Pathological Liar or Pseudologia Fantastica?

 

Mass Readings & Homily Saturday, 4th Week of Lent March 21, 2026

First Reading: (Jeremiah 11:18–20)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 7)

Response: “O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.”

Gospel: (John 7:40–53)

Reflection:

There are some people for whom, however clear the truth may be, despite evidence beyond reasonable doubt, they will still refuse to see it. They will refuse to believe in it and they will refuse to be convinced about it. Not because they do not see it, but because they have chosen not to see it and not to be convinced about it.

The guards who were sent to arrest Jesus went to do the work as they were ordered. They were following strict instructions. But when they got there, when they saw Him and had the opportunity to listen to Him from their firsthand experience of seeing Him and hearing from Him, they saw and heard the truth and were convinced. And they saw how useless the order to arrest Him was. They returned without arresting Him.

Even if they were following strict orders, they saw for themselves how wrong the order was, to arrest a man who had committed no crime, to arrest a man who spoke the truth. 

Now you may ask, were they wrong not to have followed the instructions given to them? Should they have followed the order?

Following orders should not blind us or stop us from reasoning. We must apply reason. How many people were arrested and are in prison today because their case officers were just following orders? Think about it. 

The chief priests and Pharisees were disappointed with the guards on the sole motive that no authority had believed in Jesus, and so the guards had disobeyed the order. But if the authorities are evil and fail to see the truth despite how glaringly evident it is, must others also choose not to see it simply because authority refuses to?

They were old enough to judge for themselves. 

Let us ask ourselves: do we follow orders from such authorities simply because they have said so?

The guards dared to oppose authority because they had come to believe in the truth. They saw it, they were convinced, and they recognized that the order given to them was an evil order. They knew their jobs were at risk, too.

Sometimes authority may pressure us to do evil to serve personal interests, and we comply simply because we are told to. But where is the voice of reason? Where is the voice of good conscience? Where is the voice of good and righteous judgment?

It is different when authority asks us to do what is good. But when the instructions are evil, we must not follow it simply because it comes from authority. We are called to judge for ourselves, using reason, conscience, and truth.

The soldiers placed reason, good conscience, and right judgment above blind obedience. They chose to do what was right.

We are not told what happened to them afterward, but it is possible they suffered consequences, perhaps punishment or loss of status. Yet they chose to suffer for what is right rather than be rewarded for doing what is evil.

They stand in contrast to those who accepted bribes to spread lies about the resurrection. Those men followed evil orders for gain. But the guards in today’s Gospel chose truth over comfort.

My friends, even when we are under authority, even when we are given strict instructions, we must ensure those instructions are not evil.

Put reason first.
Listen to your conscience.
Judge rightly.

When you see the truth, have the courage to follow it, not because you were told to, but because it is right.

Amen!

God bless you all

Happy Saturday 

Credits to this YouTube Commentator

 

How the World Works for the Kids

 

Mass Readings and Reflection for March 20th 2026

First Reading: (Wisdom 2:1a, 12–22)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 34:17–18, 19–20, 21, 23)

Response: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

Gospel Acclamation: (Matthew 4:4)

“One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Gospel: (John 7:1–2, 10, 25–30)

Reflection:

 the Gospel of John that we read from today, sometimes we have to do a mental translation. When the Scriptures in John talk about “the Jews” in a very negative way, we must remember that Jesus was Jewish, Mary was Jewish, and all the Apostles were Jewish.

But by the time the Gospel of John was written, after the destruction of the Temple, there was strong tension between the early Christian community and certain Jewish authorities. That conflict is reflected in the language of the Gospel.

In today’s Gospel, we see the growing tension between Jesus and those authorities. They question Him, misunderstood Him, and ultimately sought to arrest Him. Yet, as the Gospel tells us, they cannot lay a hand on Him, because His hour has not yet come.

Over these past weeks of Lent, we have been hearing from John’s Gospel:

• The woman at the well

• The man born blind

• Soon, the raising of Lazarus

In each of these, we see people coming to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is.

And isn’t that what Lent is about?

From ashes to Easter, we are called not just to external practices, but to interior transformation, to grow in our relationship with Christ, to know Him more deeply, and to live that knowledge in our daily lives.

Those who opposed Jesus did so because they did not fully recognize Him. They missed what was right in front of them.

But we are different.

We know the end of the story.
We know that Jesus is the risen one.
We know that He is the Christ.

That knowledge is a gift, and also a responsibility.

