March 31, 2011

Read It:
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute,
and when the demon had gone out,
the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.
Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons.”
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself,
how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

Reflect on It: Today, Jesus knows the thoughts of those who are testing him. I think this should be a great comfort to many of us. Jesus already knows our thoughts. He knows what we need and what we are thinking. He will provide for those things. What comfort there is in that.

Pray about It: Sweet Jesus, help my thoughts to be always aligned towards the things and people that give you glory. Help to change the thoughts that are bad or inappropriate so that they are always toward you!

Live It! Challenge: Today, think only positive things.

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Wednesday, March 29

Read It:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away,
not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter
will pass from the law,
until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so
will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Reflect on It: Do you follow the commandments? Today's Gospel is about following God's law: The commandments. This law is not going to go away. Today's lesson is really simple: Follow the law of the land. If you obey the commandments, you will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Sometimes this seems so hard to really follow God's law, but it is within this law that we truly find freedom. These rules tell us more than what not to do, they tell us how to live, how to have moral lives and this is why if we follow them, we will be the greatest in the Kingdom.

Pray about It: Holy Spirit, come into my heart today and help me to LOVE the commandments that you give to us. Help me to see how they free me up to love you more. I ask this in your name. Amen.


Live It! Challenge: One of the best ways to see how you are living the commandments is by doing an examination of conscience. Today, use and examination of conscience based on the 10 commandments (I've pasted one below) and go to confession!

An Examination of Conscience
1. You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve. (The First Commandment teaches us to put God first in our lives)
How do I spend my time each day? Do I remember that God loves me? Do I remember to give thanks to God for all that I have received? Do I try to love the people God has placed in my life? Do I have my priorities in order? Do I pray?
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. (The second commandment teaches us to speak carefully, to respect the power of of our words, and to say only what we mean to say.)
Do I pay attention to the way my words affect others? Do I misuse God's name to express anger or frustration? Do I make promises in God's name and then break them? Do I say hurtful things to others when I am angry or upset? Do I pay attention to the words I use and the impact they have on others? Do I put down other people?
3. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (The third commandment teaches us to take time to worship God regularly and frequently.)
Do I take time each week to pray and to worship God? Do I take part in Mass on a regular basis, at least every Sunday? Do I remember that my strength comes from God, and that without God I can do nothing? Do I take time to relax and appreciate all that God has given me? Do I make time to get to know my family and my friends better?
4. Honour your father and your mother (The fourth commandment teaches us to appreciate our parents)
Do I show respect for my parents, and for all who take care of me? Am I too critical of my parents? Do I do things to upset my parents on purpose?
5. You shall not kill. (The fifth commandment teaches us to appreciate life)
Do I value all people? Do I do things to undermine the value of other people? Do I do things that harm the life I have been given? Do I take good care of myself? Do I encourage other people to take good care of themselves?
6. You shall not commit adultery (The sixth commandment teaches us to keep our promises, and to protect our sexuality)
Do I value and respect my sexuality? Do I try to develop healthy relationships and avoid relationships where people are treated like things? Do I express my sexuality in appropriate ways? Do I respect the relationship God has set up between sexual intimacy and marriage?
7. You shall not steal (The seventh commandment teaches us to respect private property and the rights of others)
Do I consider the needs and rights of others every time I take or use anything? Do I respect public property and the property of other people? Do I take more than I need? Do I share generously? Do I do the best work that I am able to give? Does my lifestyle make life harder for other people?
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (The eighth commandment teaches us always to speak the truth and never to say more than is necessary)
Am I a truthful person? Do I try to mislead other people? Do I say things just to hurt other people? Do I gossip? Do I let gossip influence my opinions of other people?
You shall not covet your neighbor's partner (The ninth commandment teaches us to avoid inappropriate relationships)
Do I think of other people as whole people, or as just a body, or just a mind? Do I let myself be convinced by some media that a person's value is based on appearance, strength, or intelligence? Do I remember that all people are created in the image of God?
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's things. (The tenth commandment teaches us to find happiness where we are)
Do I let greed or envy take over my thoughts? Do I let others suffer so I can have more? Do I think my own wants are more important than other people's? Do I remember that it is who I am, not what I own, that is really important?

