February 28 - The Law Fastened to the Wall

Saturday of the First Week of Lent

Today's Readings

• Deuteronomy 26.16-19
• Psalm 11
• Matthew 5.43-48

Today's Reflection

Attached to the right doorpost of every observant Jewish home is a piece of parchment with Bible verses on it, a few inches long, rolled up inside a decorated case. It’s called a mezuzah, and it indicates that the residents are determined to keep God’s law as set down by Moses. It doesn’t have all 613 commandments of that law, but it does have the declaration that there is only one God and that he is to be loved above everything. “Take to heart these words which I command you today. . . . Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates,” reads Deuteronomy 6:6-9.

Jesus’ New Covenant doesn’t make home-decorating demands on his disciples; Jesus himself never had a doorway of his own on which to attach a mezuzah. But a crucifix placed somewhere in our homes is a good reminder of what he says in today’s Gospel: that we are to love our neighbors regardless of whether they love us. What better example of that is there than the one Jesus set on the cross?

Paul S.

February 27 - Awesome, Forgiving God

 Friday of the First Week of Lent

Today's Readings:

• Ezekiel 18.21-28
• Psalm 130.1-2, 3-4, 5-7A, 7BC-8
• Matthew 5.20-26

Today's Reflection:

It is truly Awesome to know God loves me regardless of my mistakes and poor choices. May the wonder and awe of his Love be carried in my heart during this Lenten time.

  Mary W.

February 26 - Ask and You Shall Receive

Thursday of the First Week of Lent

Today's Readings

• Esther C.12, 14-16, 23-25
• Psalm 138
• Matthew 7.7-12

Today's Reflection

Enter the old part of the U-M Museum of Art from State Street, turn to the first exhibit room on your left, and you can’t miss a mammoth seventeenth-century Italian painting of Queen Esther, the central figure in today’s Old Testament reading. Esther is taking her life in her hands to approach her husband, King Ahasuerus of Persia, to plead for her people (Esther 5:1-5).

The Jews in Persia were threatened by a vicious court official, and the king did not know Esther was Jewish. The punishment for entering the king’s presence uninvited was death—unless the king stuck out his scepter, indicating that the intrusion was okay with him. The painting shows the king extending his scepter and looking pleased to see Esther, but a bit late: overcome with fear over how he might react, she has fainted into the arms of her maids. According to the biblical story, she does eventually make her request, and King Ahasuerus sees to it that the Jews are vindicated.

 Paul S.

February 25 - On Whose Authority?

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

Today's Readings

• Jonah 3.1-10
• Psalm 51
• Luke 11.29-32

Today's Reflection

Why should I fast, pray, and give alms to the poor?
Do I seek a sign, or some evidence that God loves me now or then?
Or, can I simply trust that Jesus is our Lord and God who loves us all, always?
A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (Psalm 51, Luke 11.29-32)

Scott W.

February 24 - Lord, Teach Us to Pray

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Today's Readings

• Isaiah 55.10-11
• Psalm 34
• Matthew 6.7-15

Today's Reflection

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 6:7-15), part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his disciples to avoid long prayers and instead pray the brief Our Father. It begins with prayer that God may be more and more glorified, on earth as in heaven. It concludes with prayer for ourselves, encompassing everything we really need: our physical requirements for today, forgiveness for our sins, and freedom from moral threats around us such as temptations.

It is so simple. And being not Trinitarian—Jesus and his disciples approach the Father together—it can be prayed by both Christians and Jews.

St. Benedict ordered that monks following his rule say it at least twice a day, because he felt the need for the invocation “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” can come up pretty regularly when people live under one roof. Good advice!

Paul S.

February 23 - Lord, When Did We See You?

Monday of the First Week of Lent

Today's Readings

• Leviticus 19.1-2, 11-18
• Psalm 19
• Matthew 25.31-46

Today's Reflection

In the weekday Scripture readings, this is a day for “back to basics” on God’s law for our conduct: the Ten Commandments (Leviticus 19:1-18) and the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46). The latter is one of the scariest passages in the New Testament. Jesus seems to threaten hell fire for those who do not see him in their needy brothers and sisters.

I think most teachers in the Church would agree that Jesus does not want the fear of hell to be at the center of our life in him. He constantly reminds his disciples of how abundant God’s mercy is. But in this strongly worded parable, he tells us that he is not impressed when we say we want to be close to him and systematically ignore the least of our brethren around us.

In our Lenten efforts to turn away from sin, let’s pray for the grace not to deceive ourselves about what sin is. As a prayer at Mass before Communion says, “Make me always cling closely to your commandments, and never let me be parted from you.”

 Paul S.

February 22 - Temptations on the Journey

First Sunday of Lent

Today's Readings

• Genesis 9.8-15
• Psalm 25 
• 1 Peter 3.18-22
• Mark 1.12-15

Today's Reflection

Jesus on this first Sunday of Lent we come to you to be renewed in spirit. Just as the Holy Spirit sent you into the desert to be prepared for your earthly journey, so we hope to be spiritually renewed on our Lenten journey. As you were ministered to by angels, so we will be ministered to by you. Satan tested you, tempting you to change stones to bread to show your power. Instead you accepted hunger and fasting to show your willingness to be poor with your less fortunate brothers.

May we accept hunger and fasting quietly in our journey in the desert so that we may have more to share with the poor among us.

Becoming more spiritual is a gradual exercise in love and patience just as physical exercise is gradual. Don't be discouraged. Satan is an evil, jealous spirit constantly on watch to weaken us just as he tried to weaken Jesus. Satan will tempt us. He knows our weaknesses. But so does Jesus who plays to our strength and resolve. We are not alone. Persevere, pray, seek the company of those who travel the spiritual road with you. Reach out to family members who have strayed from the Church and long to be invited back. You may be the only Christ some people will ever know.

 Anna H.