February 28, 2015

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

Reflect on It: Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. This is a great call for each of us. Jesus loved his enemies. In the midst of his suffering and gruesome death, he loved those who put him to death. We are called to love our enemies with the same heart and mind. Of course, that perfection belongs to our Lord, but we should strive to be like him. Where are you in your Lenten fasting? How is it going? I know for me, parts of it have been super hard. The good news is that Jesus is merciful. Every day is a new day to start again.

Pray about It: Sweet Jesus, help me to be perfect as you are perfect! Amen.

Live It! Challenge: Today, pray for your biggest enemy.

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February 27, 2015

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: I think today's gospel gives us a great challenge to reconcile ourselves to one another. If we have a grudge, we should go to the person whom we are upset with and seek reconciliation. We all have someone that it's hard for us to love. Is it worth it though? why are you mad? Today, go and seek their forgiveness and pray for them.

Pray about It: Lord, you teach us to forgive one another as you have forgiven us. Help me to see how you love the person who has most wronged me. Help me to see them with your eyes and your heart. Amen.

Live It! Challenge: Pray for the person who has wronged you and then go and ask for forgiveness for holding a grudge.

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February 26, 2015

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: Today's gospel is about boldness! The Lord of the universe wants to lavish love on us...he wants us to be bold enough to ask for the things that we need, the things we desire. He will give them to us. Ask you will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you! Sweet Jesus wants to lavish you with love, will you let him?

Pray about It: Lord, you know what I need and what is good for me. Help me to ask for those things only and help me to see when you are lavishing me goodness and these things! I love you! Amen.

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February 25, 2015

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.”

Reflect on It:
The Son of Man is our sign! We live in a time where all we want is a sign. I know that I often ask the Lord for a sign....A sign that something is what I'm supposed to do or a sign that I'm wrong...I don't care, just a sign. In today's reading, we're given the challenge that we have already received our sign. It is the Son of Man! He is all we need and we should be content in that.

Pray about It: Sweet Jesus, you are our sign. Help me to be content in knowing that today.

Live It! Challenge: Today, instead of praying for a sign, pray for hope in Jesus.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

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: Today, we learn from Sweet Jesus the prayer of the Church. The "Our Father is considered to be the most perfect prayer. If it's good enough for our Lord, it should be good enough for us. I know that often I feel like I'm at a loss for what to say when I pray, but here in Scripture, we're taught how to pray. Sweet Jesus for the win!

Pray about It: "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: Pray an Our Father for the Coordinators of Youth Ministry in our diocese who are on retreat this week.

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February 23, 2015

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: How are we seeing Jesus in our day to day interactions? Today's gospel is about serving Christ all day and to serve those in need around us. Sometimes, I think we are quick to say, well, the poor aren't around me. If we really, really look though, we can see those who are in need around us. Who really needs you to love them today? Lent is about making ourselves poor so that others lives can be enriched. It's a good thing.

Pray about It: Holy Spirit, help me to serve those around me most in need.

Live It! Challenge: Today, serve someone else, but make sure no one knows about it...unload the dishwasher without being asked. Sit at the table at school where people might judge you.

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First Sunday of Lent: Sunday, February 22, 2015

Read It:
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,
and he remained in the desert for forty days,
tempted by Satan.
He was among wild beasts,
and the angels ministered to him.

After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."


Reflect on It:
What I love about this gospel is that we see that while Jesus was tempted, the angels ministered to him. He wasn't alone. Sometimes, as we go about our day and are tempted, we dwell on our loneliness. We feel like we are going through something all alone with no help. The angels fled to Christ's side. Each of us has a Guardian Angel to protect us on our way. Do we call on our Guardian Angel to protect or to help us in our temptations? Today, let's be aware that we are not alone and that we can always call on the legions of angels to come to our side.

Pray about It: Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here, ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

Live It! Challenge: Today, call upon your Guardian Angel when you are tempted.

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Feb 21, 2015

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:
"Follow me". The words in Scripture that are so simple, but so hard. Today, we are called to follow Christ without fear, in total confidence, knowing that he will provide everything to us. Come and follow him. I think about all the times I've been afraid to follow Jesus. Why? He promises us a life with him. We have nothing to fear.

Pray about It:
Lord, help me to follow you without fear. Help me to not be afraid.

Live It! Challenge: Today, come and follow Christ to the tabernacle. Stop by your local parish and pray for a few minutes in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Pray in a special way for our girls confirmation retreat that's taking place this morning.

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Feb 20, 2015

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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February 19, 2015

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: Well before Twitter, Jesus was calling men and women to follow him. Unlike Twitter, this following required his disciples to give everything that had. See, love will always cost you something. It will always cost you your life. To come and follow Christ means denying yourself and the comfort of this world and follow him. The pay off is eternal life with Christ. This is a daily choice. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI reminds us that the "world offers us comfort. You were not made for comfort. You were made for Greatness". Following Christ, carrying our cross, reaching that greatness is never about what makes us comfortable, but instead what makes uncomfortable. Today, may we have the strength to carry our cross alongside of Christ who carries a much heavier cross than ours and to ask for help when we need it.

Pray about It: Sweet Jesus, you carried your cross and never settled for mediocrity. Help me to carry my cross with great love for you.

Live It! Challenge: Today, identify what cross Christ is asking for you to carry and how you can do that.

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Ash Wednesday 2015!

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: In today's gospel, we hear about prayer, fasting and almsgiving. What's most important with these three things in the reading is the thought that they are to be done in secret and in private. Typically, for me, Ash Wednesday feels like the hardest day of the year. Times when I would never be hungry, I feel like I'm famished or it feels like the LONGEST day known to man kind. It doesn't seem to make sense. So, I get a little whiny about how much this sacrifice costs me: my comfort. Today, we're called to get uncomfortable as we journey with Jesus. Our Hearts are ready oh God, our hearts are ready.

Pray about It: My Heart is ready and willing Father. Let me carry my cross and die with you this Lent.

Live it! Challenge: Whenever you feel like prayer, fasting or almsgiving is too much today, offer the prayers for someone who doesn't know God.

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Second Sunday of Lent: March 1, 2015

Read It:
Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.

Reflect on It:
Today's Gospel is that of the Transfiguration. Peter, James and John go to the top of a mountain with Jesus and while they were there, Elijah, Moses and Jesus (who was transfigured) appears to them. In this moment, they were scared and not sure of what was happening. It was in this moment, that they heard God's voice super clearly and they were never again the same. What is God calling you to today? Is he asking you to listen to him?

Pray about It: Holy Spirit, through your power Jesus was transfigured before James, Peter and John. Help my life to be radiant with your glory. I want to live only for you. Amen.

Live it! Challenge: Today, spend some time after mass asking the Lord what he's calling you to.

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