MARCH 20 Mon ST JOSEPH, Solemnity

2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16/Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22/Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Lk 2:41-51a 

21 Tue Lenten Weekday7 Ez 47:1-9, 12/Jn 5:1-16 

22 Wed Lenten Weekday Is 49:8-15/Jn 5:17-30 

23 Thu Lenten Weekday [St Turibius of Mogrovejo, Bishop] Ex 32:7-14/Jn 5:31-47 

24 Fri Lenten Weekday Wis 2:1a, 12-22/Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 

25 Sat THE ANNUNCIATION Solemnity Is 7:10-14; 8:10/Heb 10:4-10/Lk 1:26-38

26 SUN FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT 

Ez 37:12-14/Rom 8:8-11/Jn 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 

Our gospel readings for this week and the remainder of lent are mostly from St. John’s gospel. Until now, they were from the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew’s Gospel – Jesus’ teaching on prayer and mercy and forgiveness– and also some readings from Luke’s Gospel.  They’re from Jesus’ journey through Galilee where he taught and worked wonders, but he was not well received. 

Yet God’s Mercy, made flesh in Jesus Christ, continues a saving journey.

As he reached Jerusalem, Jesus worked wonders, gave sight to the man born blind, raised Lazarus from the dead and taught in the temple, but opposition to him grew stronger, John’s Gospel reports. 

More than the other gospels, John sees a glorious Christ on his way to accomplish his mission to bring life to the world, even if that world opposes him or clings to the darkness, like Nicodemus. (John 4:43-54) In one sense, John prepares us for the mystery of Jesus’ sufferings and death. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, suffers and dies.

Different ages give us saints. Joseph, spouse of Mary, was a holy man who raised Jesus as a father. Joseph was hardly appreciated in the early centuries of the church, but in recent times devotion to him has grown. It’s unclear why his feast is on March 19th, possibly because it’s close to the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25.

We celebrate his feast on Monday, with cakes and cookies from a local Italian bakery.