2026

John 5:17-18

Doing the Father’s Work

Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” For this reason they tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God.

Reflection:

The context of today’s Gospel is important. The lines above come at the conclusion of the story of Jesus healing the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda. The man had been crippled for thirty-eight years, and Jesus healed him, telling the man, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk” (John 5:8). Though the miracle was awe-inspiring, the rigid Pharisees quickly chastised the man for carrying his mat, which they saw as a violation of the Sabbath law.

While God commanded through Moses, “Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8), it was the Pharisees who created lengthy and detailed interpretations of that commandment. They identified numerous forms of work they believed were forbidden, including carrying a mat.

When Jesus healed the man and told him to rise and pick up his mat, the Pharisees believed Jesus violated the Law of Moses in two ways. First, they claimed that the healing itself was a form of work and thus a violation of the Sabbath. Second, they saw Jesus’ instruction to the man to pick up his mat as a disregard for the prohibition against work, encouraging the man to break the Sabbath.

To us, these condemnations may seem extreme and legalistic, but to the Pharisees, Jesus acted unlawfully and they began to persecute Him.

What is useful to ponder is Jesus’ response to the criticism. When someone criticizes us, we might become defensive, respond in kind with criticism, or even backtrack in our actions. Criticism and persecution can tempt us to fear, and that fear can pressure us into compliance to avoid consequences. Jesus, however, did not take this approach.

Instead, Jesus reaffirms His divine authority to perform works of mercy on the Sabbath, declaring Himself Lord of the Sabbath. He says, “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” In other words, Jesus connects His work of healing with the ongoing work of the Father, the source of the Law. If His act of healing came from the Father—the One who gave the Ten Commandments—then His healing could not be a violation of the Law.

The rest of today’s Gospel is a longer discourse on this point: “The Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also.” Jesus declares His oneness with the Father, revealing their perfect unity of being and action. This unity, rooted in their shared divine nature, is central to our understanding of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—consubstantial and eternally one in being.

Jesus’ goal was not to defend Himself against the Pharisees’ criticism or to resolve the conflict. His goal was to proclaim the truth, even though it would further enrage the Pharisees. He did not fear their judgment, was not intimidated by their condemnation, and did not allow their rigid legalism to stop Him. Instead, He spoke clearly and openly to them about the truth, in love.

Reflect today on how you handle rash judgment, criticism, and false accusations. Do you let criticism lead to fear or anxiety? Do you respond with anger or try to defend yourself? Or do you confront errors with truth, sharing that truth with love and confidence? Fear and anger come in many forms and can deeply affect the way we relate to others. Though they are different emotions, they are often interwoven, emerging together in our hearts. Pray that God will dispel all fear and replace anger with courage and truth. Like Jesus, we must speak and act in communion with the Father’s will, rejecting the intimidation and manipulation of those who falsely accuse us.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2026/03/17/doing-the-fathers-work/

John 5:17-18 Read More »

Saint Patrick, Bishop

Daily Saints

c. 387–c. 460 or 493 (Actual dates are uncertain); Patron Saint of Ireland; Invoked against snake bites; Pre-Congregation canonization

Patrick was born in Roman-ruled Britain to loving parents, perhaps as an only child. His father was a senator and a deacon, and his grandfather was a married priest. Despite his Christian upbringing and the clerical influences of his father and grandfather, Patrick struggled with his faith, stating later that when he was young he “did not know the true God.” This testimony, and the quotes to follow, come from his own hand, preserved in his Confessio, Saint Patrick’s short autobiographical confession about the workings of God’s grace in his life and ministry.

At the age of sixteen, Patrick’s life took a dramatic turn for the worse; at least, that’s how it first appeared. Gaelic slave traders from Ireland arrived by ship and raided Patrick’s village. Though young women and children were often their preferred targets, a young, healthy boy could also profit them. Patrick was captured and “was taken into captivity in Ireland with many thousands of people.”

