Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent

• First Reading – Hosea 14:2-10: God invites Israel to repent, promising forgiveness and steadfast love. He vows to heal their faithlessness, offering prosperity and protection. Israel is urged to abandon idols, with the assurance that God’s care will make them fruitful. The wise are called to follow God’s righteous path.
• Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 81: God recalls freeing His people and saving them in distress. He counsels against foreign gods, longing for their loyalty to bless them with peace and victory over adversaries.
• Gospel – Mark 12:28-34: A scribe asks Jesus which commandment is the greatest. Jesus responds by quoting the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, declaring that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and that the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.

Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

Mark 12:29-30

The readings for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent offer rich themes that are deeply interconnected, reflecting on repentance, love, and the foundational aspects of our relationship with God and others. Here’s a breakdown of the key themes:

• Repentance and Return to God: The first reading from Hosea emphasizes God’s call for Israel to return to Him, highlighting the importance of repentance and turning away from sin and idols. This theme reminds us of the continuous invitation to examine our lives, acknowledge our shortcomings, and turn back to God with a sincere heart.
• God’s Forgiveness and Steadfast Love: Hosea also speaks of God’s promise to heal faithlessness and to love us freely, underscoring the boundless mercy and steadfast love of God towards those who seek Him and repent. It reassures us that God’s love and forgiveness are always available to us, no matter how far we may have strayed.
• Divine Protection and Prosperity: The assurance of God’s protection and the promise of prosperity to those who follow His ways are also highlighted in Hosea. This prosperity is not merely material but encompasses spiritual growth and the flourishing of life in communion with God.
• The Primacy of Love: In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus summarizes the entire law with the commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This points to love as the essence of our faith and the guiding principle of our actions and relationships.
• Unity of Love for God and Neighbor: Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel binds together the love of God and the love of neighbor, illustrating that our love for God is expressed and made manifest in our love for those around us. This unity of love challenges us to see the face of God in our neighbors and to serve them as we would serve God Himself.
• Wisdom and Understanding: Both readings touch on the theme of wisdom, with the wise being those who heed God’s call to love and repentance. True wisdom is shown to be understanding and living out the greatest commandments, leading to a righteous path that aligns with God’s will.

These themes for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent collectively invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and others, encouraging us to live out our faith through love, repentance, and a commitment to follow God’s righteous path.

Mark 12:28-34 and Hosea 14:2-10 speak to us about the essence of true love and the importance of having a deep relationship with God.

In the Gospel for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent, a scribe asks Jesus which commandment is the greatest. Jesus responds by quoting from the book of Deuteronomy, saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” He then adds that the second greatest commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” The scribe agrees with Jesus, and Jesus commends him for his understanding of the law.

This reading reminds us that our relationship with God must always come first. We are called to love God with all of our being, placing him at the center of our lives and seeking to follow his will in all things. At the same time, we are also called to love our neighbors as ourselves, treating others with compassion and respect and seeking to build up the common good.

The first reading for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent speaks to us about the importance of turning back to God when we have strayed from his path. The prophet Hosea urges the people of Israel to repent of their sins and return to the Lord, saying, “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God… Take words with you and return to the Lord” (Hosea 14:1-2). He promises that if they do so, God will heal them and restore their relationship with him.

This passage is a reminder that no matter how far we may have strayed from God, he is always ready to welcome us back with open arms. We are called to turn away from our sins and to seek God’s forgiveness and healing, trusting in his mercy and grace to guide us back to the path of righteousness.

As Catholics, we are called to live out these messages in our daily lives. We must strive to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves, working to build up the common good and to promote justice and peace in the world. We must also be humble enough to recognize our own weaknesses and shortcomings, and to turn back to God whenever we have strayed from his path. In this way, we can grow in our relationship with God and become more fully the people he has called us to be.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help me to love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. Fill me with your Spirit and guide me in living a life of obedience and devotion to you, so that I may fulfill the greatest commandment and experience the fullness of your love. Amen.

Word on Fire: The Law of Love

In his Gospel reflection for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent, Bishop Robert Barron discusses Jesus’ response to the question of the greatest commandment. Jesus emphasizes the essence of faith as loving God with all one’s being and loving one’s neighbor as oneself. Barron explains this dual commandment as the core of religion: directing our deepest desires toward God and, inherently, showing compassion for others. The inseparable link between these commandments underscores an indirect Christology, highlighting Jesus as the God-man, uniting divinity and humanity, making it essential to love God fully and embrace our shared humanity.

What date is Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent?

The next date is Friday March 28, 2025.

What are the Mass readings for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent?

The Mass readings for Friday March 28, 2025 are:
First Reading – Hosea 14:2-10: Repentance and Restoration
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 81: God’s Call to Israel
Gospel – Mark 12:28-34: The Greatest Commandment 

What are the key themes for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent?

The key themes for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent include repentance and returning to God, experiencing God’s forgiveness and steadfast love, receiving divine protection and prosperity, understanding the primacy of love in our faith, realizing the unity of love for God and neighbor, and embracing wisdom and understanding as paths to righteousness.

How can I observe Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent in a meaningful way?

Observing Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent meaningfully can involve several practices: taking time for personal reflection and confession, participating in community prayer or Mass, engaging in acts of kindness and service to embody love for your neighbor, and spending time in meditation on God’s word, particularly focusing on the themes of repentance and love.

Why is love emphasized on Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent?

Love is emphasized on Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent because the Gospel reading highlights the greatest commandments as taught by Jesus: to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This emphasis on love serves as the foundation of our faith and actions, guiding us to live in close relationship with God and in harmony with those around us.

What is the significance of repentance in the first reading for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent?

The significance of repentance in the first reading for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent lies in God’s invitation for Israel to return to Him, promising forgiveness and steadfast love. It highlights the importance of turning away from sin and idols to embrace a life aligned with God’s will, assuring us of God’s readiness to heal and renew our relationship with Him.

How can I apply the lessons from Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent to my daily life?

Applying the lessons from Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent to your daily life involves practicing sincere repentance, actively seeking to love God with your whole being, and showing love to your neighbors through acts of kindness and service. It also means striving for wisdom in your decisions and actions, aligning them with the teachings of Jesus, and remaining open to God’s guidance and mercy.

Can the message of forgiveness on Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent help me if I’m struggling with guilt?

Yes, the message of forgiveness on Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent can be incredibly comforting if you’re struggling with guilt. God’s promise to heal faithlessness and to love us freely, as illustrated in the readings, reassures us that His mercy is boundless. This day encourages us to approach God with a repentant heart, trusting in His forgiveness and love to heal and renew us.