So as we continue this Lenten journey, we are called to live as true disciples:

• Growing closer to Christ

• Deepening our faith

• Reflecting His presence in the world

We are also reminded to approach others with respect and dignity. The Church, especially since the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, calls us to honor all people of faith and to recognize the roots of our own faith in the Jewish people.

Therefore, we pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters, and for all who seek God with sincere hearts.

As we see the tension in today’s readings, let us not focus on division, but on transformation.

Let this season change us, 
not only outwardly,
but inwardly.

May we deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Savior,
and carry His presence into the world.

Amen 🙏 

St. Joseph Pray for Us

 

Litany Invocation:

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us.

Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.

Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us.

Terror of demons, pray for us.

Protector of families, pray for us.

March 19th Mass Readings and Reflection St. Joseph Pray for Us

 

Mass Solemnity of St. Joseph

First Reading: (2 Samuel 7:12–14, 16)

Alleluia: (Psalm 84:5)

Blessed are those who dwell in your house, O Lord; they never cease to praise you.

Second Reading: (Romans 4:13, 16–18, 22)

Gospel: (Matthew 2:13–15, 19–23)

Reflection:

Today’s Gospel reveals something deeply human and deeply holy about Saint Joseph.

Joseph loved, protected, and guided Jesus, but he did not always fully understand Him.

After searching anxiously for days, he and Mary find Jesus in the Temple. And there, the child speaks words that stretch beyond earthly understanding:
“I must be in my Father’s house.”

In that moment, Joseph is confronted with a mystery, 
that the son he raised belongs first to God.

This is the quiet strength of Joseph:

• He protects, but does not possess

• He guides, but does not control

• He loves, but learns to let go

Joseph teaches us that true fatherhood, and true discipleship, is not about holding tightly, but about trusting God’s plan, even when it surpasses our own.

For parents, this is a difficult calling:
to raise, to nurture, and eventually, to release.

For all of us, Joseph is a model of faith in silence,
of obedience without full understanding,
and of humility before the will of God.

Today, we ask for his intercession:

That we may trust like he trusted.
That we may follow like he followed.
And that, like him, we may always choose God’s will over our own.

Happy Feast Day of St. Joseph. 

Amen.

Mass Readings and Reflection for March 18th 2026

First Reading: (Isaiah 49:8–15)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 145) "The Lord is kind and full of compassion".

Gospel: (John 5:17–30)

Reflection:
Rich scripture readings today. God has not and will never abandon us. Through the prophet Isaiah, we hear a question that touches the very core of human love: “Can a mother forget her child?” Even if such a thing were possible, God declares, “I will never forget you.” These words are meant especially for those who feel forgotten, those weighed down by suffering, loss, or unanswered prayers.

Like Israel in exile, many of us have moments where we ask: Where is God? Does He see my pain? Does He hear my cry? In those moments, it is easy to conclude, like Zion, “The Lord has forsaken me.” But today’s reading corrects that fear. God is not absent; He is present, even when silent. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. What we see as delay, He sees as perfect timing.

The Gospel deepens this truth. Jesus reminds us that the Father is always at work. Even when nothing seems to be happening, God is working, giving life, bringing healing, preparing something greater than we can understand. Just as the Father raises the dead, so too the Son gives life. This means that no situation is beyond God’s power, not even the darkest moments of our lives.

We must also remember that sometimes God allows difficulties not to destroy us, but to reveal His glory. Just as in other parts of the Gospel, suffering can become the place where God’s power is made visible. What seems like an ending may actually be the beginning of something greater in God’s plan.

So what are we called to do? We are called to trust, to pray, and to surrender. This is not easy. In pain, we are tempted to give up, to lose faith. But the example of Christ shows us the way: “Father, not my will, but yours be done.” When we entrust everything into God’s hands, even our suffering becomes a path to grace.

Therefore, be consoled. Even if you have lost someone you love, even if your prayers seem unanswered, even if you feel alone, God has not abandoned you. He sees you. He knows you. He is working in ways you cannot yet understand. And in His time, His glory will be revealed.

Hold on to this truth: God has not forgotten you, and He never will.

Amen 🙏 

Driving Test

 

Joke 😃

 

Man Paralyzed for 38 Year

 

War and Public Opinion Are Important

When a nation goes to war, public support is everything, and controlling the narrative becomes just as critical as controlling the battlefield. 