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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Read It:
Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
“Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
‘Pay back what you owe.’
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
But he refused.
Instead, he had him put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?’
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

Reflect on It: Today's Gospel is another lesson in forgiveness. I think often we are like the servant who is forgiven, but fails to forgive someone else who has a lesser offense against us. I know sometimes I walk right out of the confessional, and then think about who I'm mad at or who I won't forgive. Our Lord has been so merciful to us and then we fail to return the mercy to others. Who is someone in our lives who has only a little transgression against us, but is someone that we have failed to forgive.


Pray about It: Sweet Jesus, you teach us mercy because you never fail to forgive. Thank you for being so merciful and for ALWAYS forgiving me, even when I fail to forgive others.


Reflect on It: Pray today that you will be given the ability to see how you fail to forgive others.

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Monday, March 28, 2011

Read it:

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth:
“Amen, I say to you,
no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel
in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built,
to hurl him down headlong.
But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

Reflect on It:
For today's gospel, I want to specifically focus on the part that says no prophet is accepted in his native land. I think this is important to see when we reflect on our lives. In many ways, ya'll are prophets, bringing the Good News of the gospel to so many people: In your families, with your friends and in your schools. I know that this is often a hard place to be. To be a Christian, much less a Catholic in a world that's so far removed from the truth is tough. Today's gospel gives us the understanding that to be Catholic is to be radical. We are not going to be accepted in our native land. I think that once we accept that Christ calls us to a new life that's lived for him alone, this concept is not nearly as difficult. Sure, we may not be accepted always and we might be rejected, but Christ promises a life lived with him.

Pray about It: Holy Spirit, give me the power to BOLDLY proclaim the Good news today, wherever I am. Let me be fearless in the face of rejection. Walk with me, and help me to be someone who brings the gospels to others today.


Live It! Challenge: When have you been rejected because you stood up for your faith? Today, Spend some time thinking about the friends who are accepting of the fact that you love Jesus.

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Sunday, March 27, 2011

Read It:
Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar,
near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Jacob’s well was there.
Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.
It was about noon.

A woman of Samaria came to draw water.
Jesus said to her,
“Give me a drink.”
His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.
The Samaritan woman said to him,
“How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”
—For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.—
Jesus answered and said to her,
“If you knew the gift of God
and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘
you would have asked him
and he would have given you living water.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep;
where then can you get this living water?
Are you greater than our father Jacob,
who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself
with his children and his flocks?”
Jesus answered and said to her,
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again;
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst;
the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty
or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

Jesus said to her,
“Go call your husband and come back.”
The woman answered and said to him,
“I do not have a husband.”
Jesus answered her,
“You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’
For you have had five husbands,
and the one you have now is not your husband.
What you have said is true.”
The woman said to him,
“Sir, I can see that you are a prophet.
Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain;
but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”
Jesus said to her,
“Believe me, woman, the hour is coming
when you will worship the Father
neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
You people worship what you do not understand;
we worship what we understand,
because salvation is from the Jews.
But the hour is coming, and is now here,
when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth;
and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.
God is Spirit, and those who worship him
must worship in Spirit and truth.”
The woman said to him,
“I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ;
when he comes, he will tell us everything.”
Jesus said to her,
“I am he, the one speaking with you.”

At that moment his disciples returned,
and were amazed that he was talking with a woman,
but still no one said, “What are you looking for?”
or “Why are you talking with her?”
The woman left her water jar
and went into the town and said to the people,
“Come see a man who told me everything I have done.
Could he possibly be the Christ?”
They went out of the town and came to him.
Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.”
But he said to them,
“I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
So the disciples said to one another,
“Could someone have brought him something to eat?”
Jesus said to them,
“My food is to do the will of the one who sent me
and to finish his work.
Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here’?
I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest.
The reaper is already receiving payment
and gathering crops for eternal life,
so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together.
For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.’
I sent you to reap what you have not worked for;
others have done the work,
and you are sharing the fruits of their work.”

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him
because of the word of the woman who testified,
“He told me everything I have done.”
When the Samaritans came to him,
they invited him to stay with them;
and he stayed there two days.
Many more began to believe in him because of his word,
and they said to the woman,
“We no longer believe because of your word;
for we have heard for ourselves,
and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

Reflect about it: Today's Gospel is a story of great conversion. The Samaritan woman is interacting with Jesus and eventually realizes this! Once she realizes that she's speaking to our Messiah, she LEAVES behind her water jug and runs to tell of our salvation. Her heart is converted and she speaks of God's Glory to everyone. She has this huge conversion. No longer is she a sinner, but he repents and lives a new life!

