet as followers of Christ, we are called to strive earnestly for it - to seek peace in our relationships and to make amends wherever possible.

Peace be with you!

Prayer 

Grant that your faithful, O Lord, we pray, may be so conformed to the paschal observances, that the bodily discipline now solemnly begun may bear fruit in the souls of all. 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

"Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may go to heaven."

— St. Rose of Lima

Lenten Commitment

This Lent, I commit to taking one concrete step toward reconciliation. I will prayerfully call to mind anyone with whom I am at odds whether through a broken relationship, an unspoken hurt, or a lingering grudge and I will make a sincere effort to extend forgiveness or seek it. 

© Archive  27022026

LENTEN DIGEST with Fr. PIUSRALPH

Thursday of the First Week of Lent

Table of the Word

First Reading: Esther 14:1, 3-4, 11, 13-14

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138:1-2a, 2bcd-3, 7d-8 (R. see 3a)

Verse before the Gospel: see Psalm 51:10a, 12a

Gospel: Matthew 7:7-12

Theme: Everyone who asks receives.

Reflection

In moments when life seems bleak and difficulties and challenges set in from all angles, one thing gives meaning and hope — and that is God's Word. From the very moment of creation, man has been fragile and always dependent upon God; and God, on His part, has never abandoned him to the whims and caprices of the evil one.

It is on this note that the Evangelist Matthew, in today's Gospel pericope, reminds us of God's continuous promise to always be there for us. Hear the Evangelist report:

"At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.'" (Matthew 7:7-8)

God is always faithful to His Word, regardless of the situation. In our human reckoning, we may sometimes think we have been abandoned because of the pain we endure and the challenges we face. Yet in truth, the thought of God's abandonment proves false, for He has us in His mind at every moment. His Word never fails, as Christ Himself assures us: "Everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Matthew 7:8).

Finally, beloved in Christ, just as Queen Esther cried out and the Lord heard her (cf. Esther 14:1ff.), so too will God never turn a deaf ear to our cries for help — even as our enemies, chief among them sin, and the other adversaries of life continue to threaten us. Let us remain firmly assured of God's unfailing love, as the Psalmist so beautifully proclaimed today: "On the day I called, You answered me, O God" (Psalm 138:3a).

Peace be with you!

Prayer

Bestow on us, we pray, O Lord, a spirit of always pondering on what is right and of hastening to carry it out, and since without you we cannot exist, may we be enabled to live according to your will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns forever and ever.  Amen

Thought for Today

"Behold, Jesus Christ crucified, who is the only foundation of our hope. He is our mediator and advocate; the victim and sacrifice for our sins. He is goodness and patience itself. His mercy is moved by the tears of sinners, and He never refuses pardon and grace to those who ask it with a truly contrite and humble heart."

— St. Charles Borromeo

Lenten Commitment

This Lent, I commit to making prayer my first response not my last resort. Whenever I am faced with anxiety, temptation, or uncertainty, I will pause and bring it before God in prayer before seeking any other solution. Each day, I will set aside a quiet moment to ask, seek, and knock trusting that the God who heard Queen Esther and who never breaks His Word will hear me as well.

© Archive 26022026

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.