Readings for Monday, March 17 2014; Monday of the Second Week in Lent

First Reading
Daniel 9:4b-10

“Lord, great and awesome God,
you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you
and observe your commandments!
We have sinned, been wicked and done evil;
we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.
We have not obeyed your servants the prophets,
who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes,
our fathers, and all the people of the land.
Justice, O Lord, is on your side;
we are shamefaced even to this day:
we, the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem,
and all Israel, near and far,
in all the countries to which you have scattered them
because of their treachery toward you.
O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers,
for having sinned against you.
But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!
Yet we rebelled against you
and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God,
to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets.”

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 79:8, 9, 11 and 13

R. (see 103:10a) Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
may your compassion quickly come to us,
for we are brought very low.

R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name’s sake.

R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you;
with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
through all generations we will declare your praise.

R. Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

Gospel
Luke 6:36-38

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: MORE OR LESS?

"Give, and it shall be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will they pour into the fold of your garment. For the measure you measure with will be measured back to you." –Luke 6:38

In Jesus' time, most people worked the land as farmers. Modern farm mechanization didn't exist. Recall that people wore ankle-length robes at the time. The method of sowing seeds in Jesus' time was for each person to go to the seedpile, grab their garment at the knees, and pull the garment up toward their waist. This created a "pocket," into which the landowner poured as much seed as the person and garment could hold. The person carried the seeds into the field and sowed them by hand until the "pocket" was empty of seed. Then he returned to the seedpile for the next load of seeds. This process was repeated daily until all fields were completely sown.

Jesus promised that those who give will receive in "good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over...[poured] into the fold of" their garment (Lk 6:38; see also Ru 3:15; Mal 3:10). This means that you who give to Jesus will receive even more work to do. However, you will be given more resources with which to serve Him, and your work will result in a great harvest, even a hundredfold one (Mk 4:20).

Jesus challenges each of us this Lent to work for Him more than ever before. His heart yearns for all to be saved and know the truth (1 Tm 2:4). He longs to gather His estranged children under His wings (Lk 13:34). Jesus says to all His disciples: "Listen to what I say: Open your eyes and see! The fields are shining for harvest!" (Jn 4:35) "Do whatever He tells you" (Jn 2:5).

PRAYER: Jesus, "Here I am...send me!" (Is 6:8)

PROMISE: "Pardon, and you shall be pardoned." –Lk 6:37

PRAISE: St. Patrick, kidnap victim and runaway slave, freely returned to the land of his kidnappers and former slavemasters in order to bring Jesus to them.

...may the good Lord bless His holy word in our hearts...

Readings for Sunday, March 16 2014; Second Sunday of Lent

First Reading
Genesis 12:1-4a

The LORD said to Abram: 
“Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk
and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.

“I will make of you a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you
and curse those who curse you.
All the communities of the earth
shall find blessing in you.”

Abram went as the LORD directed him.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

R/ (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

R/ Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.

R/ Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.

R/ Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Second Reading
2 Timothy 1:8b-10

Beloved:
Bear your share of hardship for the gospel
with the strength that comes from God.

He saved us and called us to a holy life,
not according to our works
but according to his own design
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest 
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel.

Gospel
Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, 
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them; 
his face shone like the sun 
and his clothes became white as light.
And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them,
conversing with him.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, 
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here, 
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, 
then from the cloud came a voice that said, 
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate
and were very much afraid.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying,
“Rise, and do not be afraid.”
And when the disciples raised their eyes, 
they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus charged them,
“Do not tell the vision to anyone 
until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: CONVERSATION PEACE

"Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them conversing with Him." –Matthew 17:3

It is extremely important that we hear the Lord and converse with Him. The most important conversation we will ever have with the Lord will be on the subject of His death and resurrection. However, this is the most difficult subject of conversation for us.

Jesus' transfiguration was an attempt to help us converse with Him about His death and resurrection. When we see Jesus glorified, we realize "the sufferings of the present to be as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us" (Rm 8:18). When we see Jesus conversing with Moses and Elijah (Mt 17:3), we see how our conversation with Jesus is supposed to be. Finally, when we hear the Father command us to listen to Jesus (Mt 17:5), we realize that we'd better listen to Him whether we want to or not.