Pray about it: Sweet Jesus, help me to encounter you in the Eucharist! Help me to live my life so that I leave behind and follow you in everything that I do.

Live It! Challenge: Today, pray about if you're willing to have your heart transformed by Christ this lent!

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Saturday, March 26, 2011

Read It:
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable.
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,
‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’
So the father divided the property between them.
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my father’s hired workers
have more than enough food to eat,
but here am I, dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I no longer deserve to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house,
he heard the sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused to enter the house,
his father came out and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.’”

Reflect on It: The prodigal son is a story that we hear often from Scripture, so much so that sometimes we just kind of glaze over it when we hear it. Recently I was on a retreat and heard an interesting take on this parable and I want to share it with you. Often, we are the prodigal son. We keep trying to live a life outside of the embrace of the Father. We convince ourselves that we would be happier if with life on the other side... We take everything that the Father has given us and pretend to be happy and then realize that it is only in his embrace that life makes sense or where we're truly happy. A life of "dissipation" is different for everyone, but no matter what it is, if it's living outside of the Lord's embrace, are we truly happy?

Pray about it: Lord, help me to realize that away from you, there is no life. Help me to be like the other Son who never leaves you and is faithful to you. You are the life and the love that I choose. Help me to see that true happiness lies in you and that my heart will be restless until it rests in you O, Lord.


Live It! Challenge: Today, cut out something that makes you happy, but that isn't from God.

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Solemnity of the Annunciation: March 25, 2011

Happy Feast of the Annunciation! The reflection for today is written by Irene!

Read It:
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:26-38

Reflect on It: Today we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation, when Mary said "yes" to becoming the mother of her Lord and our Savior! Mary spent her life learning about God and His Law (the Torah) and this prepared her to make her fiat (her Yes to God). Like Mary, we must continually strive to know God and His Word so that when God invites us to participate in His redeeming work, we can, like Mary, make our own fiat and say Yes!
The angel Gabriel reminds us that nothing is impossible with God; He can do the unlikely and improbably (like Elizabeth getting pregnant after so many years of barrenness) AND the impossible (the virgin Mary getting pregnant). Keep that in mind when it feels like God is asking you to do the impossible - He can still make it happen, He just wants you to say "Yes!" to helping!

Pray about It: Mother Mary, pray for me that I might be as courageous as you were when God calls on me to serve Him. Holy Spirit, give me the gift of Your courage!

Live It! Challenge: Pick one thing that God is asking you to change about your life this Lent and say "Yes!" to His Will. Then, say "Yes!" again tomorrow morning...and the next...and the next!

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Thursday, March 24

Read It:
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
“There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man’s table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.’
Abraham replied, ‘My child,remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing
who might wish to go from our side to yours
or from your side to ours.’
He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him
to my father’s house,
for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.’
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.’
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said,
‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded
if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Reflect on It: Today's Gospel is a good lesson in suffering. Lazarus suffered greatly on earth. When he died he went to Heaven. The rich man, received his due on earth and went to Hell. He kept asking to send a sign to his brothers, to which Abraham replied no, they already had Moses to tell them to repent. The lesson here is to embrace the suffering. It is not if you're rich that you can't be with Jesus in eternity, but it's more about the suffering. Lazarus had sores that were so bad dogs licked them. He suffered greatly and his reward for that suffering was in Heaven. God does not allow for our suffering to be pointless. Each of us will get what is due to us. For some it is now and for some it is in eternity.

Pray about It: Sweet Jesus, help me to always embrace the sufferings that you give me today so that I can be with you in eternity. I offer them for your greater glory!

Live It! Challenge: Read in one of the Gospels the story of the cruicfixion, starting with the Last Supper and Garden of Gesemane.

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Wednesday, March 23

Read It:
As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,
he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests
and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day.”