At the time of Patrick’s captivity, Ireland was a pagan country made up of more than a hundred small, family-based clans governed by local chiefs. Most clans united with other clans to form several larger kingdoms. Their religious beliefs were a mixture of polytheism, in which gods were honored and called upon, and animism, in which the natural world was believed to contain spirits who could be communicated with. Their druids (priests) engaged in demonic spells, incantations, curses, and dark magic.

It was Patrick’s conviction that, because he and his fellow slaves had drawn away from God and did not keep God’s precepts, the Lord brought down upon them the “fury of his being,” permitting them to be scattered throughout Ireland as slaves. But God’s just punishments are always inflicted upon his children for the purpose of converting their hearts, which is exactly what happened to Patrick. “And there the Lord opened my mind to an awareness of my unbelief, in order that, even so late, I might remember my transgressions and turn with all my heart to the Lord my God, Who had regard for my insignificance and pitied my youth and ignorance.”

While in captivity, Patrick was made a swineherd for one of the clans and spent much of his time in the forests, enduring the snow, ice, and rain. But his time alone, experiencing the suffering and loneliness of captivity, greatly benefited his soul. At first, Patrick didn’t know God. Then, he began to think about God. Then he began to speak to God. Within six years, he was praying a hundred prayers every day and a hundred prayers every night. As a result, Patrick testified that “the Spirit was burning in me at that time.” After receiving chastisements from God for his lack of faith, Patrick’s heart was changed and filled with gratitude for all that God had done in his soul. He realized that his only “way to repay Him is to exalt Him and confess His wonders before every nation under heaven.”

Once Patrick had converted, God’s plan for his life changed. While asleep one night, Patrick heard a voice say to him, “Soon you will depart for your home country,” and shortly afterward, “Behold, your ship is ready.” By an intuition of grace, Patrick knew what he had to do. He escaped and ran 200 miles (about 184 modern miles). God directed him on the way and led him to a ship where Patrick convinced the captain to let him board. Three days later, they were back in Britain on a remote shore. Patrick and some pagans disembarked from the ship and began a twenty-eight-day journey through the wilderness to find civilization. On the journey, the pagans mocked Patrick’s faith, but when they ran out of food, Patrick prayed and God miraculously provided them with a herd of pigs. The pagans were impressed and Patrick won their respect. This was the first of many times that God used Patrick to change hardened hearts. Then, Patrick was reunited with his parents at last.

Back in Britain, Patrick continued to pray, study Scripture, and learn the Catholic faith. His prayer led him into deep union with God. He had dreams and visions, including a vision in which he heard the voice of the Irish say to him, “We beg you, holy youth, that you shall come and shall walk again among us.” Patrick knew that he had to return, not as a slave, but as a missionary. Despite opposition from his family, Patrick was determined to answer God’s call.

Since Patrick had learned much about Irish culture and language, he was an ideal candidate for missionary work. After years of study, probably in France, he was ordained a bishop and sent by the Church back to Ireland to convert the pagans, his captors, to Christ. And that he did. It was by the courageous witness of his character, aided perhaps by miraculous signs and unwavering faith, that one of the kings converted. After being successful in one kingdom, Bishop Patrick moved to another. When he arrived in a new territory, he always sought to convert the local king and chiefs first. Once they were open to the Gospel, the people followed.

During the fewer than thirty years that Patrick evangelized the people of Ireland, he endured many hardships, including another short captivity, the constant danger of being killed, and staunch opposition from the druid spiritual leaders. But he also converted countless pagans, baptized and confirmed “so many thousands,” built churches, established religious life, ordained native clergy, and changed pagan Ireland as a whole into one of the greatest Catholic nations on earth.

Saint Patrick’s influence on Ireland was so profound that many later biographers have attributed numerous legends to him. Though most of these legends cannot be verified, the stories highlight the remarkable spiritual transformation of a hostile pagan nation by the faith and courage of one man. God humbled Patrick, changed his heart, set him on fire, and then used that fire to purify many thousands of people. In the centuries that followed, those converts went forth to the ends of the earth, bringing the same Gospel to others that Patrick first preached to them.