Right now, our government at home doesn’t seem to have that advantage. You can see the frustration showing, even from the president and his war secretary, as the messaging slips out of their control. A lot of name calling these days. 

Do you think it will get better, or is the narrative already lost? 

Drop a comment.

Joe Kent Resignation today March 17th 2026

Breaking Development: Joe Kent Resigns

Today brings a striking development: Joe Kent has resigned from his national security position, reportedly in opposition to the war with Iran.

For context, Joe Kent is a former Green Beret and intelligence officer who later entered politics, aligning himself with an America First foreign policy approach that has often been skeptical of prolonged foreign wars. His resignation marks one of the first high-profile breaks from within national security circles over this conflict.

If confirmed in full, this move signals something deeper than routine disagreement, it suggests that even inside the system, there are fractures forming over the direction of this war.

Below is his letter of resignation:

March 17th 2026

Director of National Intelligence

National Counterterrorism Center

President Trump,

After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today.

I cannot, in good conscience, support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.

I support the values and foreign policies that you campaigned on in 2016, 2020, and 2024, which you enacted in your first term. Until June of 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation.

In your first administration, you understood better than any modern president how to decisively apply military power without getting us drawn into never-ending wars. You demonstrated this by killing Qasem Soleimani and by defeating ISIS.

Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran. This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that, should you strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory. This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq War, which cost our nation the lives of thousands of our best men and women. We cannot make this mistake again.

As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times, and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife, Shannon, in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives.

I pray that you will reflect upon what we are doing in Iran and who we are doing it for. The time for bold action is now. You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards.

It was an honor to serve in your administration and to serve our great nation.

Joseph Kent
Director, National Counterterrorism Center

Mass Readings and Reflection for Tuesday, the 17th of March 2026.

First Reading: (Ezekiel 47:1–9, 12)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 46)

Response:
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Gospel: (John 5:1–6)

Reflection

There is a painful reality in many societies: people often appear only when someone has died. At funerals, you see crowds, relatives, friends, acquaintances, many claiming closeness to the deceased. Yet the question remains:

Where were they when the person was alive and suffering?

• When they were sick

• When they were hungry

• When they could not pay their bills

• When they felt abandoned

Many people live with a silent cry:

“I have no one.”

This is exactly the cry of the man in today’s Gospel:

“Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool.”

For 38 years, he lay there, ignored, overlooked, forgotten.

• Did he have family?

• Did he have friends?

• Where were they?

Even those who came to the pool were focused only on themselves.

He truly had no one… until Jesus came.

A Living Message

Today, many people still carry that same cry:

• The sick in hospitals with no visitors

• Prisoners abandoned and forgotten

• The poor who cannot access opportunities

• The unemployed despite qualifications

• The misunderstood, judged, and rejected

• The lonely who just need someone to listen

They all say:

“I have no one.”

A Call to Action

The Gospel is not just about what Jesus did.
It is about what He wants to do through us.

Can you be that someone?

• Someone who helps

• Someone who listens

• Someone who shows up

• Someone who cares

Let God reach others through you.

• Be the one who visits

• Be the one who feeds

• Be the one who supports

• Be the one who listens

Because sometimes, the greatest miracle is not dramatic healing,
it is simply presence.

A Word of Hope

And if you are the one suffering…
If you feel abandoned…
If your heart says, “I have no one”…

Remember this:

Jesus sees you.
He knows how long you have been waiting.
And He will come.

“Rise… take up your mat… and walk.”

Do not lose courage.
Do not give up.

Is America Asking for Help In Iran?

Three weeks into the war with Iran, President Donald Trump has asked allies and major oil-dependent nations to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carries roughly 20% of the world’s traded oil.

So far, the global response has been mixed but largely reluctant. Many countries are avoiding direct military involvement.

Global Responses So Far

❌ Countries rejecting military participation

Several U.S. allies have declined to send warships or join a combat mission. These includes:

• Germany – Rejected military involvement, arguing the conflict was not a joint NATO decision.
• Spain – Opposes the war and previously denied U.S. forces use of bases for attacks on Iran.
• Italy – Declined participation in a military coalition. Meanwhile the Prime Minister there is a supposedly a good friend of Trump. 
• France – Has avoided joining a combat operation, preferring defensive shipping protection.
• Australia, Canada, Norway, Japan – Reportedly unwilling to join militarily.

Many governments say they want to avoid escalating the conflict.

Countries considering limited or non-combat support

Some nations have not fully rejected involvement but are pushing for limited roles.