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her, “What do you wish?”
She answered him,
“Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”
Jesus said in reply,
“You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”
They said to him, “We can.”
He replied,
“My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reflect on It:

In today's Gospel, we see that Jesus did not come to be served but to serve. It was a radical concept even then! He gave his life as a ransom as many. Today's gospel is a great challenge for us to look at service. Not just service projects, or going to the soup kitchen, but do we truly have a servant's heart. Jesus was ALWAYS putting others before himself and he loved them with a sacrifical heart. That's what service is about: Being willing to die for another. Are we truly willing to die for our brothers and sisters in Christ? This may not mean physical death, but perhaps Christ is calling us to let our siblings choose the tv show you watch at night or for you to pray for the person at school that is so annoying. Death to yourself means little things like not taking the bigger peice of cake or choosing to have a tough conversation with someone. How can you be a servant to someone today?

Pray about it: Dear Lord, help me to know who you want me to serve today and how I can die to myself a little more each day. It is in dying that we are brought into eternal life.

Live it! Challenge: Today, choose to serve your parent (or another family member) by doing something for them today. Perhaps you can make them breakfast or do all the dishes in the sink, or do one of their chores.

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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Read It:

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Reflect on it: Today's Gospel is all about a big, fat piece of humble pie. In the Gospel, we are told to humble ourselves, so that we might be exalted. Our society today tells us to be people who do anything for attention,to speak of our greatness and to above all, be people who are self reliant and perfect. Today's Gospel reminds us that humility and humbleness of heart is truly what has us inherit eternal life.


Pray about it: Mama Mary! Help me to be small and meek and humble just like you are! Show me the way to your son so that we too may be humbled. Sweet Jesus, help us to be close to you through our humility and to do everything for the greater glory of God.

Live it! Challenge: Today, be humble about something that you do exceedingly well.

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Monday, March 21

Sorry this is a little later than the normal morning post! Still a good halfway through the day marker.

Read it:
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.”

Reflect on it:
Today, we see another challenge to really live as the people Christ intended us to be. We are told to stop condemning, forgive, to be merciful and to give. When we do these, they are given to us in return. The more we forgive, stop condemning and the more we give, the more we actually receive.

Pray about it: Today's prayer is called the prayer of St. Francis. I think it very closely goes along with the Gospel for today. Really pray the words...you world will probably be rocked from doing that.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Live it! Challenge: Today, think about a time in your life when you gave something of yourself and something was given to you because of that selflessness.

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Sunday, March 20, 2011

Read It:
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.”

Reflect on it: In today's gospel, we see the story of the transfiguration. Peter, James and John are privy to an awesome experience: The Lord of the Universe is transfigured before them...he's basically glowing and Moses and Elijah appeared to them! This is a huge deal. When a voice (God), comes from the clouds and says, "this is my Son, with whom I am well pleased", they lie prostrate. This prostration shows us what it is to be humbled in front of the Lord. It's a death to self and an acceptance of new life, lead with the Lord. We are called to be prostrate in front of the Lord.

Pray about it: Lord, help me to always be humbled by you and to die to myself in order to live for you. Transfigure my life, Lord Jesus and shine through it. I ask this in your name, Amen.

Live it! Challenge: Do something around your house today that you hate doing, so that you can die to yourself and rise with Christ. (Taking out the garbage, washing dishes, letting your sister or brother pick the TV show.

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March 19: Solemnity of Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Happy Feast Day of St. Joseph! Today is a day of celebration in the midst of our Lenten Fasting. It's a Solemnity, so today we celebrate the awesomeness.

Read It: (There are two gospel options today...I'm using this one for the blog)

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.
Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.

Reflect on It: St. Joseph was a humble man tasked to be the earthly Father of Jesus. He was a righetous man who really gave his life to be about his son. He did not divorce Mary when she told him she was pregnant. He is someone who did exactly what the angel of the Lord told him to do. Imagine the pressure of living with the Incarnation and the Immaculate Conception! Two perfect people, and there's good old St. Joseph, loving and protecting and honoring his family. We do not hear alot about St. Joseph in Scripture after Jesus' infancy and then when Jesus is in the temple, and I think this is a true reflection of who St. Joseph was...a humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord. He loved his family and he loved the Lord. May we have the same love and dedication to our family that he had to his.