Never has a conversation ever been so dramatically introduced as the one following the transfiguration. Nevertheless, when Jesus once again tried to engage the apostles in conversation about His passion, death, and resurrection, they broke off the conversation. At Jesus's "words they were overwhelmed with grief" (Mt 17:23). So the transfiguration seemed at first a failure. However, after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the transfiguration took effect (see 2 Pt 1:17-18). Jesus' disciples not only conversed with Him about His death and resurrection; they even lived crucified and risen lives. Then they took up their daily crosses and witnessed for the risen Christ.

PRAYER: Jesus, may I be fully engaged in conversation with You.

PROMISE: Jesus "has robbed death of its power and has brought life and immortality into clear light through the gospel." –2 Tm 1:10

PRAISE: Jesus is risen! We can live with Him forever! Thank You, Jesus.

...may the good Lord bless His holy word in our heart...

Missal Readings & Reflection for Saturday, March 15 2014; Saturday of the First Week of Lent

First Reading
Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Moses spoke to the people, saying:
“This day the LORD, your God,
commands you to observe these statutes and decrees.
Be careful, then,
to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.
Today you are making this agreement with the LORD:
he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways
and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees,
and to hearken to his voice.
And today the LORD is making this agreement with you:
you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you;
and provided you keep all his commandments,
he will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory
above all other nations he has made,
and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God,
as he promised.”

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8

R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Blessed are they who observe his decrees,
who seek him with all their heart.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

You have commanded that your precepts
be diligently kept.
Oh, that I might be firm in the ways
of keeping your statutes!

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

I will give you thanks with an upright heart,
when I have learned your just ordinances.
I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

Gospel
Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: RAIN LOVE ON YOUR ENEMIES

"My command to you is: love your enemies." –Matthew 5:44

Jesus commands us to love our enemies. This proves we are God's children (Mt 5:45), because only those who have a share in God's nature (2 Pt 1:4) have the power to love their enemies.

When we realize we can't love our enemies by our own power, we often change Jesus' command from "love your enemies" to "don't hate your enemies." This is a big change. The Lord commands us to do much more than not insult or hurt our enemies. The Lord wants us to actively love them. For example, God the Father doesn't just refrain from sending tornadoes, lightning bolts, and floods against His enemies. He gives them beautiful sunny days and life-giving rains (Mt 5:45). We too should actively bless our enemies with beautiful days. Like the father of the prodigal son, we should show affection to our enemies (Lk 15:20). We should honor them with gifts and a special celebration (Lk 15:22-23). We should be sunshine for them and rain down presents on them.

Since we don't have the power even to not hate our enemies, loving them as God does is obviously impossible. God, however, lives in us and has adopted us as His children. Therefore, by His grace we can give love to our enemies.

PRAYER: Father, this Lent may I shock myself and others as I love my enemies.

PROMISE: "You are to be a people peculiarly His own, as He promised you; and provided you keep all His commandments, He will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory above all other nations He has made, and you will be a people sacred to the Lord, your God, as He promised." –Dt 26:18-19

PRAISE: Louise prayed to love her enemy – her husband.

...may the good Lord bless His holy word in our hearts...

Missal Readings & Reflection for Friday, March 14 2014; Friday of the First Week of Lent

First Reading
Ezekiel 18:21-28

Thus says the Lord GOD:
If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, 
if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just,
he shall surely live, he shall not die. 
None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him;
he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. 
Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked?
says the Lord GOD. 
Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way
that he may live?

And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil,
the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does,
can he do this and still live?
None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered,
because he has broken faith and committed sin;
because of this, he shall die. 
You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!” 
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,
it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed,
does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed, 
he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8

R. (3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;
LORD, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to my voice in supplication.

R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

If you, O LORD, mark iniquities,
LORD, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered. 

R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD.

R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

For with the LORD is kindness
and with him is plenteous redemption;
And he will redeem Israel
from all their iniquities.

R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

Gospel
Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples: 
“I tell you, 
unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, 
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY?

