PATHWAYS OF HOPE: “TAKE UP YOUR MAT”

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Tuesday of the 4th Week of LentMemorial of Saint Patrick, bishopPATHWAYS OF HOPE: “TAKE UP YOUR MAT”GOSPEL OF THE DAY]: JOHN 5:1-16There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gatea pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled.One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.When Jesus saw him lying thereand knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him,"Do you want to be well?"The sick man answered him,"Sir, I have no one to put me into the poolwhen the water is stirred up;while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me."Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your mat, and walk."Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.Now that day was a sabbath.So the Jews said to the man who was cured,"It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat." He answered them, "The man who made me well told me,'Take up your mat and walk.'"They asked him,"Who is the man who told you, 'Take it up and walk'?"The man who was healed did not know who it was,for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there.After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him,"Look, you are well; do not sin any more,so that nothing worse may happen to you."The man went and told the Jewsthat Jesus was the one who had made him well.Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesusbecause he did this on a sabbath.Reflection by Lorna Campos : Leadership Trainer. Meta-Coach. Mentor. Youth Facilitator. Inspirational speaker. Covenanted member-Ligaya ng Panginoon. Senior woman leader-University District. #POHopgiver #LandasngPagasa #catholic #biblereadings #jesus #catholicchurch #christian #church #faith #god #jesuschrist #love #pray #bible #christianity