Pray about it: Gracious Lord, help me to be small and humble like St. Joseph, but to have the gentle strength he had. I know he loved you and protected you. Help me to love you with his heart! St. Joseph, pray for us. Amen.

Live it! Challenge: Today, pray for your Father, whether he is an active or inactive part of your life. Then pray in thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father, for never leaving us.

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Friday, March 18

Read It:
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.”

Reflect on it:
Again, in the gospel, Christ is calling us to reconcile our differences with our "brother". He challenges us to reconcile differences before we offer gifts at his altar. I think this is a good reality check. How many times do we walk into mass FUMING at our parents or brother or sister because of something that they did? Before we can offer our gifts, we must quickly reconcile with those to whom we hold grudges.

Pray about it: Holy Spirit, send your fire down upon me so that I might be able to know who I need to reconcile with. Help me to seek to know whom I need to forgive, but also those whom I've hurt. Let me reconcile myself to you always!


Live it! Challenge: Today, figure out who you hold a grudge towards and make steps to forgive them.

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Thursday, March 17

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Read it:
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.”

Reflect on it: In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches us to be BOLD! He wants to give us all the things we ask for, and to be the love that we seek and to be open. How often are be truly BOLD with the Lord in what we ask him for? Now, asking for million dollars may not be a prayer that gets granted, but when we really look at our lives, in the times when we've been bold (and truly sought God's will), I hope that we can see that Lord didn't hand us a snake. I think we often aren't bold enough with the Lord. He made us, He can handle us asking for the desires of our hearts. All we have to is ask and then trust and be ready to HEAR the answer. When I was applying for jobs before I was at St. James, I asked the Lord rather boldly and in a totally sassyface way to let me work here and he granted it, because it was HIS will. I'm reminded of that boldness whenever I set foot in my office or with you guys! Be bold!


Pray about it: Lord, I know you will always grant the desires of my heart when they are pure and holy and good for me. Help those desires, become my will and my will to become your will. Amen.

Live It! Challenge: Today, be BOLD with the Lord and ask him to grant one of the desires of your heart, then let him take care of it.

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Wednesday, March 15

Read it:

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.”

Because the Gospel talks about the Old Testament directly, here is the other reading as well. Do not be daunted...it's a good read!

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.

Reflect on it:
Today's Gospel is all about repentance. Jonah went to Nineveh and preached repentance and all of Nineveh fasted, wore sackcloth and repented. While those in Nineveh repented, we too are called to repent, not because Jonah told us, but instead because God sent his Son to forgive! Jesus is a sign of repentance. Should we choose not to repent, then our punishment shall be worse than those of Nineveh Jesus is the sign of repentance to this generation. There's a song where the lyrics say: "Oh God let us be a generation that sees, see your face Oh God of Jacob". One of the greatest ways to see his face is through the sacraments, especially that of confession.

Pray it: Sweet Jesus, you are a sign for this generation. Help me to always know of your mercy and to trust that it is enough for me! Help me to truly repent of my sinful ways and to never sin again.

Live it! Challenge: Every Wednesday in Lent EVERY parish in the Diocese of Arlington and the Archdiocese of Washington is open for confession from 6:30-8:30 pm. Today's challenge is simple. Be someone who repents by going to confession.

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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Read It:

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.”

Reflect on it:
In today's Gospel, we see Jesus teaching the disciples THE perfect prayer, the Our Father. This is the way that Jesus prayed and he in turns gives it to us to pray to his Father. The real challenge in Our Father comes in the fact that we ask to have our trespasses forgiven, but then are in turn saying that we will forgive those who trespass against us. They actually work together here. It's really good check. Our forgiveness in many ways is dependent upon the fact that we first forgive others. Sometimes we recite this super fast during mass and don't actually think about the words.

Pray about it: Father, your son gives us the perfect prayer. Help us to be forgiving to others as you are forgiving to me. Help me to be able to actually believe and act on the words I'm praying as I pray the Our Father.

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.

Live it! Challenge: Who needs for you to forgive them? Today, write them a letter or speak to them, letting them know they are forgiven.

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Theresa weighs in on the 40 Challenge

Theresa is the very first teen to weigh in about the 40 challenge and what it's like going through lent without facebook. Thanks for being so brave Theresa.

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Monday, March 14

Read it:
Jesus said to his disciples:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left,
‘Depart from me, you accursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?’
He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous to eternal life.”

