On Monday this week we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord when, at the invitation of the angel,  Mary consented to become the mother of Jesus Christ. To help us understand the mysteries of faith, the church celebrates them as concretely as possible, and so this mystery of Jesus is celebrated on March 25th, 9 months before Christmas, December 25th, the traditional date of Jesus’ birth. In some ancient church calendars March 25th is also the day Jesus was crucified. All the major Christian churches celebrate this important feast.

The Roman Catholic calendar also suggests reflecting on the scripture readings on the meeting of Jesus with the Samaritan woman, from John’s gospel, some day this week. An important reading in the Lenten catechesis.

March 25 Mon THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD

Solemnity

Is 7:10-14; 8:10/Heb 10:4-10/Lk 1:26-38 (545)

26 Tue Lenten Weekday5 Dn 3:25, 34-43/Mt 18:21-35 (238)

27 Wed Lenten Weekday

Dt 4:1, 5-9/Mt 5:17-19 (239)

28 Thu Lenten Weekday

Jer 7:23-28/Lk 11:14-23 (240)

29 Fri Lenten Weekday

Hos 14:2-10/Mk 12:28-34 (241)

30 Sat Lenten Weekday

Hos 6:1-6/Lk 18:9-14 (242)

Pss Prop 5 

The following readings may be used on any Lenten day this week, especially in Years B and C when the Gospel of the Samaritan Woman is not read on the Third Sunday of Lent: Ex 17:1-7/Jn 4:5-42 (236).

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31 SUN FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT violet or rose Jos 5:9a, 10-12/2 Cor 5:17-21/Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 (33)or, from Year A, 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a/Eph 5:8-14/Jn 9:1-41 or 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 (31) Pss IV