• United Kingdom – Discussing a multilateral plan and possible mine-hunting or defensive support rather than combat operations.
• Denmark – Suggests a cautious European role focused on de-escalation.
• France and European partners – Exploring escort missions to protect commercial shipping rather than join the war.

Countries undecided or silent

Some major powers are evaluating the situation or staying publicly neutral.

• China – Holding talks with Iran but has not committed to a U.S. coalition.
• South Korea – Reviewing legal and strategic implications before deciding.
• Japan – Considering its position but has not joined militarily.

Why Many Countries Are Hesitating

Several factors explain the reluctance:

1. The war was initiated without a broad coalition
Many governments say they were not part of the decision to strike Iran.

2. Risk of regional escalation
Direct naval involvement could trigger attacks on foreign ships or bases.

3. Economic and political risk
Oil markets have already surged nearly 40% since the strait was disrupted.

4. NATO complications
Some leaders argue the alliance never approved a joint mission.

The Strategic Importance of the Strait

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy routes:

• About one-fifth of global oil trade passes through it.
• Major importers include China, Japan, South Korea, and India.
• Any disruption can affect global oil prices and shipping security.

In short:
Three weeks into the conflict, the United States is struggling to build an international coalition. Most allies are declining combat roles, some are considering limited support, and major powers like China remain non-committal.

Stay safe 🙏 

A Riddle

 

Mass Readings and Reflection for Monday March 16, 2026

First Reading: (Isaiah 65:17–21)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 30)

Response: I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up. 

Gospel: (John (4:43–54)

Reflection:

The joy of new things is the kind of joy that the prophet describes in the first reading from the Book of Isaiah.

God tells His people:

“Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth.”

At that time, Jerusalem had been destroyed. The people had suffered exile and slavery. They had lost their homeland, their temple, and their dignity. But God promised them something extraordinary:

He would make everything new again.

No more weeping.
No more suffering.
No more lives cut short.
People would build houses and live in them.
They would plant vineyards and enjoy their fruits.

God was promising restoration, hope, and renewal.

But this message is not only about ancient Jerusalem. It is also about us.

God wants to make us new.

During the season of Lent, God invites us to let go of the old self, the person we used to be in sin. The person who lies, quarrels, gossips, cheats, or refuses to forgive.

Lent is the season when we begin the process of becoming a new creation.

Saint John captures this same idea in the Gospel when the royal official believes the word of Jesus even before seeing the miracle. His faith begins a transformation not only for him but for his whole household.

Faith makes life new.

Lent prepares us for the great moment of Easter, when we celebrate the victory of Christ over sin and death. In a spiritual sense, we also rise with Christ as new people.

But here is the important question:

Do we truly want to become new?

Sometimes we are comfortable with our old habits. We say:

“This is just who I am.”
“I have always been this way.”

But God does not accept that limitation. God sees something better inside us. He sees the person we can become.

Look at nature after the rain. Dry trees grow fresh leaves. Brown grass becomes green again. Everything becomes alive.

In the same way, God wants our hearts to become alive again.

So during this season of Lent:

• Let the old anger die.

• Let the old lies die.

• Let the old jealousy die.

• Let the old selfishness die.

And allow God to create in you a new heart and a new spirit.

When people meet you after this Lent, they should say:

“Something has changed.”
“This person is different.”
“I see a new person.”

Friends, have the courage to accept the new life that God wants to give us.

Because the new person God creates in us will always be better than the old one you leave behind.

Amen.

Have a wonderful week

Are You The Winner 🏆 🥇?

 

Drop Your Answer

 

Sunday March 14th Mass Readings and Reflection

First Reading: (1 Samuel 16:7, 12–13)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 23)

Response: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Second Reading: (Ephesians 5:8, 11, 14)

Acclamation: (John 8:12)

“I am the light of the world,” says the Lord; “whoever follows me will have the light of life.”

Reflection:

Among the many lessons in today’s Gospel, one stands out clearly. Some may find it strange that Jesus used saliva and earth to make clay, placed it on the man’s eyes with his own fingers, and told him to wash in the pool of Siloam. After all, Jesus could have simply snapped his fingers and healed the man instantly. Yet he chose a more tangible and personal approach.

In ancient times saliva was believed to have life-giving healing properties. But even more importantly, through this method the blind man experienced the personal touch of Jesus Christ. He heard his voice, felt his hands, and actively participated in God’s saving action.