Reflect on it: Today's gospel is one that we've heard plenty of times before. It is all about how we see Christ in others and how we serve them. Christ loved us so much that he washed our feet for us. He humbly and with great love, stooped low and washed our feet, even though we were sinners. This is how we are called to love those around us. Perhaps we may never truly know a hungry person, or someone in prison, but Christ calls us to love those around us who are poor, both spiritually and physically. Who is the teen at school that needs you to come and sit with them at lunch, because they're not cool? Who is the teen at school that needs you to be their friend? Who is it that Jesus wants you to love every single day? Who's feet does he want you to wash?

Pray about it:
Holy Spirit, send your fire down upon me today so that I can see who you need me to love the way that you love me. Help me to do for the least of my brothers what they need. Let me love today with a heart full of love for you!

Live it! Challenge: Sit with someone at lunch that will make you not nearly as cool as you ar now.

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40 The Documentary Explained!

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Sunday, March 13, 2011

Read It:
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert
to be tempted by the devil.
He fasted for forty days and forty nights,
and afterwards he was hungry.
The tempter approached and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
He said in reply,
“It is written:
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth
from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took him to the holy city,
and made him stand on the parapet of the temple,
and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.
For it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you
and with their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus answered him,
“Again it is written,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”

Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain,
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you,
if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”
At this, Jesus said to him,
“Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.”

Then the devil left him and,behold,
angels came and ministered to him.

Reflect on it: Jesus is being lead into the desert and tempted in today's Gospel. Unlike so many of us, he resists the temptation, being FULLY dependent of God today. In every allurement that Satan offers Jesus, he is steadfast, trusting in the Father. So often we are tempted because the things that the evil one offers us look alluring. Jesus didn't fall for the temporary allurements that Satan offered. Instead, he stayed steadfast in all that the Lord offered him.


Pray about it: God, you protected your Son from temptation in the desert. Help me to be steadfast in my trust and faithfulness to you. Help me to ward off temptation and to always be faithful to you. Amen.


Live it! Challenge: Pray the St. Michael the Archangel prayer today whenever you feel tempted.

St. Michael the Archangel, protect us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray and do thou oh Prince of the Heavenly Host, cast into Hell Satan and all the evil Spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

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Saturday, March 12, 2011

Read It:
Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, “Follow me.”
And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.
Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house,
and a large crowd of tax collectors
and others were at table with them.
The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying,
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

Reflect on It:
Today, we see Levi answering everything to follow Jesus. He leaves everything to follow the Lord. When we look at the world, we're not people who are quick to leave things behind, so often, we'll say, sure God, I'll follow you if...or Sure God, I'll be okay with that if you give me this. Levi, with all the faith in the world hears his calls and follows our Lord and he holds a party for our Lord. What faith he has to truly follow him. Jesus calls us to leave everything behind and follow him. What are we holding back on in our lives that prevent us from following him?

Pray about it: Jesus, you ask us to follow you with an undivided heart. Rend the things in my life that keep me from trusting you and following you. Help me to believe that you have my best interest always at heart and to trust in your will. I want to follow you completely, help me to be like Levi who follows you and leaves behind everything else.


Live it! Challenge: Give away a material item that keeps you from following Christ.

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Friday, March 11, 2011

Read It:

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said,
“Why do we and the Pharisees fast much,
but your disciples do not fast?”
Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn
as long as the bridegroom is with them?
The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,
and then they will fast.”

Reflect on it: In today's Gospel, we see Jesus basically telling the disciples to be joyful that he is among them. Fasting is a sign of mourning and at that point in Scripture, Jesus was still walking with them, teaching them and loving them. To fast while he was with them is just ridiculous. He does not say to never fast, reminding them what when he departs with them, they should take up the fast, but for now, celebrate. In this season of fasting, prayer and almsgiving, we remember that at the heart of Lent, is joy. Joy in the Resurrection, joy for the bonds of slavery from sin being broken, joy for an eternity spend with the Lord in Heaven. The suffering and passion of our Lord is temporary, but the joy of eternity is forever.


Pray it: Holy Spirit, bring the fire of your love into my heart, so that I can remember that at the heart of the season that seems to bring such darkness, the light of Christ shines through. He is our joy and our love. Help to grow more joyful for the salvation that he promises us through his suffering.

