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Lent Online

Starting February 14, 2024

Now you can be guided and nourished each day of Lent not only by giving up something but rather by reading these wonderful daily reflections followed by action thoughts. We hope these reflections can help each of us to begin again during the days of Lent, as we make our way “up to Jerusalem” to be with the Lord as He suffers, dies and rises again- bringing us to new life. 

31

Sunday

MARCH

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

Happy Easter, Christ is risen! Once again, we are singing our alleluias and the purple vestments have been put away, but today’s gospel brings us not to meet the risen Christ, but to the empty tomb.  The first to discover the tomb unsealed and empty, Mary of Magdala runs to tell Peter and then John that the tomb is empty and she didn’t know where they had put Jesus.  The disciples run to the tomb; Peter enters first and discovers the burial cloths have been folded and laid aside; John enters Throughout the Easter season we will read that Christ appeared to some of those who believed, so the empty tomb may seem an odd place to begin our celebration until we peer inside and see not emptiness, but an abundance of possibilities, a reminder that our God will not be limited by our narrow visions and definitions and that Jesus calls us to move  beyond our fears and self-doubts.  We have been baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ.  In all of our daily prayers we encounter the risen Christ, but imagine that today Christ will appear to you.  Where would that encounter take place?  Who would start the conversation? What questions or hopes would you share?  How would Christ respond? Finally, let us at some time today pray for one another, for all who have prayed one or more of these reflections and let us pray for the Franciscan Friars who have made this journey possible.  Thank you for sharing this journey with me and with one another.

30

Saturday

MARCH

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

When I was very young, Holy Saturday had seemed endless and empty, but that changed after my third-grade teacher told us that Easter was a greater feast than Christmas. I told my father I knew Sr. Jane was wrong because we didn’t have an Easter tree.  Dad told me Sr. Jane was right, but starting that year we would have an Easter tree, trimmed with blown- out eggshells saved from Christmas baking and decorated on Palm Sunday.  Holy Saturday would be the day we went looking for and decorating our Easter tree – actually, a large branch severed by a winter storm.  I had imagined we would laugh and sing the way we did when we looked for a Christmas tree, but my mother and father were quiet, almost Good Friday quiet and serious.  I asked why my parents were so quiet since we knew how Jesus’ story ended.  My dad explained I was wrong because Jesus’ story didn’t end; Jesus continues his story in heaven and on earth through us and the story will go on in heaven.  Dad also explained adults move from sad and serious to joy and playfulness much smore slowly than children.  If you attend the great Easter Vigil tonight, you will be reminded of God’s long, loving view from creation through Abraham, Moses, the prophets and all of salvation history, concluding with the resurrection.  Spend some time today in grateful, prayerful recollection of your salvation history, your growth in fsith, the people who helped you, and those you helped. From creation through Christ’s resurrection, what stories most move you? Pray for Pope Francis and all church leaders and members and remember in a special way those who will come into full communion with the church tonight.  

29

Friday

MARCH

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

During Pilate’s interrogation, Jesus states “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Soon soldiers will silence that voice, but with his dying breath and waning strength, Jesus will utter seven statements that remind us of his union with and obedience to the Father and the gifts and mission he has given us. For today’s reflection, we will consider the three of these statements that are part of today’s gospel.  “Woman, behold your son; son, behold your mother.” Jesus gives John the care of his mother. Without husband or son, Mary would need to rely on the charity of strangers for her support. At the same time, Jesus presents Mary to John and to us as mother, comforter, guide and example of model disciple.  “I thirst.” Of course, mounted on the cross, struggling for breath enough to speak, Jesus is thirsty and accepts a sip of wine, but he who identifies himself as the source of living water thirsts for the attention and conversion of those who do not recognize and accept the gifts of mercy, forgiveness and peace that he offers.  Finally, Jesus states: “It is finished.” His earthly mission of teaching, preaching, healing is complete. Having held nothing back; he has accomplished the Father’s will, becoming a light to those who had been in darkness, delivering the promised salvation to all who would believe.  As you pray before the crucified Christ, which of the three statements draws your attention? What truth does that statement reveal about Jesus? About you? About your relationship with Jesus?

28

Thursday

MARCH

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

“Fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power…Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist.” How shocking it must have been for the disciples to see Jesus perform a servant’s task, how awkward and confusing to accept such service! Peter protests, but Jesus, insists, offering Peter forgiveness in advance of his denial and leaving the disciples an act of kindness to remember during the confusion and sorrow of the next few days. Finally, Jesus commands his disciples follow his example. Recall an act of service that you received or one that rendered.  Use whatever memory comes to mind; don’t search for heroic or extravagant gestures.  Recall the people involved, the setting, your emotions.  What does this memory tell you about your attitude and actions?  Conclude your reflection by offering prayers of thanksgiving for the experience you remembered and for the gift of prayer.

