Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection March 21, 2026
Saturday – Fourth Week of Lent
21st March 2026 (Saturday)
Psalter: Week 4
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Jeremiah 11:18-20
The Lord made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.” But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.
Psalm 7: 2-3, 9bd-10, 11-12 (R. 2a)
R/. O Lord, my God, I take refuge in you
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Glory and praise to you, O Christ
R/. Glory and praise to you, O Christ
V/. Blessed are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
R/. Glory and praise to you, O Christ
Gospel: John 7:40-53
At that time: When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!” The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”They went each to his own house.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Saturday – Fourth Week of Lent
Main Point: Know-how is useful and important. But it should be good and useful. The levels of weak thinking shouldn’t cover us up and keep us from seeing the truth. That shouldn’t make us arrogant.
1. It is often strange and sad that people who know more tend to think too narrowly and stubbornly about their own ideas. Because they are stuck in their small area, they won’t look beyond it. They get stuck on their own thoughts and ways of thinking and say no to the other side. This really is intellectual stupidity and pride.
2. In the time of Jesus, this is what happened with the Pharisees and the writers. Scholars and teachers of the law, they were well known. Their job was to explain and lead people through the Scriptures. The Bible and the law were the main things they used to argue and object against Jesus.
3. The Bible says that Christ comes from David’s children and from Bethlehem, the place where David lived. It’s actually Jesus from Galilee. Also, he often breaks the rule and doesn’t follow it. Jesus had to be from Bethlehem and David’s family tree if he was the Christ. Moreover, he needs to follow the rules.
4. However, maybe a little more in-depth and close questioning would have revealed the real facts about Jesus. In an instant, they could have easily learned that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and is David’s son. They didn’t want to go beyond what seemed like guarantees on the outside, though. They were annoyed by where he came from on earth. So they didn’t know what was really going on.
5. What kept them from having the right information? It’s clear that they are hostile and biased. In short, they didn’t like or value Jesus. Instead of waiting to hear Jesus out and learning what he does like Nicodemus did, they were quick to judge him.
6. In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah is in a lot of pain, and his words are very true about Jesus. It’s like a gentle lamb leading him to the slaughterhouse. They planned ways to completely destroy him like a tree with its fruit.
7. What is admirable, though, is how the prophet and Jesus were able to take it and give up when they were being mistreated and hated. As the prophet said, both should “commit their cause to God,” who is fair and checks both the mind and the heart.
My Practice: We should never be arrogant and stubborn because we know a lot. It should never be bad for other people; it should only be good. We should always look for and follow accurate information. And we should do anything to stick to the truth.
