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 🙏