27

Wednesday

MARCH

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

The gospels often state that the disciples could not understand what Jesus was saying until after the resurrection. Two millennia later, our resurrection faith calls us not to understand but to allow ourselves to be caught up in the mystery and power of our God who so loved the world that “the Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us.”  This translation reminds us that much of Jesus’ life was spent in the repetitive tasks of daily living. It is through our mundane tasks that we witness our faith and give thanks for one serve one another. Whether at home or work or running errands, take a “God moment.”  In a short silent prayer, ask God’s blessing on your task and give thanks for one blessing of the day – perhaps a co-worker or family member, the sun or rain, something of beauty in your surroundings.  These small prayers inserted while waiting in line or stuck in traffic help us to acknowledge the presence of Christ who promised to be with us till the end of time.

26

Tuesday

MARCH

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

Anticipating his death Jesus proclaims: “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.” The hour of glory is the passion, the suffering and death of Jesus on a cross, not because God demanded suffering for our sins but because Jesus holds nothing back.  This total self-gift of God to and for us can, in the words of the spiritual “cause us tremble” in awe of God’s perfect love.  Blessed, humbled and awed by so great a gift, let us pray for the grace to become even more open to receiving and sharing God’s boundless love.

 

25

Monday

MARCH

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

Today’s gospel takes us to Bethany where Jesus’ good friends Martha, Mary, and Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead, are hosting a dinner in Jesus’s honor.  A large crowd has gathered, some to see Jesus, others to see Lazarus.  It is six days before the Passover and it is widely known that the authorities are plotting to kill Jesus.  As usual, Martha is serving the guests.  Mary enters, carrying a jar of nard, a costly aromatic oil which she uses to anoint Jesus’ feet; she then dries his feet with her hair.  When Judas object, Jesus answers: “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial.”  Willfully, obediently, Jesus prepares to face the last most difficult part of his saving mission.  Jesus takes comfort in his union with the Father and in the company of his friends and hopes that memory of anointing his feet will give Mary of Bethany comfort in the difficult days to come.  Spend some time today recalling how Jesus has been your friend and comfort throughout your life and pray for those who feel isolated.  If you are feeling alone, know that Christ unites all of us.

24

Sunday

MARCH

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

Palm Sunday, a day of contrasts and the start of week that challenges our expectations. Triumphant, Jesus rides in grand procession; we raise our palm branches, shout Hosanna! And then we are reading the Passion.  How fragile and vulnerable Jesus has become; how unyielding his loving obedience to the Father; how firm his sense of truth and authority; how expansive and tender his love for us! When I was a child we would often spend Palm Sunday afternoon painting elaborate designs on the egg shells we had saved and dried after extracting the contents for Christmas baking. My dad would keep reminding me to keep my hand as open as possible: “Never hold anything too tightly.  Christmas, Easter, crib and cross, God holds us all.” And yet, for himself, as we read in the Letter to the Philippians, “Christ Jesus,*Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.  Rather, he emptied himself,…”  For today’s prayer, consider a prayer of praise to Jesus. You might use phrases like those found in the Divine Praises, a prayer said during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament ” Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. ..”  You might use phrases related to events in today’s readings. like praise to Jesus, triumphant; praise to Jesus, courageous….  If one of those phrases calls you to deeper reflection, follow the Spirit’s lead.

 

23

Saturday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

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Today’s gospel contains Caiaphas’ judgment: “…it is better for you
that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” The passage continues, stating that, unknown to himself, Caiaphas’ words prophesied that Jesus would die not just for one nation, “but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.”  On this last day before Holy Week, let us pray for all God’s children, including the people of the Abrahamic covenant: Jews, Christians and Muslims; families and people who are isolated; peacemakers and people enmeshed in war and other forms of violence; those in final preparation to enter the church and for their families and friends and, finally for the Franciscan Friars, the works of St. Anthony’s Guild, and for all who have joined in these Lenten prayers.

22

Friday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

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Today’s gospel continues the episode we read yesterday. Throughout the gospels, we hear Jesus saying it is not the time or the hour for him to be glorified, which is the way he refers to his passion and death and so after asserting his union with the Father, Jesus crosses the Jordan and stays at the site where John first baptized.  Recalling the signs that Jesus performed, many of John’s followers began to believe in him. Until Holy Week when we focus full attention on Jesus, our Lenten reflections focus on our attitudes and actions, repenting what needs to be changed, building on what needs to be strengthened or expanded, so the questions of these last three days before Palm Sunday are the large questions of our life. As we’ve seen in the gospels, Jesus was conscious of revealing his identity over time. For today, I’m inviting you to choose one of two prayer prompts.  Reflect on your personal timeline.  You might want to write or draw a list of memorable events.  Consider how you got through the hard moments, how the insights and experienced shaped you. What characteristics mark the most joyous moments?  Give praise to God who has companioned you through all the events of your life and will guide your next steps, whether.  An alternate prayer might be to join those persons in the gospel who were moved to believe in Jesus because of his works.  Spend time praying over the work of Jesus that most touches your heart today. What draws you to that story? What challenge or blessing comes your way because of that miracle?      

21

Thursday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

Saying that Abraham rejoiced to see his time, Jesus provoked his followers to object since Jesus was not yet fifty.  Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.”  When the crowd attempted to stone him, Jesus countered “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” Their answer was that Jesus blasphemed, making himself God.  That Jesus is truly both God and man is Jesus’ great work, God’s promise delivered, but only those blessed with the gift of faith can acknowledge this gift. This is the mystery that centers our lives; spend some time reflecting on what experience of this mystery touches you today. What does it mean that Jesus experienced the wonder of childhood, the joy of friends and wedding celebrations, the loneliness of not being understood, of being rejected or called a heretic?  What does it mean that God in whom “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:288)  has become so intimate with us? 

