Welcoming & Embracing the Stranger: Lenten Reflections with the Artwork of James Tissot

March 18, 2026 - Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent

In today’s Gospel from St. John, we hear these words: 

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, 
but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” 

Monsignor James Turro, a Wisdom Figure of Preaching, beloved Scripture scholar, and former Faculty Member of ICSST, turned 104 this past January, the oldest priest in the Archdiocese of Newark and New Jersey.

This homily taken from his book, “Conversion: Reflections on Life and Faith,” highlights today’s Gospel: 

"Whose Are You? 

The gospels do not ask the question: Who are you? 

But rather, and more significantly, 

They ask the question: Whose are you? 

The conviction seems to be  

That everyone must belong somewhere, 

To someone or to something. 

No one can be unattached, uncommitted. 

And so you give yourself- 

To God or to Mammon, 

To sin or to grace, 

To life or to death. 

There is no escaping these polarities in life. 

Whose are you? 

You will be quick to respond, 

'I am of Christ.' 

But stop for a moment to reflect. 

Do your thoughts, 

your words, 

your day-to-day behavior, 

confirm your commitment to Christ? 

Or belie it? 

In other words, 

are you a disciple of Christ 

in fact or in fancy?"

O God, who reward the merits of the just and offer pardon to sinners who do penance, have mercy, we pray, on those who call upon you, that the admission of our guilt may serve to obtain your pardon for our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. (Roman Missal)

Rev. Msgr. James Turro, Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies

Do you know someone who may be interested in receiving our daily reflection emails? Invite them to sign up by visiting our subscription page.