As a mother, I try to lay down myself each day in small but meaningful ways. I choose patience over frustration when I see the dishes piled up or the house in disarray. I give up an extra hour of rest to prepare healthy meals for my family—because love often looks like quiet sacrifices.

To follow Jesus, we must “die to ourselves.” What does this mean? It means letting go of the things that keep us from Him—our sins, our pride, our anger, our selfishness. These things separate us from God and weigh down our hearts. Dying to ourselves means choosing love over resentment, humility over pride, and faith over fear.

It’s not easy. We know the struggles of daily life: balancing responsibilities, facing frustrations, and battling our own weaknesses. But when we surrender these things to God, it will feel lighter. Our sacrifice is worth it because of what Jesus promises.

When I see the smiles on my family’s faces, I know in my heart that it’s all worth it. The challenge is real, but so is the reward! 

Mia Bueno (buenos@yahoo.com)

reflect

What things will you sacrifice to follow God’s Word?

Lord, help me die to myself so I may live fully in You. Give me the strength to follow Your Word. Amen.

Saint Ludger, pray for us.

In today’s reading, God changes Abram’s name to Abraham. This change of name signifies that Abraham’s faith will be the source of blessings for many nations, as Paul suggests in the Book of Romans. Let us reflect on the life of Abraham, a man who left his home and lived in a distant land because of God’s promise to him.

³ When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him: ⁴ “My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations. ⁵ No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations. ⁶ I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings shall stem from you. ⁷ I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. ⁸ I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now staying, the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God.” ⁹ God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.”

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R: The Lord remembers his covenant forever.

⁴ Look to the Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. ⁵ Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. (R) ⁶ You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! ⁷ He, the Lord, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (R) ⁸ He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations, ⁹ which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac. (R)

Gospel | John 8:51-59

Abraham is an important historical figure for the Jews because of his life's witness. His faith and trust in God enabled him to place his life into God’s hands. Make time to read Abraham’s story and you’ll be surprised. May we be inspired by the men and women who have gone before us as examples of faith.

Gospel Acclamation

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

⁵¹ Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” ⁵² So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” ⁵⁴ Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ ⁵⁵ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you—a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. ⁵⁶ Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad. ⁵⁷ So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” ⁵⁹ So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

Read the Bible in one year! Read GENESIS 47 - 50 today.

Many of the Jews in Jesus’ time struggled to accept Him as the Son of God. One of the main reasons they rejected Him was that they had never seen God before. 

Throughout their history, God revealed Himself in indirect yet powerful ways—through the burning bush, the pillar of cloud and fire, and the thunder at Mount Sinai. They were taught that no one could see God and live. So when Jesus stood before them and claimed to be the Son of God, it was difficult for them to accept. He did not fit their understanding of how God should reveal Himself.

Another reason was Jesus’ ordinariness. He lived among them as a simple man—walked through their villages, ate at their tables, and came from a family they knew. To them, He seemed too common, too human. They struggled to see that God could dwell among them in such an ordinary way.

But the deepest reason for their resistance was that Jesus challenged their beliefs and exposed their flaws. Many religious leaders, especially the scribes and Pharisees, had built their status on strict adherence to the Law and external displays of righteousness. Jesus confronted their hypocrisy. Instead of welcoming His message and confronting their own failings, they saw Him as a threat and rejected Him.

This struggle is also a reflection of our own spiritual journey. Today, Jesus is widely known, but that does not mean He is truly welcomed. Many still resist His teachings, preferring their own interpretations of faith. Others struggle to see Him in the simple, everyday moments of life. And like the Pharisees, we sometimes refuse to acknowledge our own faults, preferring to stay in our comfort zones.

This Lent, Jesus invites us to open our hearts. True faith requires humility—the willingness to accept Jesus as He is, not as we want Him to be.

Fr. Toto Cerada, SDB

reflection question

Are you truly open to encountering Jesus as He is, or are you holding on to your own expectations and beliefs that keep you from fully accepting Him into your life? 

Lord, soften my heart and free **from pride and stubbornness. Help me embrace Your truth, trust in Your ways, and welcome You fully into my life. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________