20

Wednesday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

The readings of the next three days point to Jesus as the fulfilment of the covenant and the prophecies.  Jesus claims his authority comes from the Father.  Jesus says to those who believe in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Reflect on how your relationship with Jesus frees you.  Consider your experience of personal prayer and liturgy, the sacraments, Jesus’ person and teachings in scripture. Is there anything that keeps you from being free?  Besides sin, our holding on to guilt or shame, living in fear, echoes of past warnings of a God who is always out to get us or voices that told us we were never good enough can interfere with our freedom and so affect our relationship with God and one another.  If you recognize some barriers to your freedom, ask Jesus to show you the truth about yourself as God sees you and loves you.

19

Tuesday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

On this feast of St. Joseph, we will hear either the account of Joseph’s dream vision of an angel telling him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife or the desperate search Joseph and Mary made when, unknown to them, the pre-teen Jesus remained in the Jerusalem temple, speaking to the elders. When Mary asked if he hadn’t realized she and Joseph spent days worrying about him as they returned to the site of their pilgrimage, Jesus asked: “Did you not know I must be in my Father’s house?”  The gospel concludes by telling us that Jesus returned to Nazareth and was obedient to his parents.  We’ve named Joseph as model, husband and father, faithful to God and his family, worker and provider, As I prayed with these readings, I developed a new appreciation for Joseph as improviser, as flexible as he was faithful.  When my life has changed in unexpected ways, whether the change is large or small, welcomed or not, I have found myself coming to prayer with a new title for God and an open-ended question.   “God, of surprises, what now?”  Joseph gives us a way to find next steps.  If you’re experiencing change, what dreams or visions of possibilities come to mind? What limits and challenges?  Sometimes the awakening of long held desires to learn something, to resume a long-abandoned art can be God’s whispering us to enjoy a fuller life.  Adjusting to challenges, processing hurt and anger can make us less judgmental and more compassionate. Bringing our questions to God is ultimately an act of worship, acknowledging our faith in God’s providence and love, which is everlasting, intimate and mysterious.

18

Monday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

In today’s gospel we hear the account of the woman accused of adultery whom the elders bring to Jesus to test whether he will support the law that called for her to be stoned. Jesus delays an answer, writing something in the sand, He then invites the person without sin to cast the first stone. One by one, the men leave and Jesus tells the woman he would not condemn her so she should go on her way and avoid sin.  There has been much speculation about what Jesus might have written in the sand, but the more pressing question for us is what is God writing on our hearts as we listen to the story.  Are we still judging others? Do we need to request or give forgiveness?  What attitudes or actions need to be changed and what will help us in that effort?

17

Sunday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

On this day of celebrating the last of the Scrutinies for the catechumens we get a hint of the events we will remember during Holy Week. Even after telling Martha that anyone who believes in him will live, Jesus weeps at the death of his friend Lazarus. Asking that the stone that sealed the tomb be rolled away, Jesus calls Lazarus to come out of death, out of the tomb. Jesus then asks the crowd to remove the burial cloths which still bound Lazarus. Because of Lazarus, many came to believe in Jesus.  We have seen Jesus weep in sorrow and then exercise his power over death.  Like the friends who freed Lazarus from the burial cloths, we are called to be part of Jesus’ ministry.  Is there someone who needs a phone call or text or other outreach from you today? If you have been part of a parish community preparing catechumens, pray for them and reach out to them after Easter to help them become active members of the local community. 

16

Saturday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

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As the debate about who Jesus is continues, some authorities decide to have him arrested.  When guards return to the leaders without Jesus, they explain: “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” Noting that none of the Pharisees who were educated in the law had become followers of Jesus, unlike the guards and uneducated crowds. Nicodemus, a Pharisee who had gone to see Jesus under cover of night reminded the group that they had not really investigated what Jesus was doing, a response that drew derision.  What attracts you to Jesus? Pray for those who will be received into the church at Easter and for those who are considering returning to the church and for those who for safety or position cannot openly express their faith.   

15

Friday

MARCH

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

As we move closer to Holy Week, our gospel stories focus on the mounting opposition to Jesus and the ongoing debates about his identity. noting that no one has stopped Jesu from speaking openly, some speculate that the authorities have realized Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one who had long been expected.  We would say yes, he is the Christ… There is so much more we would say.  As in any relationship, we find ourselves more or less relaxed at times, more casual or formal and that is true of our prayer since our relationship with God is a living relationship. For today’s prayer, I invite you to make up a litany, addressing Christ by name or title, then finishing with a statement of fact, personal memory, gratitude or petition.  Don’t worry about the number of statements, two or three would suffice, but if the Spirit moves you, continue the list.  You may want to jot down your thoughts as a start for another day’s prayer when you’re feeling unsettled, but if writing makes the prayer feel more like an assignment, skip this step.  Each of these reflections comes out of my own prayer, so to help you start your litany, I’ll share a few of my phrases,

Jesus, Story-teller, bless my words and those who read them.

