5th Sunday of Lent, Year A — 22 March 2026
Published by Redemptorist Pastoral Publications, South Africa • Catholic Link
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Sunday Mass — 22 March 2026
Entrance Antiphon
Give me justice, O God, and plead my cause against a nation that is faithless. From the deceitful and cunning rescue me, for you, O God, are my strength.
First Reading
Ezekiel 37:12–14
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 130 — With the Lord there is mercy; in him is plentiful redemption.
Second Reading
Romans 8:8–11
Gospel Acclamation
Glory and praise to you, O Christ. I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord; he who believes in me shall never die. Glory and praise to you, O Christ.
Gospel
John 11:1–45 — All who live and believe in me will never die, says the Lord.
The Week Ahead
| Mon 23 Mar | Daniel 13:1–9, 15–17, 19–30, 33–62; Psalm 23; John 8:1–11 St Turibius of Mogrovejo (B) |
| Tue 24 Mar | Numbers 21:4–9; Psalm 102; John 8:21–30 St Oscar Romero (BM) |
| Wed 25 Mar — ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD | Isaiah 7:10–14; 8:10; Psalm 40; Luke 1:26–38 |
| Thu 26 Mar | Genesis 17:3–9; Psalm 105; John 8:51–59 |
| Fri 27 Mar | Jeremiah 20:10–13; Psalm 18; John 10:31–42 — Liturgy of the Day |
| Sat 28 Mar | Ezekiel 37:21–28; Jeremiah 31:10–13; John 11:45–56 — Liturgy of the Day |
| Sun 29 Mar — PALM SUNDAY | Isaiah 50:4–7; Psalm 22; Matthew 26:14–27:66 Bl. Jakub Strzemię (Optional Memorial) |
Reflection: “I Have Loved You” — Charity (Dilexi Te)
Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”) invites us to renew our commitment to charity — not just to proclaim the Gospel, but to live it. Charity is not the livelihoods of a select few, but the responsibility of every Christian. In their various contexts, all can take an active role in serving others, and work towards creating a more just and compassionate society.
Pope Leo XIV does not exclude the importance of faith and prayer; it is integral to Christian charity. He quotes Saint John Chrysostom: “Almsgiving is the wing of prayer. If you do not provide your prayer with wings, it will hardly fly.” Love is not simply a feeling or an emotion, but a deliberate choice to sacrifice oneself in service of others — especially the poor.
Charity cannot be limited to individual acts of kindness; it must be expressed through the Church’s institutions and structures. Pope Leo XIV highlights the Church’s social teaching, providing a framework for addressing the needs of the poor and promoting social justice. True charity, he says, is motivated by a genuine love for God and a desire to serve others for their own sake.
Source: Catholic Link — 5th Sunday of Lent, Year A · 22 March 2026
Published by: Redemptorist Pastoral Publications, South Africa