As we honor Saint Patrick, seek to imitate him by joining him in his initial humiliation. See your sins and pray that God purifies you by any means necessary. Convert your heart. Increase your daily prayer. Allow your heart to become inflamed by God’s Spirit. Say “Yes” to Him when He calls, and go where He sends you. Like Saint Patrick, God wants to send you on a mission, but He cannot do so until you fully convert your heart to His.

Source: https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/march-17-saint-patrick-bishop/

Saint Patrick, Bishop Read More »

John 5:6-8

Daily Reflections, Verse

Divine Initiative and Intervention

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

Reflection:

Let us begin by imagining the overwhelming joy of this man, who was healed after he had been ill for thirty-eight years. He lay on a mat near the Pool of Bethesda, a place where tradition held that the first to enter the water after it was stirred would be healed. Some later traditions associated the stirring of the waters with the Archangel Raphael, whose name means ‘healing of God.’ While Scripture does not link Raphael to this story, his healing nature from other biblical traditions makes the association meaningful for reflection.

When Jesus approaches the paralyzed man and asks, “Do you want to be well?” the question seems almost unnecessary. Who wouldn’t desire healing after suffering for so long? Yet this question points to a deeper reality—one that transcends physical illness. The man’s condition and Jesus’ question symbolize the spiritual paralysis that can afflict any soul trapped in habitual sin. Just as the man could not heal himself, so too are we unable to free ourselves from the weight of sin without divine intervention. Jesus asks us the same question today: Do we truly want to be freed from our spiritual paralysis?

The man’s response to Jesus also reveals an important truth. He says, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” This admission reflects a deep hopelessness that those who struggle with habitual sin often experience. Years of failure to overcome sin can lead to discouragement, even resignation. But this very discouragement is where grace begins to work. In acknowledging our inability to heal ourselves, we open the door to Christ’s healing power.

Perhaps Jesus chose this man precisely because he had lost all hope. After thirty-eight years of suffering, he had no one to help him and no expectation of healing. Yet Jesus, in His mercy, intervened. This is a powerful message for all who struggle with sin and despair of overcoming it: There is always hope in Christ. He takes the initiative when we cannot, bringing healing where we least expect it.

Picture Christ coming to you today, asking, “Do you want to be well?” Our response should mirror the man’s humility: Lord, I am powerless to free myself from my sin. In this admission of weakness, we allow Christ to work in us. It is through our humility that we prepare to receive His grace.

Reflect today on any sin—whether venial or grave—that has become a habitual part of your life. Have you grown resigned to these sins, thinking they are impossible to overcome? Are there sins you have become so accustomed to that you no longer recognize their spiritual harm? Christ asks you today: Do you want to be healed? Acknowledge your weakness, confess your inability to heal yourself, and wait on the Lord. Be attentive, and you will see He is already taking divine initiative, working in ways you might not yet realize.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2026/03/16/divine-initiative-and-intervention/

John 5:6-8 Read More »

Saint Julian of Anazarbus

Daily Saints

Profile

Julian was a prominent citizen of senatorial rank. He was arrested for his faith during the persecutions of Diocletian, he was tortured then put on display for abuse for a year in cities all over Cilicia, being led around behind a camel. He was a martyr. He was also praised by Saint John Chrysostom in a homily during the enshrinement of his relics.

Born

Anazarbus, Cilicia (in modern Turkey)

Died

sewn into a sack full of vipers and scorpions, and thrown into the sea to drown c.302
relics enshrined in Antioch

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

Patronage

Rimini, Italy

Representation

man being thrown into the sea in a sack
man in a coffin which is floating into shore and on which sits four angels
man bound on a camel being led through the streets

Source: https://catholicsaints.info/saint-julian-of-anazarbus/

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John 4:48-50

Daily Reflections, Verse

Miracles and Faith

“Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.

Reflection:

What is the most precious gift our Lord could give to you? If your spouse, child, or close friend were gravely ill, would a miracle be the gift you sought? If your financial situation were dire, would you ask for monetary assistance? If you were suffering from a chronic disease, would your prayer be for a cure?