Jesus, healer, bless Sr. Mary C. and the hospital staff who care for her.

Lord, partner in my childhood tap recitals, my knees have aged, but you still partner me and keep my spirit dancing.

Good Shepherd, let your gentle voice comfort the children struggling to grow up and grow out of war and violence.

14

Thursday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

Today’s readings call us to worship God, remembering God’s constancy, accepting Jesus and the truth he preached, the graced life he continues to offer. Jesus reminds them that through the ages, others have testified on his behalf, starting with Moses and the law, continuing through the prophets, including John the Baptist and Jesus’ own works.  In what is more lament than question, Jesus asks the crowd, “How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?”  Jesus’ phrase, “Praise from God “ is probably as startling to us as it was to his original audience, but, when we think about it, we have heard that praise when Jesus has called his followers – his contemporaries and those who follow them – “friends,” “chosen,” “the sheep of my flock,” brothers and sisters whom he taught to pray, “Our Father.”  Ask God to help you identify anything that might keep us from following Christ wholeheartedly.

 

13

Wednesday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

His ardent followers and the nervous authorities wonder at the power and authority with which Jesus preaches and heals.  In today’s gospel, Jesus explains that power in term of relationship with his father: “I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” Identifying his work and judgments with the father’s sounds blasphemous to those who think Jesus is just another man, for his words suggest he is equal to God.  For those of us who have been baptized, entering into the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have been brought into intimate relationship with the Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We affirm this relationship whenever we make the sign of the cross.   Spend some time reflecting on your prayer life and your awareness of God’s presence.  How do you address God? Are there occasions when you are particularly aware of one person of the Trinity?  Some icons depict the Trinity as engaged in a circle dance.  As Christians, we are entered into that circle dance.  What’s the pace and style of your sacred life dance? A quick, but measured step? A spinning, centering swirl? As a young woman, I enjoyed dancing so I often settle into evening prayer by thinking about the days many steps and kind of dance God and I are about to engage in. Of course, metaphors have limits and God would never invite us to the one foot in, one foot out Hokey Pokey dance, for our God who is all in all will catch us up.

12

Tuesday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

After thirty-eight years of waiting, lying by the healing waters of the  pool at Bethsaida, it was hard to imagine that something would change.  So when Jesus asked if he wanted to be healed, the man explained why it wouldn’t happen.  Healing only happened when the water was stirred, when it became, as they said, living water.  The first person in that living water got the blessing.  On his own, the crippled man was never fast enough. Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.”  Cured, the man walked away, though he was stopped on his way home and questioned because carrying a mat violated the Sabbath. Not knowing who Jesus was, the man said his healer had told him to get up, take up his mat and walk, We often come to know and give witness to God because of the gifts we have received, the greatest gift being Jesus.  Spend some time today considering how you give witness to your faith. Very often that witness is given more in works of service than in words. Your meatless Fridays, other foods or drinks and activities you might have changed for Lent might cause your friends to ask questions. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide your answer; your words may be the first invitation to faith your friend has ever received.

11

Monday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

As the number of his followers and detractors grew, Jesus must have felt both fatigue and urgency.  Having cured many people in Judea, Jesus returned to Galilee, where crowds waited for him.  There was so much more that Jesus had to teach, so much more about the father’s love that they had to know and believe, but a royal official was standing before Jesus, begging him to come and heal his dying son.   Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” But then Jesus dismissed the man, promising that his son would live. On the way home servants greeted him, saying his son’s fever had broken. Many came to believe because of such miraculous signs.  Diagnosed with a neurological illness for which there was no medical remedy, a friend of mine went on a pilgrimage, hoping that she might be cured. When she returned, I asked her how she was managing her disappointment.  Surprised, my friend explained that although she had not been cured, she had been healed and was not only peace-filled but eager to spend the next year visiting friends and with the help of new technology completing some art projects.  What need do you have for healing?  Loss of opportunities or abilities, painful memories, old habits that interfere with our growth or relationships?  Jesus identified himself as the physician who longs to heal us.          

10

Sunday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

The gospel account of the cure of a blind man and his witness to Jesus’ power calls catechumens and all of us to acknowledge the power of God and the dignity of all God created. Used to not speaking to blind beggars, the townspeople continue to talk about the newly sighted man as if he were not present, debating whether it is the same man or someone who looks like him. The man identifies himself, relates his cure first to the strangers and later to the Pharisees who wonder how Jesus has such power. With the authority of experience, the now sighted man teaches the teachers that only a devout man could work such wonders. Jesus empowers all of us to do good. Sometimes that power comes from managing a difficult situation, getting through a loss, experiencing a life change. Sometimes, it’s a matter of learning and growing. Thank God for all the ways you have grown in God’s grace and ask the Spirit to continue that growth.