"Is it My way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?" –Ezekiel 18:25

Some Christians assume that Christianity is like taking a course in school. There are several tests in this course, and they think their final grade is the average of all their tests. However, the Lord doesn't average our lives. If we are not faithful to the Lord till death, all our "good scores" count for nothing (see Ez 18:24). Many say: "The Lord's way is not fair" (Ez 18:25), but that's because they haven't accepted Christianity as a living relationship with Christ.

Some people even think that God grades on a curve, that if they're less sinful than the average person, that will be acceptable to God. Yet Jesus also ruined that theory when He taught: "I tell you, unless your holiness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees you shall not enter the kingdom of God" (Mt 5:20). Because the Pharisees were considered to be very holy people, Jesus was saying that we will not enter God's kingdom unless our holiness surpasses those far above average. In effect, the Lord is calling us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Mt 5:48).

Thus, we can never "make the grade" in Christianity. Living for Christ is humanly impossible and can only be lived through Him,with Him, and in Him. So let's quit playing games with God. He gave His life for us; let's give our lives totally to Him.

PRAYER: Father, "I have been crucified with Christ, and the life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal 2:19-20). This Lent, may I accept the grace to be faithful forever.

PROMISE: "If you bring your gift to the altar and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift at the altar, go first to be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift." –Mt 5:23-24

PRAISE: Al's Catholic wife died suddenly. Al realized his mortality and became a Catholic. He now receives Jesus daily at Mass.

...may the good Lord bless His holy word in our hearts...

Missal Readings & Reflection for Thur, Mar 13 2014; Thursday of the First Week in Lent

First Reading
Esther c:12, 14-16, 23-25

Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,
had recourse to the LORD.
She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, 
from morning until evening, and said:
“God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. 
Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,
for I am taking my life in my hand.
As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers
that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you.
Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,
O LORD, my God.

“And now, come to help me, an orphan.
Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion
and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy,
so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.
Save us from the hand of our enemies;
turn our mourning into gladness
and our sorrows into wholeness.”

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c8

R. (3a) Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.

R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.

R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.

R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Gospel
Matthew 7:7-12

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 
Which one of you would hand his son a stone
when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. 
This is the law and the prophets.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: YOU ASKED FOR IT

"Ask, and you will receive." –Matthew 7:7

The Lord commands us to ask Him, but for what? Jesus taught us to ask God for His name to be hallowed, His kingdom to come, His will to be done (Mt 6:9-10). The Lord is not commanding us to ask for our wants, but for His wants. This presents a problem, for we often "ask wrongly, with a view to squandering what" we receive on our pleasures (Jas 4:3). Prayer is not getting our will, but God's will.

However, if we seek first God's kingdom and His way of holiness (Mt 6:33), the Lord gives us our daily bread (Mt 6:11). When we ask for God's wants, we receive our needs. However, when we ask for our wants, we move away from talking to God into talking to ourselves. We may appear to be praying, but we're actually in a self-centered monologue.

Asking is difficult for us. We can't ask for His will and our will at the same time, unless our will is conformed to His. Asking means dying to self, repenting of sin, and taking up our daily cross (Lk 9:23). Asking is not playing prayer games with God, but communicating with the Lord in a heart-wrenching, self-denying way. Asking requires love and faith. The Lord is giving you now the command and grace to ask. Therefore, ask.

PRAYER: Father, transform me this Lent. I will no longer ask in my name but in Jesus' name.

PROMISE: "Save us by Your power, and help me, who am alone and have no one but You, O Lord. You know all things." –Est C:25

PRAISE: Bernard, a sixteen year_old, asked the Holy Spirit for the gift of leadership when he received prayers to be renewed in the Spirit.

...may the good Lord bless His holy word in our hearts...