Though we should entrust these situations to God’s grace, it’s important to understand that the gift of faith far surpasses any immediate miracle, assistance, or relief we might seek. Faith is a most precious gift because it enables us to turn away from our limited assessment of earthly situations and be open to God’s wisdom, which far surpasses anything we could conceive of by ourselves.

Though Jesus performed many miracles, He regularly challenged those whose faith was based on their desire for signs and wonders. In today’s Gospel, a royal official, likely of high rank, traveled from Capernaum to Cana, about twenty miles, because his child was dying. His journey illustrates faith in Jesus’ divine authority, but his faith was imperfect—he believed Jesus had to be physically present to heal his son. Jesus heals the child from a distance, but He also challenges the official and the crowd: “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” Jesus desires a faith that trusts in His word, not one that depends on visible signs.

When we pray with a litany of requests, God in His mercy hears us. Sometimes He grants them, and sometimes He doesn’t. But He wants us to know that such prayers are not the ideal. God already knows our needs better than we do. He knows our struggles within family, finances, health, and every other detail of our lives.

The ideal prayer is one of adoration and trust. It’s a prayer that surrenders everything to God without dictating the outcome. It trusts God’s wisdom more than our own, enabling us to rest in His loving care, unburdened by our difficulties.

The royal official’s faith grew when he believed Jesus’ word without needing Him to be physically present. This is evident when he learned that his son was healed at the exact time Jesus said, “Your son will live.” The official’s faith was deepened, and his whole household came to believe. This shows how true faith, once rooted in trust, grows and spreads to others.

If this man’s faith had not matured, it could have been lost if another crisis arose and no miracle followed. A deeper faith rests in God’s will, whether or not another miracle occurs. The same is true for us. Our faith must not depend on God’s answer to our prayers. If He allows suffering, we must trust Him. If He heals, we must trust Him. Our faith must remain strong, rooted in Who God is, not in what He does.

Reflect today on the depth of your faith and how it shapes your prayers. Believe, worship God for who He is, love Him above all else, and trust His perfect will. Then entrust yourself and your loved ones to His providence, believing that God knows what is best.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2026/03/15/miracles-and-faith-3/

John 4:48-50 Read More »

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Gosples & Readings

First Reading 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

The LORD said to Samuel:
“Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.
I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,
for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”

As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice,
Samuel looked at Eliab and thought,
“Surely the LORD’s anointed is here before him.”
But the LORD said to Samuel:
“Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature,
because I have rejected him.
Not as man sees does God see,
because man sees the appearance
but the LORD looks into the heart.”
In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel,
but Samuel said to Jesse,
“The LORD has not chosen any one of these.”
Then Samuel asked Jesse,
“Are these all the sons you have?”
Jesse replied,
“There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said to Jesse,
“Send for him;
we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”
Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.
He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold
and making a splendid appearance.
The LORD said,
“There—anoint him, for this is the one!”
Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand,
anointed David in the presence of his brothers;
and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.

Responsorial Psalm Psalms 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
   In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
   he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
   for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
   I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
   that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
   in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
   all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
   for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Verse Before the Gospel John 8:12

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Gospel John 9:1-41

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered,
“Neither he nor his parents sinned;
it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
When he had said this, he spat on the ground
and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
He said, “I am.”
So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
He replied,
“The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes
and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’
So I went there and washed and was able to see.”
And they said to him, “Where is he?”
He said, “I don’t know.”

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
“What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”

Now the Jews did not believe
that he had been blind and gained his sight
until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight.
They asked them,
“Is this your son, who you say was born blind?
How does he now see?”
His parents answered and said,
“We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
We do not know how he sees now,
nor do we know who opened his eyes.
Ask him, he is of age;
he can speak for himself.”
His parents said this because they were afraid
of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed
that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,
he would be expelled from the synagogue.
For this reason his parents said,
“He is of age; question him.”