9

Saturday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

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Today’s gospel presents us with two people with very different prayer styles. The Pharisee begins by thanking God that he is not like other people; he then lists his virtuous practices.  The tax collector remains in the back of the temple, repeating, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Jesus notes that only the tax collector was justified.  God never forces mercy, love or forgiveness on us. For the lesson, Jesus uses extreme types; most of us have moments of arrogance and moments of remorse, but we usually find ourselves somewhere between the two.  We can acknowledge our sins and, thank God that, in the words of Psalm 139, we are “wonderfully made,” for God made us good and, forgiving our sins and faults, calls us to grow in goodness.  Confident that God is closer to you than a loving parent or dance partner, ask God to direct your next grace-filled steps.

8

Friday

MARCH

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

Asked by a scribe to identify the first of the commandments, Jesus recites the schema, the Jewish prayer of praise: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”  Jesus then recited the second great commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. The scribe affirms the commandments Jesus mentioned as “worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” In turn, Jesus tells the scribe, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” We see in this passage our spiritual heritage from the Jews whom Pope Saint John Paul II called “our elder brothers and sisters in faith.”  Pray for the Jewish and Palestinian people and for all who live in the land where Jesus walked.  Pray for all your ancestors—those in your family and those figures whether public figures or friends whose values you learned and made your own.

7

Thursday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

Often, like the ancient psalmist, we complain that God is too distant and too silent, but sometimes God’s power can be overwhelming. That seems to be the case in today’s gospel when Jesus cures a man who had been mute. Amazed at Jesus’ power, some suggest he is using demonic power. Jesus refutes the objection with logic: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” Some of us will recall that Abraham Lincoln used that phrase to describe the states’ divisions over slavery; all of us are keenly aware of conflicts within and among nations.  Take some time to pray for the people suffering because of one of those conflicts and pray for the conflict’s resolution. It is easy to become overwhelmed at bad news over which we have no influence, so I invite you to engage in a second more personal reflection and action.  Is there some healthful, helpful or even joyful activity you have put off for another time?  Drink more water, clean off your desk, belt out the song that’s been running through your mind the last few days, write a poem. Whatever you do, give thanks to God for the time and action. Lent is a time for repentance and for adopting life-enhancing practices that will continue long after the season ends.

6

Wednesday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

Today’s readings give us a sense of God’s long-view and generations of care for us.  While their contemporaries worried about offending unknown gods, the Israelites marveled at the closeness of their God who answered them when they called out and gave them the commandments as guide and tutor in righteous living. Jesus announces that he has come to fulfill the law and the prophets.   Like Moses, Jesus tells his disciples to follow the laws and teach them to their children. As followers of Christ, we have been called we have been baptized into his death and resurrection and called to share in Christ’s weapon as priest prophet and king. As priest we are called to be a holy people, offering prayers to God and service to one another.  others. As prophets, we are called to be witnesses to the truth of God’s mercy and love and to work for justice. Prophetic work has many forms like voting, identifying injustice in a blog, defending someone who is the subject of office gossip. As king we are called to exercise whatever authority we have with wisdom and charity.  Sometimes this may be just authority over ourselves and our possessions; sometimes it may be an official role in a family, a community or a job or the influence we have on our friends.  With Christ as companion and example, consider how you take on these roles. 

5

Tuesday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

Peter’s outspoken comments and questions give me some comfort, reminding me that there is nothing I can’t bring to God in prayer.  In today’s gospel, Peter asks Jesus how many times he must forgive someone who sins against him. We can almost hear Peter’s self-congratulations for his generosity and cleverness in suggesting seven times since seven signified completeness.  Jesus’ answer, seventy-seven times is less precise, more exacting, infinitely generous.  That, of course, is Jesus’ point: forgive and you will be forgiven.  Let us pray: Lord, forgive us the times we keep count, feeding our anger, nursing grudges, making our vision so small, holding our fists so tight that we fail to grasp your love and forgiveness and so, empty-handed and hard-hearted, we cannot share your generosity.  Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, help us to change.

4

Monday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

In today’s first reading, Naaman, a Syrian army leader and a Gentile, journeys to Israel to ask the prophet Elisha to cure him of his leprosy.  Accompanied by his men, Naaman arrives at the prophet’s house where he is given a message from Elisha telling him to bathe seven times in the Jordan River.  Having expected an immediate and showy result, Naaman turns away, angry and disappointed.  After his servants suggest he would have followed more difficult steps, Naaman does as he was instructed and is cured.  He then returns to Elisha, professing his belief in the God of Israel. God’s comfort and direction often come to us in the most ordinary ways. Perhaps friends have recognized your talent for storytelling or painting; someone might have suggested a bereavement or other support group.  A headline might have inspired you to action.   Pray for the wisdom and grace to recognize the presence of God in whatever way it comes to you today.