Missal Readings & Reflection for Wed, Mar 12 2014; Wednesday of the First Week in Lent

First Reading
Jonah 3:1-10

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time:
“Set out for the great city of Nineveh,
and announce to it the message that I will tell you.”
So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh,
according to the LORD’s bidding.
Now Nineveh was an enormously large city;
it took three days to go through it.
Jonah began his journey through the city,
and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing,
“Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,”
when the people of Nineveh believed God;
they proclaimed a fast
and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When the news reached the king of Nineveh,
he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe,
covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes.
Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh,
by decree of the king and his nobles:
“Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep,
shall taste anything;
they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. 
Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God;
every man shall turn from his evil way
and from the violence he has in hand.
Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath,
so that we shall not perish.”
When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way,
he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them;
he did not carry it out.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19

R. (19b) A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.

R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me. 

R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

Gospel
Luke 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah. 
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment 
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation 
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here. 
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: FORTY DAYS FOR THREE DAYS

"Forty days more..." –Jonah 3:4

In about forty days, we will celebrate the Triduum, which is the three days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. During these three days, we remember and observe Jesus' Passion, death, and Resurrection; in these three days, Jesus triumphed over sin, death, and the kingdom of darkness.

The prophet Jonah walked through the wicked city of Nineveh proclaiming: "Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed" (Jn 3:4). Before this announcement, Jonah spent three days inside the belly of a huge fish. When Jesus was asked for a sign, He responded with the sign of Jonah, who was "buried" for three days inside the fish and under the sea, and then "rose" from three days in the sea. Although God spared Nineveh from physical destruction, He did culturally destroy the wicked Nineveh and replaced it with renewed citizens who bore a repentant, humble spirit. Jesus thus linked forty days with three days.

Jesus once used forty days in the desert to prepare for His "three days" in the tomb. Imitate Jesus and use these remaining forty days to prepare for the three days of the Triduum. Prepare as did the citizens of Nineveh when they heard the prophecy of Jonah. Cultivate a "godly sorrow" for any times you have sinned or disobeyed the Lord (see 2 Cor 7:8-11). "Be earnest about it, therefore. Repent!" (Rv 3:19)

PRAYER: "Have mercy on me, O God, in Your goodness; in the greatness of Your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me" (Ps 51:3-4).

PROMISE: "You have a Greater than Jonah here." –Lk 11:32

PRAISE: When confronted by an angry co-worker, Frank kept calm because he had formed the habit of letting the Lord guide his thoughts through the Scriptures (see Jas 1:19).

...may the good Lord bless His holy word in our hearts...

Missal Readings & Reflection for Tue, Mar 11 2014; Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

First Reading
Isaiah 55:10-11

Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
And do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
Giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19

R. (18b) From all their distress God rescues the just.

Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears. 

R. From all their distress God rescues the just.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.

R. From all their distress God rescues the just.

The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.

R. From all their distress God rescues the just.

When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.

R. From all their distress God rescues the just.

Gospel
Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
“In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you are to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

“If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: THIS LENT

"When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress He rescues them. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves." –Psalm 34:18-19

Lent is seven days old. Have you fasted and prayed in imitation of Jesus these seven days? Have you forgiven all who have hurt you – even all your enemies? (see Mt 6:12) Are you emptying yourself (see Phil 2:7) so as to be filled with "the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love"? (Eph 3:18) Lent is a grace, a gift of a springtime for our relationship with the Lord. However, this grace is not forced on us. We must show we accept it by fasting, praying, forgiving, repenting, and obeying.

Through this Lent, the Lord will make deserts "fertile and fruitful" (Is 55:10). Where there is nothing, the Lord will plant something – "giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats" (Is 55:10). If we let God have His way, this Lent will not be wasted, empty, or "void," but shall do His will, "achieving the end for which" He sent it (Is 55:11).

Make this Lent the best one of your life. Observe it as if it were the first Lent or your last one. May this Lent culminate in the renewal of your baptismal promises at Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday Mass. Totally commit your life to Jesus. May this Lent prepare you to meet the risen Christ and to be risen by Him from the dead. May this Lent prepare you for the end of the world, Christ's final coming, Judgment Day, and eternal happiness in heaven.

PRAYER: Father, may this be the Lent of a lifetime.

PROMISE: "This is how you are to pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.' " –Mt 6:9-10

PRAISE: Ann's fasting reminds her to pray. Her prayer helps her fast

...may the good Lord bless His holy word in our hearts...