So a second time they called the man who had been blind
and said to him, “Give God the praise!
We know that this man is a sinner.”
He replied,
“If he is a sinner, I do not know.
One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.”
So they said to him,
“What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?”
He answered them,
“I told you already and you did not listen.
Why do you want to hear it again?
Do you want to become his disciples, too?”
They ridiculed him and said,
“You are that man’s disciple;
we are disciples of Moses!
We know that God spoke to Moses,
but we do not know where this one is from.”
The man answered and said to them,
“This is what is so amazing,
that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.
We know that God does not listen to sinners,
but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.
It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.
If this man were not from God,
he would not be able to do anything.”
They answered and said to him,
“You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?”
Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
He answered and said,
“Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”
Jesus said to him,
“You have seen him,
the one speaking with you is he.”
He said,
“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
Then Jesus said,
“I came into this world for judgment,
so that those who do not see might see,
and those who do see might become blind.”

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this
and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”
Jesus said to them,
“If you were blind, you would have no sin;
but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.

Source: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031526.cfm

Fourth Sunday of Lent Read More »

Saint Louise de Marillac

Daily Saints

Profile

Though she considered a religious vocation from an early age, Louise ill health kept any house from taking her. She married Antony LeGras, an official to the queen, in 1611, but became widowed in 1625. She was a spiritual student of Saint Vincent de Paul. With Saint Vincent, she founded the Daughters of Charity in 1642, receiving Vatican approval in 1655. She founded the Sisters of Charity, took her vows in the order, and served as its superior until her death. She was a spiritual guide for groups of lay women.

Born

12 August 1591 at Meux, France

Died

15 March 1660 at Paris, France of natural causes
body incorrupt

Beatified

9 May 1920 by Pope Benedict XV

Canonized

11 March 1934 by Pope Pius XI

Patronage

disappointing children
loss of parents
people rejected by religious orders
sick people
social workers (proclaimed on 12 February 1960 by Pope John XXIII)
Vincentian Service Corps
widows

Source: https://catholicsaints.info/saint-louise-de-marillac/

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John 9:1-3

Daily Reflections, Verse

Spiritual Sight Restored

Reflection:

Imagine being blind throughout your life and then suddenly being healed. All of the sounds you had heard from childhood, all that you had touched, tasted, or smelled suddenly took on new form within your imagination as these images registered with sight for the first time. Colors suddenly made sense. Large items, such as trees that you had only heard in the wind and touched with your hands, could be seen from a distance, glimmering in the sunlight. Your mind suddenly perceived in a new way the utensils, clothing, and other items you used daily. Just as the blind man was filled with awe at receiving his sight, so too is the soul overwhelmed when freed from the blindness of sin and brought into the light of God’s grace.

The healed blind man was given a gift that those who can see from birth are not. Perceiving and understanding the physical world only through four of his senses, and then adding the powerful fifth sense of sight later in life, provided immediate wonder and awe, filling him with profound gratitude for something most of us take for granted.

Think of a person who lives a sinful life for many years and understands life only through the distortions of sin and selfishness. Once set free from sin, the person’s spiritual eyes are opened. Those who experience such a conversion are given a blessing that those who have been faithful throughout their lives do not receive in the same way. They understand the contrast between spiritual blindness and sight, and the newfound freedom they receive after conversion provides a greater understanding of the gift of God’s grace and its transforming effects. They will never forget the weight of bondage once caused by their sin.

One reason God permitted this man to be born blind and live that way into adulthood was to illustrate the contrast between spiritual darkness and light. This is part of what Jesus means when He says this man was born blind “so that the works of God might be made visible through him.” The miracle not only illustrated Jesus’ divine power but also symbolized the much deeper spiritual healing He offers to all. Just as the blind man received physical sight, we are offered the gift of spiritual sight through grace.

We are born with poor spiritual sight. Our fallen human nature, which suffers from concupiscence, tends toward selfishness and sin. Although capable of love and affection, a child is prone to selfishness, anger, emotional outbursts, and other “childish” behavior. Over time, with the guidance of good mentors, children begin to understand the value of greater patience and selfless acts of love, kindness, and generosity. Those who are not well-formed as adolescents or who choose to rebel selfishly in their later years never gain a clearer spiritual sight. The world around them remains blurry, and divine wisdom never penetrates their eyes of faith.