Christ communicated God’s grace in a way adapted to human nature, engaging both body and spirit. He always worked not from a distance but up close and personal. His touch inspired hope and confidence, turning the miracle into a personal encounter rather than a mere display of power.

The Church continues this same pattern today through the sacraments. The priest’s words of absolution at the end of confession give real closure to our longing for forgiveness. The water of baptism, the bread and wine of the Eucharist, and the chrism of confirmation are tangible signs that express God’s desire to reach out and touch us. Since we are not purely spiritual beings, it is fitting that we encounter God through physical realities.

Christ saves human nature by redeeming it, not destroying it.

Many people become frustrated with God, wishing he would instantly solve the world’s problems. Some even point to injustice and suffering as evidence against God’s existence. They argue that if God were real, he would not allow such suffering. But this is a superficial argument.

Faced with injustice, God has two options. He could destroy the world and start over, wiping out every sinner. But that would include all of us, even those guilty of the smallest selfish thought. Instead, God chooses another path: he offers salvation. He invites us to cooperate with him in saving the world. This takes longer, but it gives sinners a second chance.

God is always at work, most often through ordinary people and events, never violating our freedom.

The American writer Whitaker Chambers, who exposed communist spies during the Cold War, once described how his atheism began to crumble. One morning he watched his young daughter at breakfast. His gaze fell upon her ears, and he marveled at their intricate design. In that moment he realized such perfection must come from an intelligent creator. There were no fireworks, no dramatic miracles, just God quietly reaching him through human reality.

The Church asks us to go to confession at least once a year if we are conscious of mortal sin, but she recommends going much more often. Christ does not want us to experience forgiveness vaguely or from afar. He knows we need a real encounter with mercy.

That is why confession is sometimes called the sacrament of regained joy.

Lent is a season of penance and repentance. But Christian penance does not end in sadness. It leads to deeper communion with God. Jesus suffered on the cross and took upon himself the punishment for our sins so that we might find in him a new beginning and unconditional forgiveness.

Today Christ renews that promise through the sacraments and through Holy Communion. As we receive him, let us give him the joy of being our Good Shepherd, allowing him to heal and renew our souls through the grace of reconciliation and the light of his presence.

The passage John 9:6–7, 35–38 is one of the most theologically rich healing stories in the Gospel of John. It is not only about a physical miracle but about creation, baptism, faith, and spiritual enlightenment. Below are the major theological themes.

1. Jesus as the Creator: The Clay and New Creation

In the miracle, Jesus spits on the ground, makes clay, and places it on the man’s eyes.

This action intentionally echoes Genesis, where God forms humanity from the dust of the earth. The symbolism suggests that Jesus is performing a new act of creation, restoring what was broken in humanity.

Theologically this means:

• Humanity was created from dust (clay).

• Sin brought spiritual blindness.

• Christ recreates the human person, restoring sight.

So the miracle is not merely healing; it shows that Christ has divine creative power.

2. The Pool of Siloam: “The One Who Is Sent”

Jesus tells the man to wash in the Pool of Siloam, and John specifically explains that Siloam means “Sent.” (

This detail is deeply symbolic.

In John’s Gospel:

• Jesus repeatedly calls himself the One sent by the Father.

• The blind man must go to the pool called “Sent” to receive sight.

The message is theological:

The one who was “sent” (Jesus) sends the blind man to “Sent” (Siloam).

This reinforces that:

• Jesus is the Messiah sent by God.

• Healing and salvation come through the One sent by the Father.

3. The Washing as a Symbol of Baptism

Many Christian theologians interpret the washing in Siloam as a symbol of baptism.

The pattern mirrors Christian initiation:

1. Encounter Christ

2. Obey His command

3. Wash in water

4. Receive spiritual sight

The water symbolizes purification and illumination through faith.

Thus the story represents how:

• Baptism opens the eyes of faith.

• Christ moves a person from darkness to light.

4. Physical Blindness vs. Spiritual Blindness

A major theme in the chapter is contrast.

The man who was physically blind ends up seeing spiritually, while the religious leaders who claim to see are actually blind.

The progression is powerful:

Stage	What the Man Says About Jesus
At first	“The man called Jesus”
Later	“He is a prophet”
Finally	“Lord, I believe”

Meanwhile the Pharisees move in the opposite direction, from questioning to rejection.

This reveals a core message of John’s Gospel:

Faith gives sight; pride produces blindness.

5. Faith Leads to Worship

The climax is John 9:38:

“Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

This moment is crucial.

