SECOND WEEK OF LENT
Second, February 25, 2024, Second Sunday of Lent
Today’s Readings: Gn 22:1-2, 9A, 10-13,15-18; Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19; Rom 8:31B-34; Mk 9:2-10
Today’s readings give us strong visuals with deep reflections. Faith and Trust.
Abraham trusting God. What a test of faith knowing his own flesh and blood was the sacrifice. And just when Abraham with no hesitancy was to deliver the final blow to his son’s life, God stops him. Because of Abraham’s obedience, the ancestral line of Isaac would flourish beyond measure.
Jesus was obedient to his Father. The difference, God did not stop Jesus from the cross. Jesus trusted and had great faith in his Father. New life waits for all.
This Lenten journey works our trust and faith in God. The terrain is bumpy, scary, “stop! I want to get off this ride.” Keep in mind, we are not in this alone. You and I are walking together and Jesus is next to us. We can lean on him and trust he is supportive of our journey. Scary as it is, we must have faith of his personal journey to Jerusalem. This he is doing for us because he loves us. Our souls are parched. Don’t give up or let anything throw us off our game. Repentance, of cleansing, of keeping the faith and trusting in Jesus. Always.
Prayer: Oh my Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Strengthen my faith these 40-days. I need you.
Monday, February 26, 2024
Today’s Readings: Dn 9:4B-10; Ps 79:8, 9, 11 and 13; Lk 6:36-38
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”-Luke 6:36
This season, being merciful to others is what makes God happy. Most importantly, we need God’s mercy upon us. This is a season of penance. Repentance of major and/or minor sins. And we need our Father’s mercy. Pray. Our prayers don’t have to be a mile long. Something short like, “Father, forgive me for I have sinned, I beg for your mercy upon me.”
Ask the Holy Spirit for the grace of true contrition. Don’t allow the evil one to discourage you. That’s what he wants for us to stumble. Let’s be humble before our heavenly Father and admit our sins. And beg for his mercy. His forgiveness.
From here on, can you be merciful to others?
Prayer: Father, be merciful to me a sinner. Help me to do the same toward others.
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Today’s Readings: Is 1:10, 16-20; Ps 50:8-9, 16BC-17, 21 and 23: Mt 23:1-12
Do good works. Practice your Catholic/Christian faith with others. Walk the talk.
Listen to God. Lent is a holy season that draws us closer to God. Go deep with him. It’s hard, but ask God for help.
Stop doing evil acts. Redress the wrongs in one’s life.
Give alms to the poor, the vulnerable, the weak.
This season, seek to be restored through repentance. There still is time. God speed and bless you.
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Today’s Readings: Jer 18:18-20; Ps 31:5-6, 14, 15-16; Mt 20:17-28
Psalm 31:5-6
5 Free me from the net they have set for me, for you are my refuge.
6 Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, God of truth.
14 I hear the whispers of the crowd; terrors are all around me. They conspire together against me; they plot to take my life.
15 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
16 My destiny is in your hands; rescue me from my enemies, from the hands of my pursuers.
Can you turn these verses into a prayer for your Lenten journey? Read them 1-2x. Can you hear your soul asking God to free you from a darkness you fell into? There is time this season. God bless you all.
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Today’s Readings: Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; Lk 16:19-31
Let us not be like the rich man who treated the poor man with such disgust. Where even the dogs licked the poor man’s wounds. One cannot imagine such a scene. But so many prideful people are like the rich man. Forgive, be kind and merciful. For we will be judged on our works. Allow these days in the wilderness to free our hearts from the cold and heartless feelings against our brethren. Let us be quenched and fed by Jesus in our journey with him. Let us see the kindness Jesus did for others along the way to Jerusalem. His love and kindness he stopped to give. What beautiful lessons we can learn. Now is the time.
Prayer: Jesus, help me to give and love others, even my enemies. Restore me and help me repent. Let me not be like the rich man, where neglect and regrets are too late. Forgive me Jesus, a sinner. Forgive my selfishness, and indulgences. Help me to be merciful to others; to those who seek my mercy. Amen.
Friday, March 1, 2024
Today’s Readings: Gn 37:3-4, 12-13A, 17B-28A; Ps 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21; Mt 21:33-43, 45-46
Today’s readings bring such parallelism between Joseph and his brothers and Jesus and us. Both were hated and sold. A foreshadowing of what Holy Week will present itself to us. But before we get there, let’s think about how humanity has turned from God. We are within this humanity. Let us pray to bring honor and glory to God, to his beloved Son Jesus Christ. Let us ask for forgiveness of our sins that sold and continues to sell Jesus. Our sins will bring him to judgement. Our sins will cry out to “crucify Him.”
It’s a tough journey. Jesus sees our struggles with prayer, with fasting. He sees family moments are not so loving. Think about how we “sell” our family. In many ways, we do. Let us pray…
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you knew how humanity would handle your Son Jesus. He came to unify us, to save us from our iniquities. Yet, in our hearts we sold him to the Pontius Pilot of our sins. Help us to begin to heal; to return to reconciliation; to return to You with our whole heart. May our free will be so free to return to Jesus, his loving forgiveness. Amen.
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Today’s Readings: Mt 7:14-15, 18-20; Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
The story of the prodigal son resonates with each one of us. At some point, we have strayed from our Father’s house. A personal journey for sure. But the one thing that is constant: God still loves us even with our brokenness and sinful wounds. He, the Father waits for us with open arms just like the dad with open arms welcoming his lost, vagabond son.
Constant: God’s endless love, lavish in richness for us. A love that heals us from within to return to him.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me. Thank you for your open arms upon my return home to you. Thank you for saving me. Than you for your Son, Jesus Christ. I love you Father.