Thought for Holy Thursday April 1

Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.

To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,

and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

My vows to the LORD I will pay

in the presence of all his people.

Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.

John 13: 1 – 15 Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.


What do I want people to say about me “at the end”? Who do I love?


Action: Love.
.

Thought for Wednesday March 31

Lord, in your great love, answer me.

For your sake I bear insult,

and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,

a stranger to my mother’s sons,

because zeal for your house consumes me,

and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.

Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Matthew 26: 14 - 25 He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me.
How often have I been hurt by someone I was close to? What effect does that have on my life?
Action: Do something to make amends to someone you have hurt. If you can’t face someone, do something good for someone else in his/her honor.

Thought for Tuesday March 30

I will sing of your salvation.

My mouth shall declare your justice,

day by day your salvation.

O God, you have taught me from my youth,

and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.

I will sing of your salvation.

John 13: 21 – 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

In what ways do people deny Jesus? Do I ever deny him?

Action: Do not deny Jesus more than 2 times today.

Thought for Monday March 29

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;

of whom should I be afraid?

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

 John 12: 1 – 11 Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.

How would I relate to Jesus if he had raised me from the dead? Would I be able to have a normal relationship with him?

Action: Relax and enjoy the company at your meals this week, even if you eat alone.

Thought for Friday March 26

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

My God, my rock of refuge,

my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!

Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,

and I am safe from my enemies.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

John10: 31 – 42 If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.
What is the Father’s work? Does God the Father still do “work”?

Action: Do some good work today

Thought for Thursday March 25

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.I announced your justice in the vast assembly;

I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know.

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Luke 1: 26 – 38 And coming to her, Gabriel 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.

Could this greeting be used to address me? Would it make me uncomfortable?

Action: Make a point of sincerely greeting people today.

Thought for Wednesday March 24

Glory and praise for ever!

“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,

praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;

And blessed is your holy and glorious name,

praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”

Glory and praise for ever!

John 8: 31 – 42 Jesus said to those Jews who believed 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.”

If the truth sets me free, what does a lie do? Is there something I would like to be freed from?
Action: Tell the truth about something that has been bothering you.

Thought for Tuesday March 23

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

O LORD, hear my prayer,

and let my cry come to you.

Hide not your face from me

in the day of my distress.

Incline your ear to me;

in the day when I call, answer me speedily.

O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.

John 8: 21 – 30 The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.

Do I always do what is pleasing to God? How often do I even think about it?

Action: Do something pleasing to God today.

Thought for Monday March 22

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

In verdant pastures he gives me repose;

Beside restful waters he leads me;

he refreshes my soul.

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

John 8: 12 – 20 Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Am I ever walking in darkness? What has Jesus shined the light on for me?

Action: Take a walk and pay attention to the signs of spring; flowers blooming, warmer temperatures, more sunlight, etc.

Thought for Friday March 19

The son of David will live for ever.

“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,

my God, the Rock, my savior.’

Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,

and my covenant with him stands firm.”

The son of David will live for ever.

Luke 2: 41 – 51 His mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

Do I sometimes forget that Jesus was human and sometimes annoyed his parents? Why is it important to remember that he was fully human?

Action: Call your father and apologize for some stupid thing you did when you were a kid. If you father is gone, do something to help out parents who are being annoyed by their kids now.

Thought for Thursday March 18

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

They forgot the God who had saved them,

who had done great deeds in Egypt,

Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,

terrible things at the Red Sea.

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

John 5: 31 – 47 How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?

Is it important for me to get praise from other people? What is praise from God like?

Action: Praise somebody for doing something that you normally take for granted.

Thought for Wednesday March 17

The Lord is gracious and merciful.

The LORD is just in all his ways

and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,

to all who call upon him in truth.

The Lord is gracious and merciful.

John 5: 17 – 30 “I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.”

What can I do on my own? Whose will do I seek?

Action: Try to do something good that you have not done before because you thought you just weren’t up to it. Ask St. Patrick for a little help or a lot of luck.

Thought for Tuesday March 16

The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

God is our refuge and our strength,

an ever-present help in distress.

Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken

and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.

The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob.

John 5: 1 – 16 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?”

What illnesses do I have? Do I want to be well or am I comfortable with my infirmities?

Action: Do something that is good for you (mind, body or soul) every day.

Thought for Monday March 15

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,

and give thanks to his holy name.

For his anger lasts but a moment;

a lifetime, his good will.

At nightfall, weeping enters in,

but with the dawn, rejoicing.

I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

John 4: 43 – 54 Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”

What about Jesus would make us believe in him other than signs and wonders? Has a sign helped my belief?

Action: Pay attention to the signs you see and ask yourself what value they communicate. If you notice any that communicate false values, make sure they don’t influence you.

Thought for Friday March 12

I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.“If only my people would hear me,

and Israel walk in my ways,

I would feed them with the best of wheat,

and with honey from the rock I would fill them.”

I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Mark 12: 28 – 34 Jesus replied, “The first is this: 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. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Do I live by this? With all of my life experience, would I add anything to this?

Action: If there is something on you mind that is interfering with your love of God, deal with it. Take specific steps to let go of or overcome it.

Thought for Thursday March 11

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;

let us kneel before the LORD who made us.

For he is our God,

and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Luke 11: 14 – 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

What does it mean to be with Jesus? Am I with Jesus all of the time?

Action: Pick reminders to help you remember to be with Jesus. For example, every time your cell phone rings, or anytime you smell bread baking, or whenever you put on socks, remind yourself to be with Jesus in whatever you are doing or are about to do.

Thought for Wednesday March 10

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

He sends forth his command to the earth;

swiftly runs his word!

He spreads snow like wool;

frost he strews like ashes.

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Matthew 5: 17 – 19 But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

What commandments do I teach others? Do I teach with words or actions?

Action: Be a commandment role model – don’t just obey them, celebrate them.

Thought for Tuesday March 9

Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;

teach me your paths,

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my savior.

Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Matthew 18: 21 – 35 Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.

What debts do I owe? Are there things I will never be able to pay back?

Action: Pay a debt forward.

Thought for Monday March 8

Athirst is my soul for the living God.

When shall I go and behold the face of God?

Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.

When shall I go and behold the face of God?

Athirst is my soul for the living God.

When shall I go and behold the face of God?

Luke 4: 24 – 30 Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Why is it so hard to hear the truth from someone we know well? What truth should I be telling in my native place?

Action: Tell the truth even if you know it will be ignored.

Thought for Friday March 5

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.The king sent and released him,
the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house
and ruler of all his possessions.
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

Matthew 21: 33 – 46 Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.

What fruit am I producing for the Kingdom of God? How often do I examine my spiritual life to see if my practices are bearing fruit?

Action: If you are doing something that isn’t bearing fruit, stop and try something new.

Thought for Thursday March 4

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Luke 16: 19 – 31 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.”

Could I dine sumptuously if I knew there was a poor man lying at my door? Do I ever ignore the plight of others?


Action: Donate to a Food Bank or a group that feeds the hungry.

Thought for Wednesday March 3

Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
You will free me from the snare they set for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.

Matthew 20: 17 – 28 Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.

Do I serve? Do I treat people in high level positions differently than people who do “menial” work?

Action: Do something special for someone who normally provides service to you.

Thought for Tuesday March 2

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Matthew 23: 1 – 12 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.”

Have I seen many people who say the right things, but don’t actually do them? Have I ever set the same example?

Action: Practice what you preach.