Holy Saturday: Courage

Readings:

Exodus 14.15-15.1
Romans 6.3-11
Mark 16.1-7

Reflection:

Jesus, you knew that life doesn't end on the cross. It was only the
beginning of a new and glorious eternal life.

Pray: First Glorious Mystery - Resurrection

Good Friday: Transformed

Readings:

Isaiah 52.13-53.12
Hebrews 4.14-16, 5.7-9
John 18.1-19.42

Reflection:

Help me transform my soul, die to sin and death, and be reborn in your love and eternal life.

Pray: Fifth Sorrowful Mystery - Crucifixion

Holy Thursday: Way, Truth, Life

Readings:

Exodus 12.1-8, 11-14
1 Corinthians 11.23-26
John 13.1-15

Reflection:

Jesus, may I strive to be all you created me for, spreading the love of God
and the truth of our faith wherever I am.

Pray: Fourth Sorrowful Mystery - Carrying of the Cross

April 4: At Our Side

Readings:

Isaiah 50.4-9a
Matthew 26.14-25

Reflection:

Holy Queen, at your side I suffer the loss of your son. With me you
suffer too - for my losses, inequities, weaknesses and longings.

Pray: Third Sorrowful Mystery - Crown of Thorns

April 3: Turning to Mary

Readings:

Isaiah 49.1-6
John 13.21-33, 36-38

Reflection:

Holy Mary, to you I send up my cries, to you I sing my hopes for myself and
the world, with you I pray now and forever.

Prayer: Second Sorrowful Mystery - Scourging at the Pillar

April 2: Mary, Our Model

Readings:

Isaiah 42.1-7
John 12.1-11

Reflection:

Holy Mary, through you I hope to know and love your son.

Pray: First Sorrowful Mystery - Agony in the Garden.

The 6th Sunday of Lent: The Power of the Rosary

This last week's reflections will focus on the pillar of The Rosary.

Readings:

Mark 11.1-10

Isaiah 50.4-7
Philippians 2.6-11
Mark 14.1-15.47

Reflection:

We remember Jesus' passion and death by praying the Rosary. Pray:
Third Joyful Mystery - Birth of Jesus.

March 31: Our North Star

Readings:

Ezekiel 37.21-28
John 11.45-56

Reflection:

When we view everything in relation to our call to become
the-best-version-of-ourselves, everything finds meaning.

March 30: Growing in Knowledge

Readings:

Jeremiah 20.10-13
John 10.31-42

Reflection:

God, guide me as I expand my knowledge of Catholicism. I long to know
you and defend my faith.

March 29: Growing in Faith

Readings:

Genesis 17.3-9
John 8.51-59

Reflection:

Identify the taching of the Church you find most difficult, then study it.
Approach this humbly.

March 28: Models and Mentors

Readings:

Daniel 3.14-20, 91-92, 95
John 8.31-42

Reflections:

God, allow me to learn from thsoe inspired with your Word, so that I'm
willing to improve myself each day.

March 27: Touched By Jesus

Readings:

Numbers 21.4-9
John 8.21-30

Reflection:

May the words of the Gospels penetrate my hard heart and
narrow-mindedness.

March 26: 15 Minutes a Day

Readings:

Daniel 13.1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62

John 8.1-11

Reflection:

Just 15 minutes of spiritual reading every day can stir your soul. Thank God for the beauty and bounty of words.

Fifth Sunday of Lent: A Path To Virtue

This week, the reflections will focus on the pillar of Spiritual Reading.

Readings:

Jeremiah 31.31-34
Hebrews 5.7-9
John 12.20-33

Reflection:

Reading is to the mind what prayer is to the soul. Spiritual reading ignites our desire to grow in virtue.

March 24: Holding Fast

Readings:

Jeremiah 11.18-20
John 7.40-53

Reflection:

God of perseverance and strength, I put my faith and trust in you. I
know it's difficult to fast, but I will not give up.

March 23: Fasting, Feasting

Readings:

Wisdom 2.1a, 12-22
John 7.1-2, 10, 25-30

Reflections:

Fasting is to the body wht prayer is to the soul. Fasting is the prayer of
the bod. Bodily fasting leads to spiritual feasting.

March 22: Rewards of Discipline

Readings:

Exodus 32.7-14
John 5.31-47

Reflection:

God of discipline and self-possession, help me control my longings and cravings. With fasting and discipline, help me become the-best-version-of-myself.

March 21: Christian Practice

Readings:

Isaiah 49.8-15
John 5.17-30

Reflection:

God of fasting and almsgiving, accept all that I have and all that I am
willing to give up in honor of your love.

March 20: Turning Back to God

Readings:

Ezekiel 47.1-9, 12
John 5.1-6

Reflection:

Fasting that involves no conversion of the heart is useless. What can
I give up today that will help me turn back to God?

March 19: Prayer and Fasting

Readings:

Isaiah 65.17-21

John 4.43-54

Readings for Solemnity of St. Joseph

2 Samuel 7.4-5a, 12-14a, 16

Romans 4.13, 16-18, 22

Matthew 1. 16, 18-21, 24a or Luke 2.41-51a

Reflection:

We fast to cultivate the inner life. Authentic fasting draws us nearer to God and opens our hearts to receive God's many gifts.

The Fourth Sunday of Lent - Yearning for Love

This week's reflections will revolve around the pillar of Fasting.

Readings:

2 Chronicles 36.14-16, 19-23
Ephesians 2.4-10
John 3.14-21

Reflection:

May my resolve strengthen, my stony heart be broken and my mind become more
focused on our loving God.

March 17: Ever Fresh, Ever New

Readings:

Hosea 6.1-6
Luke 18.9-14

Reflection:

The Word of God deserves to be approached with reverence and awe. It
is constantly new and fresh.

