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.

Lectionary Reference: 241

Upcoming dates: March 28, 2025, March 13, 2026, March 5, 2027, March 24, 2028, March 9, 2029, March 29, 2030, March 21, 2031, March 5, 2032

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

Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent invites us to turn back to God with sincerity and love. The readings from Hosea and Mark call us to repentance, mercy, and faithfulness in our relationship with God and with others.

• Repentance and Conversion: Hosea urges God’s people to return to Him with sincere hearts. This theme reminds us to leave behind sin and seek God’s forgiveness.
• God’s Faithful Love: The reading shows how God always welcomes those who return to Him. His love is steadfast and ready to heal our brokenness.
• Obedience to God’s Law: Jesus explains that loving God and neighbor fulfills all the commandments. Obedience to God’s law begins with love.
• Loving God Completely: Jesus teaches the greatest commandment is to love God with all we have. This love should guide every part of our lives.
• Love for Neighbor: The command to love our neighbor reminds us to treat others with kindness. True love for God is shown in how we care for others.
• God’s Call to Wisdom: Hosea speaks of walking in God’s ways, which requires wisdom and understanding. Following God’s path leads to life and peace.

Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent is a time to reflect on our love for God and others. The readings invite us to draw closer to God and live faithfully in His love.

Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent reminds us to reflect on our relationship with God and others. The readings call us to walk in God’s ways, love our neighbors, and give God our whole heart. They challenge us to live faithfully and make love the center of our lives.

Walking in God’s Ways

The first reading from Hosea for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent reminds us to walk in God’s ways. This means listening to God’s teachings and following them. It takes wisdom and understanding to live as God calls us to live.

Walking in God’s ways is not always easy. The world often pulls us in different directions. But when we stay close to God, He gives us peace. His ways bring life and joy, even when the path is hard.

We can walk in God’s ways by staying faithful to prayer and the sacraments. Reading Scripture helps us learn His will. When we walk with God, we find the strength to stay on the right path.

Loving Our Neighbor

The Gospel reading for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. This means showing kindness, respect, and compassion. How we treat others reflects our love for God.

Loving our neighbor is not just about big acts of charity. It also includes small things, like being patient and listening to others. Even small acts of love can make a big difference.

God invites us to care for everyone, even those who are hard to love. We can ask God for help to grow in love and kindness. Loving our neighbor is one way to grow closer to God.

Loving God with All Our Heart

Both Hosea and the Gospel for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent remind us to love God with our whole heart. Loving God means putting Him first in our lives. It means trusting Him completely and giving Him our best.

This kind of love is more than just words or feelings. It shows in how we live. When we make time for prayer and follow His commandments, we show our love for Him.

God’s love for us is constant, even when we fall short. He calls us back to Him with mercy and forgiveness. Loving God with all our heart is our response to His unending love.

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These reflections help us focus on the themes of faith, love, and repentance. Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent is a time to seek God’s guidance, grow in kindness, and return to Him with sincere hearts. May we live each day with greater love for God and others.

Prayer

Lord, guide us to walk in Your ways and love You with all our hearts. Help us to care for our neighbors with kindness and compassion. Teach us to follow Your path, even when it is hard. Draw us closer to You and give us peace. Amen.

Reflection Questions

• How can you better walk in God’s ways in your daily life?
• What small acts of kindness can you do to show love for your neighbor?
• What does it mean to you to love God with all your heart?
• How do the readings for Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent challenge you to grow in your faith?

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.

Bishop 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 does Hosea mean by returning to God?

Hosea is asking people to stop sinning and go back to God with humble hearts. It means admitting wrongs, asking for forgiveness, and trusting in God’s mercy.

How does God heal and forgive in Hosea’s message?

God promises to heal and forgive those who return to Him with sincerity. This shows that God is always ready to restore us when we seek Him.

How does wisdom help us follow God?

Hosea teaches that wisdom is needed to walk in God’s ways. Wisdom helps us make good choices and stay close to God.

How can we apply the message of repentance to our lives?

Repentance means turning away from sin and starting fresh with God. We can do this by going to confession, praying, and trying to live better.

What does it mean to walk in God’s ways?

Walking in God’s ways means living as He teaches us. It includes following His commandments, showing mercy, and staying faithful to Him.

Why does Jesus say love is the greatest commandment?

Jesus explains that loving God and others is the foundation of all other commandments. When we live with love, we naturally follow God’s law.

How can we love God with all our heart?

Loving God with all our heart means putting Him first in everything. It includes prayer, trust, and living in a way that pleases Him.

What does it mean to love our neighbor?

Loving our neighbor means treating others with kindness, respect, and care. It also means helping those in need and forgiving those who hurt us.

Why is love more important than sacrifices?

Jesus teaches that love is greater than rituals or offerings. God wants us to love Him and others more than simply following rules.

How does Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent prepare us for Easter?

The readings call us to repent and renew our love for God and others. This helps us grow closer to God as we look forward to the joy of Easter.