The winemakers kill the owner's son

Gospel (Mt 21,33-43.45-46) - At that time, Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: «Listen to another parable: there was a man who owned land and planted a vineyard there. He surrounded it with a hedge, dug a hole for the wine press and built a tower. He rented it to some farmers and went far away. When the time came to harvest the fruits, he sent his servants to the farmers to collect the harvest. But the farmers took the servants and beat one, killed another, stoned another. He again sent other servants, more numerous than the first, but they treated them the same way. Finally he sent them his own son saying: "They will have respect for my son!". But the farmers, seeing his son, said to each other: "This is the heir. Upon him, let us kill him and we will have his inheritance! They caught him, chased him out of the vineyard and killed him. So when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers? They replied to him: "Those wicked people, he…

Parable of the prodigal son

Gospel (Lk 15,1-3.11-32) - At that time, all the tax collectors and sinners approached him to listen to him. The Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying: "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." And he told them this parable: «A man had two sons. The younger of the two said to his father: "Father, give me the share of the inheritance that is due to me." And he divided his possessions among them. A few days later, the youngest son, having collected all his things, left for a distant country and there squandered his fortune by living profligately. When he had spent everything, a great famine occurred in that country and he began to find himself in need. Then he went to put himself in the service of one of the inhabitants of that region, who sent him into his fields to graze pigs. He would have liked to satiate himself with the carobs the pigs ate; but no one gave him anything. Then he came to his senses and said: «How many of my father's hired servants have plenty of bread and I…

Third Sunday of Lent

Gospel (Jn 2,13-25) - The Passover of the Jews was approaching and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple people selling oxen, sheep and doves and, sitting there, the money changers. Then he made a whip of cords and drove everyone out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; he threw the money changers' money to the ground and overturned their benches, and to the dove sellers he said: "Take these things away from here and do not make my Father's house a market!". His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will devour me." Then the Jews spoke up and said to him: "What sign do you show us to do these things?". Jesus answered them: "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it again." The Jews then said to him, "This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days?" But he spoke of the temple of his body. When he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the…

Jesus was sent to all men

Gospel (Lk 4,24-30) - At that time, Jesus [began to say in the synagogue in Nazareth:] «Truly I say to you: no prophet is welcome in his homeland. Indeed, truly I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heavens were closed for three years and six months and there was a great famine throughout the land; but Elias was sent to none of them, except to a widow in Sarèpta di Sidon. There were many lepers in Israel at the time of the prophet Elisha; but none of them was purified except Naaman the Syrian." When everyone in the synagogue heard these things, they were filled with indignation. They rose up and drove him out of the city and led him to the edge of the mountain, on which their city was built, to throw him down. But he, passing among them, set out.

Parable of the merciless debtor

Gospel (Mt 18,21-35) - At that time, Peter approached Jesus and said to him: «Lord, if my brother commits sins against me, how many times must I forgive him? Up to seven times? And Jesus answered him: «I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. »For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is similar to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. He had begun to settle the accounts, when a man was introduced to him who owed him ten thousand talents. Since he was unable to repay, the master ordered him to be sold with his wife, children and everything he owned, and thus pay off his debt. Then the servant, prostrate on the ground, begged him saying: "Have patience with me and I will give you everything back". The master had compassion on that servant, let him go and forgave him the debt. »As soon as he went out, that servant found one of his companions, who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him by the neck and choked him, saying: “Give back…

I have not come to abolish but to fulfill

Gospel (Mt 5,17-19) - At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: «Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish it, but to give it full fulfilment. Truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single iota or a single dash of the Law will pass away without everything having come to pass. Whoever therefore transgresses even one of these minimum precepts and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever observes them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven."

Controversy over an exorcism

Gospel (Lk 11,14-23) - At that time, Jesus was casting out a demon who was mute. Once the devil came out, the dumb man began to speak and the crowds were struck by amazement. But some said: "It is through Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that he casts out demons." Others then, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. He, knowing their intentions, said: «Every kingdom divided against itself falls into ruin and one house falls on another. Now, if Satan is also divided within himself, how will his kingdom be able to stand? You say that I cast out demons through Beelzebul. But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, who do your children cast them out by? For this reason they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong, well-armed man guards his palace, what he possesses is safe. But if someone stronger than him comes and defeats him, he snatches away the weapons he trusted in and divides the spoils.…

The Lord our God is the only Lord and we must love him

Gospel (Mk 12,28b-34) - At that time, one of the scribes approached Jesus and asked him: "Which is the first of all the commandments?". Jesus replied: «The first is: “Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord; you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength." The second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him: «You have said well, Master, and according to truth, that He is unique and there is no other except Him; loving him with all your heart, with all your intelligence and with all your strength and loving your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices." Seeing that he had responded wisely, Jesus said to him: "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one had the courage to question him anymore.

Parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector

Gospel (Lk 18,9-14) - At that time, Jesus again said this parable for some who had the inner presumption of being righteous and despised others: «Two men went up to the temple to pray: one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing, prayed to himself: «O God, I thank you because I am not like other men, thieves, unjust, adulterers, nor even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of everything I own." The publican, however, standing at a distance, did not even dare raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest saying: "O God, have mercy on me, a sinner". I tell you: this one, unlike the other, returned home justified, because whoever exalts himself will be humiliated, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

IV of Lent

Gospel (Jn 3,14-21) - At that time, Jesus said to Nicodèmo: «Just as Moses raised the serpent in the desert, so the Son of Man must be raised, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. In fact, God loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him should not be lost but have eternal life. In fact, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned; but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."And the judgment is this: the light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness more than the light, because their works were evil. For whoever does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds be condemned. Instead, he who does the truth comes towards the light, so that it may clearly appear that his works were done in God."

Healing of the son of a royal official

Gospel (Jn 4,43-54) - At that time, Jesus left [from Samaria] for Galilee. In fact, Jesus himself had declared that a prophet does not receive honor in his own homeland. So when he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, because they had seen everything he had done in Jerusalem, during the feast; in fact they too had gone to the party. He then went back to Cana of Galilee, where he had changed the water into wine. There was an official of the king, who had a sick son in Capernaum. This man, hearing that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, because he was about to die. Jesus said to him: "Unless you see signs and wonders, you do not believe." The king's official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." Jesus answered him: "Go, your son lives." That man believed the word that Jesus had told him and set out. Just as he was going down, his servants came to meet him and say: "Your son lives!". He wanted to know…

The sick man at the Bethesda swimming pool

Gospel (Jn 5,1-3.5-16) - There was a Jewish feast and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, there is a pool, called Bethzatha in Hebrew, with five porches, under which lay a large number of sick, blind, lame and paralytic people. There was a man there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. Jesus, seeing him lying and knowing that he had been like this for a long time, said to him: "Do you want to get well?". The sick man replied: «Sir, I have no one to immerse me in the pool when the water is agitated. In fact, while I am about to go there, another comes down before me." Jesus said to him, "Get up, take your stretcher and walk." And instantly that man was healed: he took his stretcher and began to walk. That day, however, was a Saturday. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed: "It is Saturday and it is not lawful for you to carry your stretcher." But he answered them: «He who healed me said to me: “Take your stretcher and walk”. They then asked…

The Son gives eternal life to those who believe in him

Gospel (Jn 5,17-30) - At that time, Jesus said to the Jews: "My Father is acting even now and I too am acting." For this reason the Jews tried even more to kill him, because not only did he violate the Sabbath, but he called God his Father, making himself equal to God. Jesus spoke again and said to them: «Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son of himself himself cannot do anything except what he sees the Father doing; what he does, the Son also does in the same way. In fact, the Father loves the Son, he shows him everything he does and will show him even greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. Just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so the Son also gives life to whom he wants. In fact, the Father does not judge anyone, but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has…

Witnesses for Christ

Gospel (Jn 5,31-47) - At that time, Jesus said to the Jews: «If I were to testify about myself, my testimony would not be true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony he bears about me is true. You sent messengers to John and he bore witness to the truth. I do not receive testimony from a man; but I tell you these things so that you may be saved. He was the lamp that burns and shines, and you just for a moment wanted to rejoice in his light. However, I have a testimony superior to that of John: the works that the Father has given me to do, those same works that I am doing, testify of me that the Father sent me. »And the Father who sent me also bore witness to me. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his face, and his word does not remain in you; for you do not believe him whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures, thinking that you have eternal life in them: it is precisely they that bear witness to me. But you do not want to come to me to…

They were trying to arrest Jesus

Gospel (Jn 7,1-2.10.14.25-30) - At that time, Jesus was going through Galilee; in fact he no longer wanted to travel through Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. Meanwhile, the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was approaching. When his brothers went up for the feast, he also went up: not openly, but almost secretly. Some inhabitants of Jerusalem said: «Isn't this the one they are trying to kill? Behold, he speaks freely, yet they say nothing to him. Did the leaders really recognize that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from; Christ however, when he comes, no one will know where he is from." Jesus then, while teaching in the temple, exclaimed: «Surely, you know me and know where I am from. Yet I did not come of myself, but he who sent me is truthful, and you do not know him. I know him, because I come from him and he sent me." They then tried to arrest him, but no one was able to lay hands on him, because his time had not yet come.

Discussions about the origins of Jesus

Gospel (Jn 7,40-53) - At that time, hearing the words of Jesus, some of the people said: "This is truly the prophet!". Others said: «This is the Christ!». Others instead said: «Does Christ come from Galilee? Doesn't the Scripture say: "From the lineage of David and from Bethlehem, the village of David, will the Christ come"? And dissension arose among the people concerning him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The guards then returned to the chief priests and the Pharisees and they said to them: "Why didn't you bring him here?". The guards replied: "Never has a man spoken like that!". But the Pharisees replied to them: « Have you also allowed yourselves to be deceived? Did any of the leaders or Pharisees believe in him? But these people, who do not know the Law, are cursed! Then Nicodèmo, who had previously gone to Jesus, and was one of them, said: «Does our Law judge a man before having listened to him and knowing what he does?». They answered…