3

Sunday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

Halfway through Lent, I find myself like a child on a road trip asking if we’re there yet, if   I’ve achieved my goals, kept my resolutions, at least halfway. Settling into prayer with a sigh, I imagine Jesus answering with a sigh of his own, “I am the Way. You have received the living water that I promised the Samaritan woman. When I told the Samaritan woman that I knew she had had five husbands and was living with someone who was not her husband, she went around her village, telling everyone that the Messiah had come and he told her everything she had ever done. I know your starts and stumbles, your trust and love. This is a Lenten journey, a life journey.”  If at today’s liturgy, you heard the gospel story of the Samaritan woman at the well, then you also said special prayers for the men and women who have been preparing to receive Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist at the Easter vigil. For the next two Sundays, there will be similar rites with special prayers and readings. Pray for all who will come into full communion in our church this Easter

2

Saturday

MARCH

TODAY'S REFLECTION

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Today’s gospel recounts the parable of the Prodigal Son, now often referred to as the prodigal father, for the father holds back nothing of his goods, time, attention and heart from his younger impetuous son.  Having wasted the inheritance he demanded from his father, the younger son has been forced to earn his living tending pigs. Eventually the son decides to return home, asking his father to receive him not as a son, but as a servant, but his elderly father had been keeping watch and, after ordering the servants to prepare a feast, runs to greet him.  The older son objects, but the father reminds the older son that everything the father owned was also his to use and share, but they needed to celebrate the son who was dead to the family and is now alive.  Since Lent calls us to repentance, we may come to today’s prayer like the younger son, acutely aware of our sins and bad habits.  Take a moment to consider the virtues and practices you need to follow Jesus more closely.  The kindness, courage, truthfulness, patience and generosity to which you aspire are all possessed by God, who, like the father in the story, says what I have is yours. We can’t overwhelm God, but we can overwhelm ourselves, so start with one change you want to make.  For instance, if you find yourself routinely being judgmental toward a coworker or inattentive to a friend or colleague, consider the circumstances that might get you off course.  Fatigue or stress because of the time of day or the tasks that lie ahead may be beyond our control, but being aware of our patterns can help us to pause before speaking. Include in your evening prayer gratitude for small changes. God is with us in the details of our lives.

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Friday

MARCH

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

As we move through Lent, the readings show the mounting danger that Jesus faces. Telling the parable of the vineyard owner whose tenants killed the son he had sent to collect the produce, Jesus asks the crowd to recall the scripture that proclaims: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes.”  After Pentecost, Peter will remind the Christian community that by our Baptism, we have become “living stones built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” How do you experience Christ as the cornerstone, the foundation of your life?  Consider your daily actions and interactions, your prayer, the lens through which you listen to and respond to the day’s news. If in your prayer you recall one time or event when Christ’s presence brought comfort or challenge or joy to you, spend a few moments with the memory.  Conclude by giving thanks to God who has called you to be a living stone, faithful witness to our faithful God.

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Thursday

FEBRUARY

TODAY'S REFLECTION

Today is a day of reckoning. This February has an extra day, the leap day that syncs our calendar with the astronomical calendar. In today’s familiar gospel story of the rich man and the poor man, Lazarus, justice ultimately prevails, challenging common assumptions about poverty and privilege. Covered with sores and hungry, Lazarus lay at the door of the rich man who, preoccupied with his fine clothes and banquets, paid no attention to the poor man.  One night both men died. Lazarus, now well clothed, dined at Abraham’s table while the rich man was confined to the netherworld, facing flaming torment.  He begged Abraham to send Lazarus to him with a drop of water to cool his tongue. When Abraham refused, the rich man then asked if Lazarus could warn his brothers. Abraham refused, saying they had warnings from Moses and the prophets.  Christ’s example and teaching called us to serve others. Spend some time reflecting on your service, whether you minister to other people or contribute to service organizations. Pray for those individuals and causes. you support.  Remember that voting, writing blogs or letters to the editor, contacting political leaders and other forms of advocacy can also be important ways to advance justice and peace.    

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Wednesday

FEBRUARY

TODAY'S REFLECTION

Families!  The older we get, the more we realize how we have been shaped by our families and those who knew us in our earliest years.  In the gospel, the mother of James and John wants the best for her sons, so she asks Jesus to guarantee they will share Jesus’ honor, one sitting at his right, the other at his left.  Ascribing that power to the Father, Jesus asks the young men if they can drink of the chalice that he will drink from.  Unhesitatingly, they say yes.  Spend some prayer time today thinking about those people and events that have shaped you and your life choices.  Remembering that the Holy Spirit directs our prayer, ask if there are new choices to make, perhaps something you need to tend to for the sake of your health.  You might want to contact one of the persons you remembered in prayer. Pray for those people for whom you are an influence.

 

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Tuesday

FEBRUARY

TODAY'S REFLECTION

In Psalm 50, our responsorial psalm, God promises first to draw our attention to the ways we have turned away from doing good and then to guide us to correct our course.  When we accept the correction, our life becomes “a sacrifice of praise” that glorifies God. During Lent and other times of spiritual reflection and renewal, we often realize that we have fallen short of our goals to strengthen our practices of prayer and service or to turn away from those practices that cause harm to ourselves, to others or to our relationship with God.  Pay attention to even small improvements; God has already noticed and wants you to be encouraged by these graced moments. 

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Monday

FEBRUARY

TODAY'S REFLECTION

At the beginning of today’s gospel Jesus’ command seems daunting: “Be merciful just as your father is merciful.” Jesus then reminds us to avoid judgment and  offer forgiveness. He concludes “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.” There is, as the hymn declares, a wideness to God’s mercy, but there is also a wildness to God’s mercy, which cannot be contained, but must be received and shared.  Tonight, when you reflect on your attitude and actions throughout the day, take some time to review the day’s blessings. Some people find it helpful to make a list or keep a gratitude journal.  Notice even the smallest blessings, like a beautiful sunset, a text from a friend, a restful night’s sleep.  

