Joseph Osho

  THURSDAY 2ND WEEK OF LENT.  Jeremiah 17:5-10 Psalm 1:1-4,6 Luke 16:19-31 Both the first reading (Jer 17:5-10) and the Psalm (Ps 1) emphasize trusting in God alone for salvation. In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells of Lazarus, a poor man, and a rich man whose wealth made him indifferent to others' plight and dignity. The readings urge us to choose to live by God's law, believe in Him, and see Christ in everyone. Lazarus, despite suffering, hoped in God and received his reward. Reflect on your daily focus and ask God to increase your desire for heaven and generosity with His gifts. May God make us rich in heaven and give us a generous heart to share His treasures. Amen.

  Wednesday of the 2nd week of Lent  Jeremiah 18:18-20 Psalm 30(31):5-6,14-16 Matthew 20:17-28 “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” Power, privilege, and prestige often attract leaders, but Jesus teaches that leadership is about service, not status. True leadership involves humility, sacrifice, and serving others, as exemplified by Christ, who used his authority to uplift and sacrifice for us.  Leaders must endure betrayal and hardship, showing they understand true authority as a divine privilege. Suppose leaders and individuals use power for service rather than control, the world benefits.  Follow Jesus’s example—lead with humility and service, beginning with how we use our own authority.

  Tuesday of the 2nd week of Lent  Isaiah 1:10,​16-20 Psalm 49(50):8-9,16-17,21,23 Matthew 23:1-12 A disciple humbly submits to learn from the master, Christ, to teach others the truth. Without learning from Him, we risk leading others astray by failing to practice or live our professed beliefs. This hypocrisy is inauthentic Christianity. Today , the Lord calls us to shun hypocrisy and self-examination of our witness. We should ask how to practice better what we preach, grow closer to Christ, and remove obstacles like the plank in our eye to see clearly. We must consider how to add value to others' lives and draw them closer to Christ. Ultimately, our deeds matter more than titles. If our life and death teach lessons, this is true Christianity producing good fruits. It must start with us, here and now

Monday of the 2nd week of Lent  Daniel 9:4-10 Psalm 78(79):8-9,11,13 Luke 6:36-38   During Lent, we focus on prayer, fasting, and good works. The first week's readings highlighted prayer, and this second week emphasizes good works—being compassionate, forgiving, and generous. The Book of Daniel tells us, “But yours, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!” written 300 years after the stories, offers hope through Daniel’s faith during Israel’s suffering.  Daniel’s actions prove that God and His people are united. Our failures humbly remind us of God's compassion and forgiveness. We can see ourselves in the actions of the wayward Israelites, and searching our hearts is essential. We must guard against being hardened by sin and drifting from our first love.  As this week begins, remember God’s generosity and strive to imitate Him through good works. Amen.  

  2nd Sunday of Lent  Genesis 12:1-4 Psalm 32(33):4-5,18-20,22 2 Timothy 1:8-10 Matthew 17:1-9 A GLIMPSE INTO THE ESCHATON  Today's gospel passage presents us with a very vivid picture, but perhaps a rather surprising one for Lent. We tend to think of Lent as a rather gloomy season, but today what exactly has been revealed in the transfiguration? From the moment of his birth, Our Lord's divinity has been hidden behind His humanity. But slowly, Jesus has been teaching His disciples the truth about who He is and why He has come, and they have been gradually grasping some of what He was teaching. This understanding reached a climax when Peter said, 'You are the Christ'. As soon as Peter said this, Jesus immediately made the first prophecy of His passion and death, and told His disciples that they would have to take up their cross and follow Him. That was the mood of the group against which the wonderful event of the transfiguration took place.    The disciples were...

  Saturday of the 1st week of Lent  Deuteronomy 26:16-19 Psalm 118(119):1-2,4-5,7-8 Matthew 5:43-48 The Book of Deuteronomy recounts how Moses reminds us that the Lord, our God, calls upon us to observe His commandments. In return, God will glorify and praise us, and bestow upon us numerous blessings.  Our psalm response affirms this by declaring, ‘Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.’ In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus instructs us to ‘love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.' By adhering to His commandments, we can attain a state of spiritual completeness, reflecting His perfection