Fourth Sunday Of Lent, Second Scrutiny of the Elect/ Lenten Mass Readings

Also Read: Mass Readings for 10 March 2024 Homily for 10 March 2024 – Sunday

First Reading: Second Chronicles 36: 14-16, 19-23

All the leading priests and the people also were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of the Lord that he had consecrated in Jerusalem. (14)

They burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious vessels. (19)

Following the abomination of the nations was the most important thing God had asked the people NOT to do when they entered the Promised Land. (Deut.12) But due to the hardness of their heart, they turned away from GOD most high and indulged in pagan practices. Today, let us recognize the pagan practices that we might fall into. Could one of them be the Internet which is easily accessed on our devices? A preacher recently concluded that: “Later, we will do it later.”  – Procrastination, is leading good intentions to remain just that and no action is taken by well-intentioned people! Therefore, we must beware of the King of the Chaldeans among us or in us!!

“Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him! Let him go up.” (23)

Yet Our Lord GOD brings about good even from the seemingly bad situations. Through various means/instruments he can turn around any situation in our favour; provided, we turn to GOD and humble ourselves with contrite hearts.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 137: 1-6

By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. (1)

Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy. (6)

Amen!

Second Reading: Ephesians 2: 4-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (8-10)

St. Paul clearly explains to us that we have been saved through the mercy of God and not through any merit of our own. Therefore, we are not to confuse our religion with any other ideology that may promote just “doing good”. It is our faith in Jesus Christ that saves us. We were created for good works, hence we must anyways be “doing good”!

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Gospel: John 3: 14-21

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (17)

Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (18)

But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” (21)

In the passage today, Nicodemus has a wonderful encounter with Jesus Christ. While explaining to him about eternal life, Jesus teaches us about a great mystery! If we do what is true, we will come into the Light. St. John and the Apostles lived in the same world where the other people could not accept Christ, even though they saw him. The ones drawn to the light are able to see GOD even in the darkness! Nicodemus a renowned Pharisee himself, was able to see the Light and recognize God. (Jn 3:1-2)

Could it be that the others were just unwilling to accept Christ as their Lord; even after witnessing the signs and wonders that he performed? Having seen, they would not acknowledge! Their forefathers at Meribah and Massah had similar hard-heartedness! (Ex. 17:1-7, Num 20:1-13) God allows us to remain in hard-heartedness because he loves us to the extent that he will not overrule our free will! We are created in God’s image and likeness, God respects our free will even when we choose to reject him! Hence the choice is ours today!

Let us learn from Nicodemus. Let us ask the Dear Holy Spirit Lord to open the eyes of our soul, mind, and spirit; so that we may recognize the saving Light before us.

In Jesus’ mighty and matchless name. Amen.