The healed man does three things:

1. Recognizes Jesus

2. Believes in Him

3. Worships Him

In Jewish theology, worship belongs only to God.

By accepting worship, the passage strongly points to the divinity of Christ.

6. Jesus as the Light of the World

Earlier in the chapter Jesus declares:

“I am the light of the world.”

The miracle illustrates this claim.

The blind man moves from:

• Darkness → Light

• Ignorance → Faith

• Isolation → Worship

The miracle becomes a living sign of salvation.

7. Obedience and Faith

Another theological point is obedience.

Jesus does not heal him instantly.
Instead, the man must go, wash, and trust the command.

His healing comes through obedience

This reflects a biblical principle:

Faith is not only belief but action.

Summary of the Theology

This passage reveals multiple layers of meaning:

• Creation: Jesus recreates humanity like God forming Adam.

• Mission: The “Sent One” brings salvation.

• Baptism: Washing symbolizes spiritual rebirth.

• Faith: True sight comes through belief.

• Divinity of Christ: The healed man worships Jesus.

• Spiritual blindness: Religious pride prevents seeing truth.

In short:

The man receives two miracles, physical sight and spiritual.

Lent, you know, is bringing us through spiritual basic training, so it’s really important for us to pay attention to these marvelous stories.

This week: the man born blind.
Next week: Lazarus.
Last week: the woman at the well.

These great stories from the Gospel of John are meant to help us identify with each of these people, with the woman at the well, the man born blind, and then with Lazarus. They’re all talking about the dynamics of the spiritual life.

So let me just share a few insights from this incomparably rich story that’s beguiled Christians up and down the centuries.

Right at the beginning it says:

Jesus passed by and saw a man blind from birth.

So his disciples asked him:

“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Listen now to the answer of Jesus:

“Neither he nor his parents sinned. It is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.”

We see suffering every day, of course.

Why did this happen?
How could God possibly have allowed this horrible thing to happen, to my husband, to me, to our family?

And the poor priest says, “Let me share a parable with you.” He tells a story, and he gives that answer of Jesus:

“It’s not because of his sin or anyone’s sin. It’s that the works of God might be made visible through him.”

You know, we all suffer in different degrees, I get it, but we all suffer, and we’re always looking for the answer:

Why?
Why?
Why?
Why is God allowing this?

Let this answer, everybody, sink in.

When you’re going through some terrible suffering, it may be that the works of God might be made visible in you. Somehow, God is using this struggle, this difficulty, this pain for His purposes.

Now, what do we see as this story unfolds?

Jesus declares Himself the Light of the World, one of the great “I AM” statements in John. I’ve told you about these before:

• I am the Bread of Life.

• I am the Good Shepherd.

• I am the Resurrection and the Life.

These echo the “I AM WHO I AM” from the Book of Exodus. Jesus is asserting His divine identity and authority.

In this case:

“I am the Light of the World.”

Beautiful.

He is the one by whom we see properly.

And here’s the point: we’re dealing with a man born blind.

Some people become blind later in life. But this man is blind from birth. He’s never seen. From the beginning of his life he’s been in the dark.

Do you see what he stands for?

Our great tradition has said: original sin.

That’s all of us. We’re all men and women born blind.

We’re born into a dysfunctional world, spiritually speaking. It’s like someone born into a household where there’s physical abuse, sexual abuse, drug abuse, something that affects everyone. The whole environment is damaged.

Well, that’s the human race.

We’re born into a world infected by cruelty, violence, hatred, and everything else. We breathe it in. We take it in from the time we’re born. And it blinds us.

It takes us out of the light.

But Jesus says:

“I am the Light of the World.”

He has come to illumine and heal the blind eyes of all of us born blind in original sin.

So identify with this man.

Now what does Jesus do?

After saying this, the Gospel tells us:

He spat on the ground, made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on the man’s eyes.

Kind of peculiar, right?

Was He mimicking some healing practices of the time? Maybe. But with Jesus, especially as John tells the story, there’s always something richly theological going on.

St. Augustine noticed something fascinating.

The saliva comes from the mouth, from the head, and it mixes with the earth, the clay. Augustine said this symbolizes the Incarnation, the Word of God becoming flesh. God’s spirit mixing, as it were, with matter.

And what does that produce?

It produces a salve.

Imagine Jesus taking this mud in His hands. He’s got this salve that He rubs into the man’s eyes.

