Friday of the Third Week of Lent

R. (see 11 and 9a) I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
An unfamiliar speech I hear:
"I relieved his shoulder of the burden;
his hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I rescued you."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"Unseen, I answered you in thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear, my people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, will you not hear me?"
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Glory and Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ 

Repent, says the Lord;
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Glory and Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ 

–   That Christians everywhere may not be people of legalism and outward observances, but people with a heart who do what they have to do and more, because they are God’s children, we pray:

–   That the nations of the world may respect and love one another and build peace and progress on the basis of justice and equitable sharing, we pray:

–   That our anemic and dried-up love may become rich and spontaneous, like a fresh breath of life and joy brightening the lives of those around us and a wordless song of praise to God, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord, our God and Father,
we are gathered here for this Eucharist,
to celebrate the coming among us
of your life and love through your Son.
May our offering be the recognition
that you loved us
before we could love you.
Help us to express our grateful love to you
by extending our hands to all
who are called to be brothers and sisters
of Jesus Christ, our Lord and brother forever.

Prayer after Communion

Lord, our God and Father,
you have broken for us
the life-giving bread of your Son.
By the strength of the Eucharist,
may we love you, our living God,
with all that is in us
and our neighbor far and near
as much as we love ourselves.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

To love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself is much more important than any ritual sacrifices. It is true worship! May God bless you, that Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTION:

Mark 12:28-34

Listen and Love

"What is the most important commandment?" The scribes had discovered 613 commandments of the Law, and the question was: Of these 613, which one is the most important?

Jesus cites the creed of Israel, which is given in the Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 6. We have grown too familiar with this passage: "You shall love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and you shall love your neighbour as yourself." The commandment of love is considered the summary of entire Christian ethics, but it is often overlooked how the Lord presented this commandment. The prefix used in presenting this commandment is also very important.

“Shema Israel!" or "Hear, O Israel!” Jesus identifies the first command of the Lord as “Hear, O Israel” – i.e., “Listen, O chosen people of God”. We are the chosen people of God, and we must listen to the Word of God and allow it to transform us. "Hear O Israel, Adonai is our one God ... if you listen to him, you will keep his Word.”

Our love for the Lord and love for people derive from our adherence to the Word of God. The love of God is impossible without the love of our neighbour. How are we to live by the commandments of Jesus? First, listen to him! To listen to the voice of the Lord, we must resolve to travel with him on the road from Galilee to Jerusalem.

As John asks in his Letters, "How can I say that I love God whom I do not see and do not love my neighbour whom I see?" A Christian is one who listens to the Word of God and also has a spirit of availability toward his brothers and sisters.

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Mark 12: 28b-34
Making the Word Become Flesh in Our Lives

In today's Gospel, a scribe asks Jesus which commandment is the greatest. Jesus responds by citing the Shema from Deuteronomy: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength,” and adds, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” This teaching forms the heart of Christian life.

Pope Francis highlights how the scribe repeats Jesus' words, showing that God's Word is not just information but a message to be internalised and lived. The pope explains that we must ruminate on the Word — reflecting on it deeply so it becomes part of us. This process transforms our hearts and shapes our actions.

The pope says God seeks not experts in Scripture, but hearts that are open to transformation. He encourages us to carry the Gospel with us, reading and rereading it so it resonates in our lives. When we engage with the Word in this way, Jesus becomes intimate with us, and our lives bear fruit.

Loving God and neighbour must not be a theoretical idea but the guiding principle of our daily choices. Are we loving God with all we are? Are we showing kindness and compassion to those around us?

Like Mary, who welcomed the Word into her life, we are called to make God's love visible through our actions. By allowing the Gospel to take root in our hearts, we become living translations of God’s love, bringing His presence into the world.

Making the Word Become Flesh in Our Lives - Youtube