Live it! Challenge: Bring someone joy today by leaving a post-it for them with something positive written on it.

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40: The Documentary

As a community, we are working together to do 40 acts of sacrifice, charity and almsgiving this Lent. Every teen or adult volunteer is invited to do one or more of the acts this year as part of your Lenten journey. Some are one time only, others are for all of Lent. As you do these acts, please video tape yourself and send them onto me at eanderson@stjamescatholic.org or emandersoncym@gmail.com. I'm hoping to compile them into a documentary at the end. I want to know if it was easy or hard, if you know why it was on the list, what your thoughts are about it etc.

If you'd like to take one of the 40 things on the list, please just leave a comment below. If you see initials next to something, that means that someone has already taken it. If it's crossed off, it's been completed.

40:
1. Get up on first ring of alarm (no snoozing (EJ/IM)
2. Be kind to siblings (MH)
3. No texting week (EA and DJ)
4. No texting for all of Lent
5. No facebook for all of Lent (TD)
6. No meat for all of Lent (DJ)
7. No slacking at school (SD)
8. Additional Daily mass per week (EA)
9. No sweets for all of Lent: JL, MB
10. Fasting every Friday of Lent
11. Attend Friday Stations of the Cross SD
12. Go to confession
13. Pray a Rosary PO/BH
14. Holy Hour
15. Pray a Divine Mercy Chaplet
16. Being on time to Youth Group
17. Read the Readings BEFORE mass (GRL, JKL)
18. 10 minutes of prayer Daily (A.O.)
19. No buying sweets/candy
20. No fun until Homework is done each day. BH
21. Read the passion narratives in the Gospels.
22. Read this blog
23. No Glee: KB
24. Give up your favorite show for Lent
25. Morning prayer (EJ).
26. Participate in Operation Rice Bowl
27. Prepare for WYD by doing a pilgrimage (IM)
28. Donate to a charity
29. Give money at mass each week
30. Sell possession, give money to the Church (TE)
31. Donate some clothing that you like
32. Raise money for SuperDance MH/JC
33. Pilgrimage to a Catholic Shrine EJ
34. Pray with a friend at school AM?/GL
35. Do things that your parents ask of you without being asked more than once.
36. Eat only simple lunches during the week at school. MH
37. Give away the posession that means the most to you.
38. Babysit for free.
39. Attend all three masses/services during the Triduum MC
40. Attend the Easter Vigil JC/MH

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Thursday, March 10

Read it:
"Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?”"

Reflect on it: Today, Christ calls us to take up our cross and follow him. Each of us are called to carry a cross of some kind. Everyone's cross is unique and different and suited specifically so that we can be successful in carrying it. Today's gospel shows us the stark reality that to follow Christ, we must lose our lives. Christ is calling us to follow him in a radical way and lent allows us to see what needs to be ripped away, what needs to be the things we rend and simply carry it along side of him.

Pray it: Sweet Jesus, you carried your cross physically during your treck to Calvary. Please help me to see what cross you are asking me to bear and I ask that you help me to carry it.


Live it! Challenge: Help a friend carry their cross by listening to what they have to say and praying together about it.

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Ash Wednesday Reflection

Read it:

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.

When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.



“When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.



“When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”



Reflect on it! Today, on the first day of Lent, Jesus calls us to sacrifice. Three times, we hear that the Father who sees in secret (or what is hidden) will repay you. Often in our society, we see glorification of so many unholy, cut wrenching things. There’s no more concept of sacrifice. Christ calls us today to sacrifice in secret, not so that others may see, but merely sacrifice for the love of Christ. Whether it’s in prayer, or fasting or almsgiving, all of these should be done in a spirit of love and secret. Lent in so many ways is that of a secret mission! This lent may we journey with Christ by loving him boldly through our prayer and fasting and almsgiving.



Pray it: God our Father, help me to sacrifice today with the love of your son. Help me to not count the costs of my sacrifice or to publicly proclaim it. It is in finding you in the hidden parts of our lives that we come alive.



Live it! Challenge: Today, do a task around your house (dishes, cleaning the bathroom, dusting, vacuuming etc), without anyone knowing about it.

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