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Sunday

FEBRUARY

TODAY'S REFLECTION

In the gospel account of the Transfiguration we see a glimpse of Easter glory. Moses and Elijah appear, indicating that Jesus fulfils the promise of the law and the prophets.  Peter, James and John, who have accompanied Jesus are understandably frightened.  Impulsive as ever, Peter suggests building tents for Moses, Elijah and Jesus, but peak experiences are fleeting.  Under cloud cover, Moses and Elijah depart and a voice calls out: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”  Spend some time today reflecting on the Eucharist; consider how our communion strengthens our union with our God and with one another and how that sharing unites us and calls us to service and personal transformation. Saint Augustine invited people to the Eucharist with the exhortation: “”Be what you see and receive what you are—the body of Christ.” 

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Saturday

FEBRUARY

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

In today’s first reading from Leviticus, we hear Moses’ proclamation: “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.”  Through the gift of law as guidance and a pledge of God’s own fidelity, God forms a community of faithful followers.  Following Jesus’ call, we have a rich heritage of texts, prayers and rituals, many of which have their roots in the tradition of the Jewish people who, in the words of Pope John Paul II, are “our elder brothers and sisters in the faith of Abraham.”  What nourishes your faith?  Consider sacraments, liturgy, scripture, private and communal prayer, parish events.  Pray for Pope Francis and other church leaders, workers and members, especially those who have ben away from church and the sacraments for a while.

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Friday

FEBRUARY

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

Weekly church bulletins sometimes carry a reminder that our Sunday behavior of prayer and neighborliness needs to carry on throughout the week. In today’s gospel, Jesus directs us to consider whether someone has something against us and to reconcile with that person before we come to worship.  This directive calls us to reflect on both our actions and our attitude.  Consider the people you encounter on a regular basis. Is there someone you try to avoid?  Do you look away from people who are disabled or unhoused? Do you engage in workplace or neighborhood gossip?  Consider how God views the person you avoid or find difficult to encounter.  Pray for that person’s needs and for your own change of heart. 

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Thursday

FEBRUARY

TODAY'S REFLECTION

A friend once described the Christian life as discovering who you are and whose you are. In today’s gospel we witness Peter, who at the time was still called Simon, making just such a discovery. Jesus poses the question, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers that Jesus is the Messiah, an answer far beyond Peter’s own understanding. as Jesus observes: “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,” Consider your relationship with Jesus. Is it formal or informal?  What name do you use to address Jesus? There are no right or wrong answers, but the answers may give you new insights into your prayer style.  Is there a title for Jesus that you no longer use or a new title you’d like to try out? Is Jesus calling you into a different sort of relationship because of recent growth or loss? Know that whatever name or names you use, Jesus is always your friend, brother and companion.

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Wednesday

FEBRUARY

TODAY'S REFLECTION

For today’s responsorial prayer, we pray Psalm 51, asking for God’s mercy and forgiveness, offering ourselves to God: “My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.” With our cultural emphasis on self-actualization, humility is often misunderstood and almost always underappreciated. In humility we recognize that who we are is gift from God. We also recognize that we bear some responsibility in shaping ourselves and using God’s gifts.  In humility, we are self- aware but not self-conscious.  In humility we can recognize and follow the prophetic voices that challenge us to be better persons and to work for justice and peace.  Spend some time today remembering people who have inspired you.  Consider persons you’ve known personally as well as public figures who have advocated for justice and peace.  Give thanks for the blessings received and ask God to keep you open to future blessings.

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Tuesday

FEBRUARY

TODAY'S REFLECTION

In today’s gospel, Jesus teaches his followers the Our Father, reminding them that God knows our needs even before we name them.  Jesus concludes his teaching by telling the apostles that we will be forgiven by God if we forgive others.  That is, of course, exactly what we request when we pray “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.”  Offering forgiveness is a deliberate act, a skill.   It is gift to the one who is forgiven and to the one who forgives because offering forgiveness requires courage, some healing and openness of heart. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting; it does mean not holding a grudge; it means wishing the other person good rather than harm.  Give thanks for the times you’ve received forgiveness and, if you need to forgive someone ask God for help in the task. 

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Monday

FEBRUARY

TODAY'S REFLECTION

In today’s first reading, God reveals our life goal: “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.” That simple and profound statement reminds us that we were created in God’s image and made new in Christ, called to live out that holiness in our public and private lives.  As we continue our Lenten renewal, we are aware of a world in need of renewal and peace.  Much of the world is involved in war or armed conflicts.  Many nations find themselves in a state of transition with approximately 25% of the world expected to participate in elections during 2024.  Political campaigns often base their appeal by presenting negative, fear-inducing representations of their opponent and their positions.  The ongoing negativity can be dispiriting, even alienating, but holiness requires political and personal engagement for the common good.  Pray for elected officials and civil servants, including first responders.  If you are about to participate in electing leaders, take some time to review and pray over the choices before you.