The word salve in English is closely related to the Latin salus, which means health. When you greeted someone with the wish of good health, you would say:

Salve!

We have that great hymn:

Salve Regina, Hail Holy Queen.

Who is Jesus?

He is the Savior. From the Latin Salvator.

Same root.

He is the healer par excellence.

His very being, the coming together of divinity and humanity, functions as a healing balm, a healing salve. It’s as though Jesus Himself is being rubbed into the man’s blind eyes.

What does that look like for us?

The sacraments of the Church.

What are they? Just vague symbols?

No. They are the means by which God’s grace is communicated to us, body and soul.

We speak of the matter and the form of a sacrament.

Think of:

• Baptism: water + the words

• Confession: the absolution + the words

• Confirmation: oil + the words

The sacraments are the prolongation of the very being and presence of Christ, rubbed like a salve into our sin-sick bodies and souls.

How do we come to see, we who are blind from birth?

Not through the lights provided by the world. Those are more obscuring than illuminating.

No. We come to see by the light of Christ. We are healed through contact with Him.

So think of that, Catholics. Next time you receive one of the sacraments, think of that mud paste, that salve, that Jesus rubs into the man’s eyes. That’s what the sacraments are doing for us.

Then Jesus says:

“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam.”

And John adds:

“which means Sent.”

The Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem was a place of cleansing and bathing. But the fact that it means “Sent” is important.

One of the great descriptions of Jesus in John’s Gospel is that He is the One who has been sent.

Jesus constantly refers to the Father as “the One who sent me.”

So to bathe in the Pool of Siloam, what is that?

It’s baptism.

It’s being washed in Christ.

Baptism is not just a vague symbol. It is the means by which we are incorporated into Christ. We come to share His relationship with the Father.

So the salve, the sacraments, the Pool of Siloam, what’s being described here is how all of us born blind in sin are brought to healing and vision through immersion in Christ, mediated by the sacraments.

That’s how the Church Fathers read this great text.

Now listen to what happens.

He went and washed, and he came back able to see.

Is this a physical healing? Yes, absolutely. Jesus healed people physically. They remembered this story.

But with Jesus, everything operates at different levels. There’s a physical level, and then there’s the richly symbolic and spiritual level.

How do we come to see?

How do I know where I’m going?

Don’t follow the false lights of the world.

Wash in the Pool of Siloam. Receive the sacraments. Be immersed in Jesus.

There are so many great details in this story.

Imagine the man, someone who has never seen and now suddenly can see. He comes back overwhelmed. And the people don’t know what to make of it.

Some say:

“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”

Others say:

“No, it just looks like him.”

I love that detail.

Because when you come to Christ and you’re changed by Him, you don’t look the same. You don’t act the same.

People might say:

“Is that the same guy? No way.”

Of course not. He’s been transformed and transfigured by Christ.

Then the man says something fascinating.

Some say it’s him; others say it’s not. And the man says, in Greek:

Ego eimi.

“I am.”

On the surface, he’s just saying, “Yes, it’s me.”

But in John’s Gospel we can’t miss that phrase. Jesus says it again and again:

“I am. I am. I am.”

Why? Because He is the Son of God, I AM WHO I AM.

And here’s the extraordinary thing.

When we are grafted onto Christ in baptism, and through the sacraments, we share in His life. We become conformed to Him. We begin to see with His eyes, think with His mind, and move as He would move.

“I am.”

We become identified with Him.

I also love what happens next in John’s Gospel.

This marvelous thing has happened, the man was born blind and now he sees.

And what’s the reaction?

The crowd isn’t happy.

They say:

• “How did this happen?”

• “Who does this guy think he is?”

• “Wasn’t this the wrong day to do it?”

I get it, because I know what the fallen world is like.

A miracle of grace happens, and the reaction is negative.

Why?

Because it’s in the interest of blind people to keep other people blind.

Blind systems, blind institutions, blind cultures, they want to keep everyone blind.

It’s like Plato’s famous parable of the cave. If someone escapes and starts seeing the truth, the others don’t like it.

So don’t be surprised when you come to Christ and He changes you so much that people hardly recognize you. Don’t be surprised if they oppose you.

Even the man’s poor parents get dragged into the controversy. They’re afraid of the authorities.

But how does the story end?

The formerly blind man encounters Jesus again.

Jesus asks him:

“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

The man says:

“Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”

Jesus replies:

“You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”

And the man worships Him.

Not just thanks Him.
Not just admires Him.

