Kerygma – Fundamental Rights
5th Sunday of Lent
“With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.”Ps. 130
- The human situation in which we find ourselves is a consequence of sin: all the precariousness and limitations, suffering, clumsiness, ignorance, illnesses, and death, even natural catastrophes.
- We could say that this is not only a consequence of the sin of our first parents, but also of our present sin—personal and social—since if we truly kept the commandments we would already be living in paradise. And even if others do not keep them, if you did keep them, you would also live paradise in your own heart.
- Sin is disobedience to God. This rupture with God unleashes all the other ruptures that follow: with creation, with others, and even within oneself.
- Only in obedience do I benefit from everything God offers us through His Son Jesus Christ: blessings, the Holy Spirit with all His fruits and gifts, salvation, and eternal life. Without obedience—which is trust in Him—I despise His gifts and become a stray sheep like the devil, who neither trusts nor follows Him.
- To reach this trust-obedience only the will is required; it is enough to want to trust just as it is enough to want to distrust. Many make excuses to disobey and not believe, but deep down it is only the selfish desire to make themselves their own god and do their own will that leads them to this, without realizing how much they lose. Each person decides what he believes and what he does not believe.
- Christ came to spare us much suffering. As the Good Shepherd, through His coming and His revelation, He wants to lead us through green pastures, along the path of love, joy, and peace, toward His kingdom of eternal happiness. But if we do not want to believe and trust in Him, we suffer much more in this world and also afterward. We should not trust our human ignorance and clumsiness more than we trust God.
- There is never a valid motive or true reason not to believe in God. Yet many choose that mistaken path not because of reasons but because of their will. Not even miracles and the most convincing proofs lead them to accept God. Like the devil, who knowing God still rejects and despises Him because he trusts himself more and wants everything his own way; and many follow that route toward hell.
There is no greater goal to attain in this world than eternal salvation, by following the only path that leads to it: Christ. Without this, life is a failure; therefore there is no other purpose or meaning more important for this brief passage.
Readings of the Week
Sunday: Ez 37:12-14/Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8/Rom 8:8-11/Jn 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45
Monday: Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 or 13:41c-62/Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6/Jn 8:1-11
Tuesday: Nm 21:4-9/Ps 102:2-3, 16-18, 19-21/Jn 8:21-30
Wednesday: Is 7:10-14; 8:10/Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11/Heb 10:4-10/Lk 1:26-38
Thursday: Gn 17:3-9/Ps 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9/Jn 8:51-59
Friday: Jer 20:10-13/Ps 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 5-6, 7/Jn 10:31-42
Saturday: Ez 37:21-28/Jr 31:10, 11-12abcd, 13Jn 11:45-56
Next Sunday: Mt 21:1-11 (37)/Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24/Is 50:4-7/Phil 2:6-11/Mt 26:14-27:66 or 27:11-54
Celebrations of the Week
Sunday: 5th Sunday of Lent
Monday: Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo, bishop
Wednesday: Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Next Sunday: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
