Dear Friends in Christ,

Palm Sunday begins with a beautiful celebration of the crowds waving palms, voices raising in joy, chanting “Hosanna!” and Jesus being welcomed like a king. But suddenly, the same voices fade gradually as we begin the Passion narrative. These voices begin to chant “crucify him.” Such a sad betrayal that led Jesus to His suffering and death on the cross. This is not accidental. The Church wants us to face a hard truth: the distance between “Hosanna” and “Crucify Him” is not as far as we think. I would like us to meditate on five major points and listen to the words of the saints on the Passion of our Lord.

Dear Friends in Christ,

The readings of today speak about the restoration of life by God, especially when all hope is lost. In the first reading from the Book of Ezekiel 37:12–14, God promises to restore life to His people who feel hopeless and spiritually dead. This passage is part of the vision of the “valley of dry bones.” Ezekiel interpreted the word of encouragement from the Lord to the people, making them understand that they were still God’s chosen people even though they neglected God and His commands.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Lent and it is also called Laetare Sunday, a Sunday of joy in the middle of our Lenten journey. It is a Sunday when we take a break from Lent to see how far we have gone in the season of Lent and encourage ourselves that the journey to Easter is not too far anymore. In all three readings of today we are meant to understand that God sees differently than we do, and Jesus comes to open our eyes to see the things we cannot see.

God satisfies the deepest longing of the human heart from thirsting to satisfaction, trust and salvation.

On this third Sunday of Lent, three readings are beautifully connected. They all revolve around one powerful theme: thirst — physical thirst, spiritual thirst, and the thirst for salvation.

But deeper still, they reveal this truth: that God meets us in our dryness and brokenness, not to condemn us, but to give us living water.

This Sunday’s readings invite us on a journey — a journey of trust, transformation, and courage.

In Genesis 12:1–4, God tells Abram, “Go from your country… to the land that I will show you.” Abram makes this journey of over a thousand miles from Ur to Canaan without a map or details; he is given only a promise, and he sets out. That is faith.