The story of the man born blind is an opportunity for each of us to examine how clearly we perceive our lives and the world around us. Just as the man was healed, we need healing from the blindness caused by our fallen nature. God’s grace restores our spiritual sight, allowing His light to illuminate all we encounter in life.

Reflect today on your own need to see more clearly. We need our spiritual sight restored and sharpened if we are to perceive ourselves and our world with divine Wisdom. It takes humility to admit we have poor spiritual sight, and profound humility to admit if we are spiritually blinded by sin. Learn from the wonder and awe that this healed blind man experienced, and know that our Lord wants us to have clearer spiritual vision.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2026/03/14/spiritual-sight-restored/

John 9:1-3 Read More »

Saint Lazarus of Milan

Daily Saints

Profile

Lazarus was an Archbishop of Milan, Italy c.439, a time when invading Ostrogoths controlled the area. He may have developed and certainly popularized the Rogationtide litanies; originally devised to ask for protection from the Ostrogoths, over time the devotion spread throughout Europe. His February feast day is due to the Milanese custom of not celebrating saint days during Lent.

Died

14 March 450

Canonized

Pre-Congregation

Source: https://catholicsaints.info/saint-lazarus-of-milan/

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Luke 18:9-10

Daily Reflections, Verse

Humility and Wisdom

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector…”

Reflection:

Humility is a beautiful virtue. Even the most public sinner, like a tax collector, shines brightly with God’s grace when his heart is purified by humility. On the other hand, pride is an ugly vice. When pride is present in someone’s life, the soul is incapable of reflecting God’s pure and beautiful light.

Today’s parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, who both go to the temple to pray, teaches us that true holiness comes from within. The interior virtues of the soul allow God’s radiance to shine outwardly. When humility and repentance fill a person’s heart, the soul reflects God’s grace.

We may all encounter people who seem to radiate God’s grace, peace, and joy. Conversely, we may meet others who radiate judgment, self-righteousness, and condemnation. While we must avoid judging others, we cannot help but be inspired by the genuine humility of those whose lives are marked by grace. For example, even if we forget the exact words of Saint Mother Teresa’s many speeches, her radiant charity, fueled by humility, is unforgettable.

The Pharisees were known for their meticulous observance of the external requirements of the Law of Moses. However, their scrupulous adherence to these laws often blinded them to the deeper virtues that God desires. They became focused on appearances, missing the heart of the matter: humility and love of God.

Praying in the temple is a good and pious act. Both the Pharisee and the tax collector did this. However, prayer that is distorted by self-righteousness, pride, and arrogance cannot rise to God as true prayer. Only when prayer is guided by humility and an awareness of our need for God’s mercy does it become a channel of grace.

The tax collector was humble because he recognized his sinfulness and his need for God’s mercy. He prayed, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” The Pharisee, blinded by pride, could not see his own need for God’s forgiveness and instead praised himself for his external observances. The tax collector’s humility opened him to divine wisdom, while the Pharisee’s pride left him in spiritual blindness. Humility is wise; pride is foolish.

Reflect today on how you approach prayer. Are you wise in your prayer? Do you, like the tax collector, acknowledge your need for God’s mercy? Pray the tax collector’s prayer with sincerity and depth: “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” If you find yourself thinking, “I’m not that bad of a sinner,” then your prayer is more like that of the Pharisee. Don’t shy away from the truth. Humbly confess your weaknesses and sins before God. He is merciful. Acknowledge your complete dependence on His grace. Only then, like the tax collector, will you go home justified before God.

Source: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/2026/03/13/humility-and-wisdom/

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John 5:17-18

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c. 387–c. 460 or 493 (Actual dates are uncertain); Patron Saint of Ireland; Invoked against snake bites; Pre-Congregation canonization

John 5:6-8

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Saint Julian of Anazarbus

John 4:48-50

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Luke 18:9-10

Humility and Wisdom

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