MONDAY – The Word Today

The Words of the Popes

According to the Judaic Law of that time, women and children could not bear a trustworthy, credible witness. Instead in the Gospels women play a fundamental lead role. Here we can grasp an element in favour of the historicity of the Resurrection: if it was an invented event, in the context of that time it would not have been linked with the evidence of women. Instead the Evangelists simply recounted what happened: women were the first witnesses. This implies that God does not choose in accordance with human criteria: the first witnesses of the birth of Jesus were shepherds, simple, humble people; the first witnesses of the Resurrection were women. And this is beautiful. This is part of the mission of women; of mothers, of women! Witnessing to their children, to their grandchildren, that Jesus is alive, is living, is risen. Mothers and women, carry on witnessing to this! It is the heart that counts for God, how open to him we are, whether we are like trusting children. However this also makes us think about how women, in the Church and on the journey of faith, had and still have today a special role in opening the doors to the Lord, in following him and in communicating his Face, for the gaze of faith is always in need of the simple and profound gaze of love. (Pope Francis – General Audience, 3 April 2013)

SOURCE: Word of the Day (Vatican News)

Today’s Gospel in Context

The context: Today’s Gospel describes how the two Marys who had been at the foot of the cross – Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” (sister or cousin of Jesus’ mother) – went to the tomb of Jesus early on Sunday morning. They were shocked at seeing an open tomb without Jesus’ body in it. As they ran back with fear and joy to report the news to the apostles, the risen Jesus greeted them and told them to inform the apostles that he would meet them in Galilee. The guards, too, went to the chief priests to report the Resurrection of Jesus. But they were promptly silenced by the Temple authorities who bribed them to spread the false news that Jesus’ body had been stolen by his disciples.

Life Message

1) The Resurrection of Christ is the most sublime and foundational truth of our Faith. It is the presence of the risen Lord everywhere that gives meaning to our worship and prayers, because Jesus is present everywhere to hear our prayers and grant our petitions. 2) The Risen Lord is present in the Holy Eucharist, in the Bible, in the praying assembly, and in believing Christians, so we need never be out of contact with him. 3) Let us renew this fundamental belief of our Faith every day and let us recognize and serve the risen Christ in everyone around us, thus becoming the Marys, “apostles to the apostles”.

SOURCE: Fr. Tony’s Homilies

Gospel Commentary

Lenten Weekday
​(Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62; Psalm 23)
KEY VERSE: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (v.7).
TO KNOW: One day, when Jesus was teaching in the temple, the religious leaders brought a woman to him whom they accused of adultery. Hoping to catch Jesus in a contradiction of the law, they asked his opinion whether or not she should be put to death as commanded by the Mosaic law (Lv.20:10). Jesus was in a dilemma as Roman law prohibited Jews from administering capital punishment. Yet if he pardoned her, it might appear that he had no regard for the Law of Moses. Silently, Jesus stooped down and wrote in the sand. Although it is not known what he wrote, it may have been the sins of each accuser. When they demanded an answer, Jesus told them that the one without sin should cast the first stone. One by one, the woman’s accusers departed, and Jesus was left alone with her. He had not come to judge her, but to save her (John 8:15).
TO LOVE: Am I quick to judge the faults of others?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, thank you for setting me free from my sins.


Optional Memorial of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo, Bishop
Turibio de Mogrovejo, together with Rose of Lima, is the first known saint of the New World, serving the Lord in Peru, South America, for 26 years. Toribio, also spelled Turibius, was born in Spain around the year 1538 and received an education in civil law as a young man. During the Spanish Inquisition at Grenada, Toribio was called upon to serve as the chief judge, and while filling this post quickly gained a reputation for intelligence and holiness. Toribio was ordained to the priesthood, then consecrated bishop and then sent to Lima to battle poverty. After Toribio got a handle on these situations, he began to learn the languages and the customs of those whom he was leading. Through this work, his example, and boundless charity, Toribio became a key figure in the spreading of Christianity through the New World. Before his death in 1606, Toribio founded the first seminary of the New World, and presided over the Third Council of Lima. St. Toribio is the patron of Latin American bishops.​ me to have faith even when I do not see any evidence. 

SOURCE: Together with God’s Word