Thought for Friday March 1

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
When the LORD called down a famine on the land
and ruined the crop that sustained them,
He sent a man before them,
Joseph, sold as a slave.
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

 Matthew 21: 33 – 46  Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.

What gifts has God given me?  What am I producing with them?

Action: Use one of your God given talents today to help somebody.

Thought for Thursday February 28

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 February 27

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 February 26

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  For they preach but they do not practice.

Do I always practice what I preach?  Are there things I believe I should do but don’t?

Action:  Think of one thing you think everyone should do and make a point of doing it today.

Thought for Monday February 25

 

Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.
Help us, O God our savior,
because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
for your name's sake.
Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins.

 

Luke 6: 36 – 38  Stop judging and you will not be judged.  Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.  Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Is this a message that really needs to be heard in my society?  Is this a message I really need to take to heart?

Action:  The next time you encounter someone being unjustly judged or condemned, speak up.

Thought for Friday February 22

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

 

Matthew 16: 13 – 19  And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.

Would I have accepted the responsibility Jesus gave Peter?  If I were a friend of Peter’s, would I have supported him?

Action:  Pray for Pope Benedict and all of those who will choose the next successor of St. Peter.

Thought for Thursday February 21

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

Matthew 7: 7 – 12  Jesus said to his disciples:  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

How often do I ask for what I want?  Do I find it hard to be specific about what I want?

Action:  Do one specific thing at someone’s request this week.

Thought for Wednesday February 20

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

 

Luke 11: 29 – 32  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.”

So what does it take to get me to repent?  What is my greatest “turn away from sin” accomplishment?

Action:  Spend some time thinking about what your life would be like now if you hadn’t turned away from some of your sins.  Imagine what it could be like in a few years if you turned away from some others.

Thought for Tuesday February 19

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

Matthew 6: 7 – 15  Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.”

Am I a babbler?  Do I worry too much about finding the right words when I pray?

Action:  Try a new way of praying.

Thought for Monday February 18

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

 

Matthew 25: 31 – 46  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.

Are these the things that define my practice of the faith?  How often do I do these?

Action:  Adopt someone or something and find ways to care for it.  [Not necessarily a legal adoption.  It could be a new pet, or the birds in your yard, the homeless man you pass on the way to work,  a lonely co-worker, a bored child, a nursing home patient, a prisoner …]

Thought for Friday February 15

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

 
Matthew 9: 14 – 15  The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?”

What do I think about when I am fasting and my stomach growls?  Is fasting something I do for me or for God?

Action:  Try fasting a couple of extra times during Lent.

Thought for Thursday February 14

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 9: 22 – 25  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."

What insight about Jesus do I get from hearing that he knew he had to suffer?  Can I relate to his decision to persevere?

Action:  Do something for someone you know who is suffering.

Thought for Ash Wednesday February 13

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

 

2 Corinthians  5: 20 – 6:2  Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us.

Do I accept my role as an ambassador for Christ?  Is there someone else for whom I would rather be an ambassador?

Action:  Answer like an ambassador if someone asks you about the ashes on your head today.

Thought for Tuesday February 12

O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place—
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him?
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!

 

Genesis 1:20 – 2:4   God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.

Do I feel like I was created in God’s image?  Is it hard to accept that everyone I encounter is created in God’s image?

 Action:  The next time you run into somebody you are sure was not created in God’s image, try to find 2 good things about him or her.

Thought for Monday February 11

Lord, go up to the place of your rest!
Advance, O LORD, to your resting place,
you and the ark of your majesty.
May your priests be clothed with justice;
let your faithful ones shout merrily for joy.
For the sake of David your servant,
reject not the plea of your anointed.
Lord, go up to the place of your rest!

 

Mark 6: 53 – 56  They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.

 

Why did these people go out to bring the sick to Jesus without first asking for anything for themselves?  Is it hard for me to put myself first or face my own problems?

 

Action:  Do something nice for the person you would be most likely to bring to Jesus on a mat.

Thought for Friday February 8

Blessed be God my salvation!
The LORD live! And blessed be my Rock!
Extolled be God my savior.
Therefore will I proclaim you, O LORD, among the nations,
and I will sing praise to your name.
Blessed be God my salvation!

Mark 6: 14 – 29  The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”  He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.”

 

What would I ask for?   What could I ask for that is even better than that?

 

Action:  Start working to “get” the best thing you can think of to ask for.

Thought for Thursday February 7

O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.
O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple.

 

Mark 6: 7 – 13  Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

 

If Jesus were to send me out like this (two by two) whom would I want to go with?  Who most helps me do the work of God?

 

Action:  If you have someone you would want to go with, do something nice for him or her today.  If you don’t know someone you would want to go with, treat yourself to a “rugged individualist” special treat.

Thought for Wednesday February 6

Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.
You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me;
with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round.
Lord, forgive the wrong I have done.

 

Mark 6: 1 – 6  Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?

 

How do the people who knew me growing up describe [treat] me?  Do I find that comforting or annoying?

 

Action:  Learn something new about someone you have known forever.

Thought for Tuesday February 5

They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.
The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
"May your hearts be ever merry!"
They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.

 

Mark 5: 21 – 43  But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?"

 

In the crowd of people that has surrounded me throughout my life, who has touched me?  How have I touched others?

 

Action:  Make it your goal to help (touch) as many people as have helped you, but don’t overburden yourself with a schedule.

Thought for Monday February 4

Lord, rise up and save me.
When I lie down in sleep,
I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
I fear not the myriads of people
arrayed against me on every side.
Lord, rise up and save me.

 

Mark 5: 1 – 20  “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?

 

What does Jesus have to do with me?  What do I have to do with Jesus?

 

Action:  Involve Jesus in some activity in your life that you have never made him a part of.