V Sunday of Lent

Gospel (Jn 12,20-33) - At that time, among those who had come up for worship during the festival there were also some Greeks. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him: "Sir, we want to see Jesus". Philip went to tell Andrew, and then Andrew and Philip went to tell Jesus. Jesus answered them: «The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves their life loses it and whoever hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone wants to serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. »Now my soul is troubled; what will I say? Father, save me from this hour? But this is precisely why I have come to this hour! Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified him and I will glorify…

Forgiveness of the adulteress

Gospel (Jn 8,1-11) - At that time, Jesus set out towards the Mount of Olives. But in the morning he went again to the temple, and all the people came to him. And he sat down and began to teach them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought him a woman caught in adultery, placed her in the midst of her and said to him: «Master, this woman was caught in flagrant adultery. Now Moses, in the Law, commanded us to stone women like this. What do you think?". They said this to test him and to have reason to accuse him. But Jesus bent down and began to write with his finger on the ground. However, when they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And, bending down again, he wrote on the ground. When they heard this, they went away one by one, starting with the older ones. They left him alone, and the woman was there in the middle. Then Jesus stood up and said to her: «Woman, where are they? Has no…

Joseph assumes the legal paternity of Jesus

Gospel (Mt 1,16.18-21.24a) - Jacob fathered Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom Jesus, called Christ, was born. Thus Jesus Christ was begotten: her mother Mary, being betrothed to Joseph, before they went to live together, found herself pregnant with her by the work of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, since he was a just man and did not want to accuse her publicly, thought of repudiating her in secret. However, while he was considering these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said to him: «Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, with you. In fact the child that is generated in her comes from the Holy Spirit; she will give birth to a son and you will call him Jesus: in fact he will save his people from his sins." When he awoke from sleep, Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had ordered him.

If the Son makes you free, you will be free

Gospel (Jn 8,31-42) - At that time, Jesus said to those Jews who had believed him: «If you remain in my word, you are truly my disciples; you will know the truth and the truth will make you free." They answered him: «We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. How can you say: “You will become free”?”. Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin. Now, the slave does not remain in the house forever; his son remains there forever. If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But in the meantime you try to kill me because my word does not find acceptance in you. I speak what I have seen with the Father; therefore you also do what you have heard from your father." They answered him: "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them: «If you were children of Abraham, you would do the works of Abraham. Now instead you are trying to kill me, a man who told you…

Before Abraham was, I Am

Gospel (Jn 8,51-59) - At that time, Jesus said to the Jews: «Truly, truly, I say to you: “If anyone keeps my word, he will never see death”». The Jews then said to him: «Now we know that you are possessed by demons. Abraham died, as did the prophets, and you say: "If anyone keeps my word, he will never experience death." Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Even the prophets are dead. Who do you think you are?". Jesus replied: «If I glorified myself, my glory would be nothing. He who glorifies me is my Father, of whom you say: “He is our God!”, and you do not know him. But I know him. If I said I didn't know him, I would be like you: a liar. But I know him and keep his word. Abraham, your father, rejoiced in the hope of seeing my day; he saw it and was filled with joy." Then the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I Am.” Then they picked up…

Jesus declares himself the Son of God

Gospel (Jn 10,31-42) - At that time, the Jews collected stones to stone Jesus. Jesus said to them: "I have shown you many good works from the Father: for which of them do you want to stone me?". The Jews answered him: "We are not stoning you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God." Jesus said to them: «Is it not written in your Law: “I said: you are gods”? Now, if it called those to whom the word of God was addressed gods - and the Scripture cannot be annulled -, to him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world you say: "You blaspheme", because I said: " I am the Son of God”? If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me; but if I do them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and know that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." Then they tried to capture him again, but he escaped from their hands. He then returned again across the Jordan, to the place where John had previously…

The Sanhedrin decides on the death of Jesus

Gospel (Jn 11,45-56) - At that time, many of the Jews who had come to Mary, at the sight of what Jesus had accomplished, [i.e. the resurrection of Lazarus,] believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Sanhedrin and said: «What do we do? This man performs many signs. If we let him continue like this, everyone will believe in him, the Romans will come and destroy our temple and our nation." But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them: «You understand nothing! Don't you realize that it is convenient for you that just one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not be ruined! This, however, he did not say of himself, but, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus must die for the nation; and not only for the nation, but also to gather together the children of God who were scattered abroad. From that day on they decided to kill…

Palm Sunday

Gospel (Mk 14.1-15.47) - There were two days left before Passover and Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to deceive Jesus and make him die. In fact they said: "Not during the feast, so that there is no revolt of the people." Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper. While he was at table, a woman came with an alabaster vase, full of the perfume of pure spikenard, of great value. She broke the alabaster vase and poured the perfume on her head. There were some among them who were indignant: «Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor! And they were furious with her. Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why do you bother her? She did a good deed towards me. In fact, you always have the poor with you and you can do good to them whenever you want, but you don't always have me. She did what was in her power, she anointed my body beforehand for burial. Truly I say to you:…