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Sunday

FEBRUARY

TODAY'S REFLECTION

When I was a child, today’s gospel reading filled me with confusion and anxiety. It seemed unfair that Jesus had to contend with forty days of fasting and fighting temptations in a desert and it seemed impossible that I would be able to endure forty cold pre-spring days without my marshmallow-laden hot chocolate.  Decades later I welcome this annual reminder of Christ’s invitation to lifelong conversion. Jesus and some of my friends continue to nudge me into approaching with courage and an open-heart life’s experiences of banquets and deserts, of friendship and isolation.  Today’s gospel reading reminds us that John the Baptist, who had prepared the way for Jesus was imprisoned when Jesus began his ministry of preaching and healing.  In your prayer today give thanks for those who have supported you in your life journey.  I also invite you to include in today’s prayer everyone who might use one or all of these reflections; we are one in the Spirit, companions to one another as we follow Jesus. Know that each day of Lent I will hold you in my prayers.

 

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Saturday

FEBRUARY

TODAY'S REFLECTION

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 Show me your friends, and I will tell you what you are.  Intended to guide us to choose our friends wisely, this proverb runs the risk of being used to justify j quick judgments about others. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow him. Without hesitation, Levi leaves his work. When Levi holds a banquet for Jesus, the Pharisees and scribes challenge Jesus for eating and drinking with sinners and tax collectors, an action that seems to make Jesus an outsider among outsiders.  Jesus sets the record straight, calling himself a physician who has come “not to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.” In the transformative mercy and love of Jesus, there are no outsiders.  Say a prayer tonight for those who are marginalizedIf you know someone who feels an outsider from the church, invite them to come with you to a Lenten prayer service or talk or a Mass.  We are all in need of Christ, the divine physician, and through Baptism we have all been made Christ’s physician assistants.

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Friday

FEBRUARY

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

Lenten observances are individual and communal, witness and service, seasonal and life-lasting.  In addition to meatless Fridays, we often take on individual practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, the traditional works of Lent.  These practices make us more mindful of how we use our time, our talent and resources in Lent and in ordinary time; the freed resources can be shared with others.  As we move through these first few days of Lent, review your resolutions. If you are fasting from a particular food or activity like going to movies or watching television, use the saved time and money to help others. In today’s first reading, the prophet Isaiah promises that when we see and meet the needs of strangers and attend to our friends and relatives, “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed.”

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Thursday

FEBRUARY

TODAY'S REFLECTION

Choose life!  Moses defined that choice as following God’s law; Jesus identified himself as the way, the truth, and the life.  Before we could make any choices, before we were born, God chose to give us life, a gift God renews each day.  For today’s prayer, invite God to join you in remembering one of your life experiences, one gift of God’s gift of days.  Use whatever memory comes to mind, whether slight or important, distant or recent.  Recall the details of the setting, people who might have been with you, how you felt during the experience.   Now, knowing that God was with you then as now, consider how God viewed that experience.  Did God delight in your learning to read, smile encouragingly at your first attempt at carpentry?  Did God offer a silent toast of grace and trust as you started a new job or entered a new relationship?  If your memory focused on being hurt or hurting someone, God saw your struggle, wished you healing and reconciliation; if the hurt remains, God still wishes you healing. In closing thank God for blessings received and ask for guidance in deciding a next step.  Is there a virtue you want to practice? An apology that you need to give or receive?  A friend you should call?  Sometimes in remembering with us, God guides us to a next step.

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Wednesday

FEBRUARY

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

Love is in the air.  This year’s coincidence of Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday alters many of our traditional Valentine’s Day customs, but the popular Valentine’s Day slogan captures the essence of Ash Wednesday and of our Christian vocation.  Today we come to a church stripped of flowers; we are marked by ashes; we fast and abstain from eating meat because our loving Lord calls out to us: “Return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; rend your hearts, not your garments.”   Love has always been in the air; in love, God created the world and all of us and, when the time was right, love broke into our history with Jesus sharing our everyday learnings, joys, frustrations and sorrows, healing and teaching, laying down his life and rising, inviting us to join in the life of loving service to God and one another.  The divine proposal has been delivered to each and all of us. What will you do this Lent to open your heart to receive and share that love?

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Tuesday

FEBRUARY

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TODAY'S REFLECTION

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday! Are you ready to test your knowledge about Lent? Then click the video above – and let’s play Franciscan Lenten Jeopardy! Even if you don’t know all the answers, you’re still a winner because it’s a great way to begin your Lenten journey. Spoiler alert: Did you know that burying a banner in the soil during Lent is a practice that began in the Middle Ages? Tune in to learn more!   

Franciscan Lenten Jeopardy is just the beginning. Join the Franciscan Friars tomorrow for our special streaming Ash Wednesday Mass from the St. Francis of Assisi Friary Chapel on West 31st Street in New York.

Reflections By Fran McManus, RSM

Fran McManus, RSM, is a member of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. She teaches literature and poetry writing in the Adult Education Program of St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Her poems have appeared in Re: A Journal of Ideas https://reideasjournal.com/sisterfranpoems and in The New York Writers Coalition Journal https://nywriterscoalition.org/journal/11357/12.

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