March 16: Stories of and for All

Readings:

Hosea 14.2-10
Mark 12.28-34

The Bible tells of people who have tried and succeeded or struggled and
failed in their quest to walk with God. What stories direct your
life?

March 15: The Gospel Challenge

Readings:

Jeremiah 7.23-28
Luke 11.14-23

Reflection:

Examine the ways you live, love, work, think and speak in light of the
Gospels. Don't adopt a gospel of convenience.

March 14: Scripture, Our Guide

Readings:

Deuteronomy 4.1, 5-9
Matthew 5.17-19

Reflection:

How has Scripture helped yo uthrough the difficult times in your
life?

March 13: Rich Gifts

Readings:

Daniel 3.25, 34-43

Matthew 18.21-35

Reflection:

Through many people, ages, languages and styles, God has revealed his Word and truth to the world.

March 12: Our Catholic Tradition

Readings:

2 Kings 5.1-15b

Luke 4.24-30

Reflection:

Thank God for revealing himself to us in creation, the Scriptures, and the life of the Church.

Third Sunday of Lent: Spirit and Life

This week the reflections will revolve around the pillar of The Bible.

Readings:

Exodus 20.1-17

1 Corinthians 1.22-25

John 2.13-25

Reflection:

Ask God to help you make the Bible an integral part of your life. Prayerfully reflect on the truth God sets before us.

March 10: A Gift for Us

Readings:

Micah 7.14-15, 18-20

Luke 15.1-3, 11-32

Reflection:

The Mass is designed to help us. God gives us rest, renewal and communion with him and others through the Mass.

March 9: Delivered from Evil

Readings:

Genesis 37.3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a
Matthew 21.33-43, 45-46

Reflection:

God of peace and serenity, protect me from all anxiety. Guide me to
make good choices, so that I may not sin.

March 8: Reminders

Readings:

Jeremiah 17.5-10
Luke 16.19-31

Reflections:

We're pilgrims on a journey, called to be responsible stewards of our own
lives and mindful of the needs of others.

March 7: Giving, Receiving

Readings:

Jeremiah 18.18-20
Matthew 20.17-28

Reflection:

We go to Mass to give ourselves to God and, in return, to receive
God. Open your heart, mind and soul to God.

March 6: Looking Ahead

Readings:

Isaiah 1.10, 16-20
Matthew 23.1-12

Reflection:

Read and reflect upon the coming Sunday's Gospel (John 2.13-25). Pick
a word or phrase that jumps out at you. If the Word is to transform us, we
need to allow it to sink into our lives through repetition and reflection.

March 5: Soothing Waters

Readings:

Daniel 9.4b-10

Luke 6.36-38

Reflection:

To transform our lives, God's Word needs to linger in our minds and sink its roots deep into our hearts.

The Second Sunday of Lent: Why Mass? Why Not!

This week the reflections will focus on the Mass.

Readings:

Genesis 22.1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
Romans 8.31b-34
Mark 9.2-10

Reflection:

Mass isn't irrelevant to our lives; maybe it's our lives that are
irrelevant to the Mass.

March 3: The Deep Places

Readings:

Deuteronomy 26.16-19

Matthew 5.43-48

Reflection:

God challenges us to abandon our doubts and fears and cast our nets into the deep waters of the spiritual life.

March 2: Gentle Dialogue

Readings:

Ezekiel 18.21-28
Matthew 5.20-26

Reflection:

Are you concerned that you don't know how to pray? In your heart, say to God: I don't know how to pray. You've already begun praying. Open your heart in a gentle dialogue.

March 1: The Abiding Question

Readings:

Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25
Matthew 7:7-12

Reflection:

The saints all asked: God, what do you think I should do? When you
ask the same question, you'll discover your mission.

February 29: Into the Silence

Readings:

Jonah 3.1-10
Luke 11.29-32

Reflection:

Quietness is essential to growth in the spirit. It will help us
develop resolute hearts and peaceful spirits.

February 28: Refocusing

Readings

Isaiah 55.10-11
Luke 11.29-32

Reflection

Focus on those thoughts that encourae you to love God and the people around you more.

February 27: At Our Best

Readings:

Leviticus 19.1-2, 11-18

Matthew 25.31-46

Reflection:

We're at our best when we pray simply to be with God and seek his ways.

First Sunday of Lent: A Daily Habit

Consider this week as a chance to focus on the way that daily prayer can be a pillar in your faith life.

Readings:

Genesis 9.8-15
1 Peter 3.18-22
Mark 1.12-15

Reflection:

Prayer is central to the Christian experience. Growth in the
Christian life is simply not possible without prayer.

February 25: Getting to Know You

Readings:

Isaiah 58:9b-14

Luke 5:27-32

Reflection:

The more we get to know ourselves and our own brokenness, the more we're able to accept and love others.

February 24: A Clear Conscience

Readings:

Isaiah 58:1-9a
Matthew 9.14-15

Reflection:

Place your sins at the feet of Jesus in the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. God sees your unrealized potential.

February 23 - A Call To Order

Readings:

Deuteronomy 30.15-20
Luke 9.22-25

Reflection:

Walking with God demands that we bring order to our lives and
put first things first. We're all imperfect but perfectible.

Ash Wednesday: Turning to God

Readings:

Joel 2.12-18

2 Corinthians 5.20-6.2

Matthew 6.1-6, 16-18

Reflection:

Repent means "to turn back to God." We need to do this many times a day.

Lent Begins Soon

We have only a short time until Lent begins.

The Lenten Reflections will begin on Ash Wednesday, February 22. Watch for them here or subscribe to the Tweets.