He worships Him.

That’s the goal.

The problem in the world is always false worship. Our blindness leads us to worship the wrong things.

But when we are healed by Christ, when we are baptized in the Pool of Siloam, when the sacraments are rubbed into us, when we are conformed to the I AM, then we finally know:

• where we’re going

• what we’re about

And we bow down and worship the One who gave us light and vision.

God bless you.

A War That May Not End Quickly

The war with Iran is now about two weeks old. Some expected the operation to be quick, similar to the swift intervention seen in Venezuela, but Iran is not Venezuela. It is a far more sophisticated and strategically capable nation.

Evidence already suggests this conflict may not end quickly. The war began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian targets, triggering retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Middle East.

History warns that wars often last far longer than predicted. The United States once expected a short engagement in Vietnam, yet the conflict stretched for roughly twenty years.

Critics argue that prolonged wars often benefit powerful interests. As destruction spreads through the Middle East, rebuilding projects, especially those tied to energy infrastructure like oil facilities and pipelines, could eventually generate enormous financial opportunities for greedy bankers. At the same time, global markets are already feeling the strain: oil prices have surged as disruptions threaten shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for world energy supplies. Got it?

Whether by strategy, miscalculation, or economic incentives, some fear the United States may have been drawn into a conflict that could last much longer than initially expected.

For many observers, the concern is simple: once wars begin, they are rarely as short, or as controlled, as promised. It was a bad move and so God help us all.

Mass Readings and Reflection for Saturday of the Third Week of Lent March 14th 2026

First Reading: (Hosea 6:1–6)

Response Psalm: (Psalm 51)
God delights not in outward offerings but in a contrite heart and a humble spirit.

Gospel: (Luke 18:9–14)

Reflection:

Today’s readings speak clearly about the heart that God desires from us. The message is simple but powerful: God seeks humility and mercy, not pride and empty religious performance.

In the first reading from the Book of Hosea, the Lord calls his people to return to him. The prophet describes a God who wounds but also heals, who corrects but ultimately restores. God longs for his people to know him deeply. Yet the Lord also laments that their devotion is often temporary, like morning dew that disappears quickly. They perform rituals and sacrifices, but their hearts wander away.

The Lord makes his desire unmistakably clear:
“It is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”

This means that God is not impressed by external displays of religion if the heart remains unchanged. Fasting, prayer, and sacrifice are important during Lent, but they must lead us to something deeper, a sincere relationship with God and a genuine love for others.

The psalm today echoes this same theme. Psalm 51 reminds us that what pleases God most is a contrite and humble heart. When we come before God honestly, acknowledging our weaknesses and our need for mercy, then our prayer becomes pleasing to him.

This message reaches its climax in today’s Gospel from the Gospel of Luke. Jesus tells the parable of two men who go to the temple to pray: a Pharisee and a tax collector.

The Pharisee appears to be a model religious person. He fasts regularly, pays his tithes, and follows religious practices carefully. But there is one problem, his prayer is filled with pride. Instead of speaking to God with humility, he compares himself with others and congratulates himself for being better than them.

Standing at a distance is the tax collector. In that society, tax collectors were often despised and seen as sinners. Yet this man does something remarkable: he does not defend himself, justify himself, or compare himself to others. He simply beats his breast and prays, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Jesus tells us something surprising: the tax collector goes home justified, not the Pharisee.

Why? Because humility opens the heart to God’s grace. Pride closes it.

This is an important lesson for all of us during Lent. Sometimes we can fall into the same trap as the Pharisee. We might feel proud of our fasting, our prayers, our good deeds, or our moral behavior. But the moment we begin to compare ourselves to others and look down on them, we lose the spirit that God desires.

True holiness is not about proving that we are better than others. It is about recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God.

The good news is that we do not have to earn God’s love through perfect performance. God has already shown his love by giving us his Son, Jesus Christ. Our response is simply to follow him with humility and gratitude.

When we acknowledge our weakness and turn to God sincerely, we open ourselves to his mercy. And that mercy has the power to transform our lives.

So today the Church invites us to ask ourselves a simple question: How do I approach God?

Do I approach him like the Pharisee, confident in my own righteousness?
Or like the tax collector, aware of my need for mercy?

Lent is a time to return to the Lord with humble hearts. When we do so, God never rejects us. Instead, he heals us, restores us, and raises us up to new life.

Let us therefore come before the Lord today with the prayer of the tax collector always on our lips.