11 March 2026 (Wednesday) / Lenten Weekday. Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent

11 March 2026 (Wednesday)

Lenten Weekday.
Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent.

Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic Church:

First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 147: 12-13, 15-16, 19-20
Verse Before the Gospel: John 6: 63c, 68c
Gospel: Matthew 5: 17-19

First Reading : Deuteronomy 4:1,5‐9

Moses said to the people:
  ‘Now, Israel, take notice of the laws and customs that I teach you today, and observe them, that you may have life and may enter and take possession of the land that the Lord the God of your fathers is giving you.
  ‘See, as the Lord my God has commanded me, I teach you the laws and customs that you are to observe in the land you are to enter and make your own. Keep them, observe them, and they will demonstrate to the peoples your wisdom and understanding. When they come to know of all these laws they will exclaim, “No other people is as wise and prudent as this great nation.” And indeed, what great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him? And what great nation is there that has laws and customs to match this whole Law that I put before you today?
  ‘But take care what you do and be on your guard. Do not forget the things your eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart all the days of your life; rather, tell them to your children and to your children’s children.’

Responsive Psalm : Psalm 147:12‐13,15‐16,19‐20

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
  Zion, praise your God!
He has strengthened the bars of your gates
  he has blessed the children within you.
O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
He sends out his word to the earth
  and swiftly runs his command.
He showers down snow white as wool,
  he scatters hoar‐frost like ashes.
O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
He makes his word known to Jacob,
  to Israel his laws and decrees.
He has not dealt thus with other nations;
  he has not taught them his decrees.
O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

Verse Before the Gospel: John 6: 63c, 68c
63c, 68c Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life.
(63. 'It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
64. 'But there are some of you who do not believe.' For Jesus knew from the outset who did not believe and who was to betray him.
65. He went on, 'This is why I told you that no one could come to me except by the gift of the Father.'
66. After this, many of his disciples went away and accompanied him no more.
67. Then Jesus said to the Twelve, 'What about you, do you want to go away too?'
68. Simon Peter answered, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life,
69. and we believe; we have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.')

Gospel : Matthew 5:17‐19

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.’

For our reflection today:

In the Gospel of today’s liturgy, Jesus says: “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them” (Mt 5:17). Jesus makes us understand that religious rules are necessary, they are good, but they are only the beginning: to fulfil them, it is necessary to go beyond the letter and live their meaning. The commandments that God gave us should not be locked up in the airless vaults of formal observance; otherwise, we are limited to an exterior, detached religiosity, servants of “God the master” rather than children of “God the Father”. Jesus wants this: not to have the idea of serving a God who is master, but Father; and this is why it is necessary to go beyond the letter. Brothers and sisters, this problem was present not only in Jesus’ time; it is there today too. At times, for example, we hear some say, “Father, I have not killed, I have not stolen, I have not harmed anyone…”, as if to say, “I am fine”. This is formal observance, which is satisfied with the bare minimum, whereas Jesus invites us to aspire to the maximum possible. That is: God does not reason with calculations and tables; he loves us as one who is enamoured: not to the minimum, but to the maximum! He does not say, “I love you up to a certain point”. No, true love is never up to a certain point, and is never satisfied; love always goes beyond, it cannot do otherwise. The Lord showed us this by giving his life on the cross and forgiving his murderers (cf. Lk 23:34). And he entrusted to us the commandment most dear to him: that we love one another like he  loved us (cf. Jn 15:12). This is the love that gives fulfilment to the Law, to faith, to true life! (Francis - Angelus, 12 February 2023)

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Pelayan Atasan Tertinggi / Most High Servant,
Yesus, Maria, Yusuf Pelayanan Kasih / Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love 
(Blessed and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)

My vocation is Blessed and Saints.

"I am the most humble of all the Saints in Heaven" Mary, Mother of God."

"I am the handmaid of the Lord, said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me."

Mother Mary is the most humble Saint in Heaven and she is also the Mother of God for us all
(Luke 1:38)