Thought for Monday April 1

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

Matthew 28: 8 – 15  They gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You are to say, His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.'

Would I ever lie for money?  Does lying seem worse when I think of Jesus dying on the cross for me?

Action:  Think of Jesus’ sacrifice every time you are faced with a tough decision.

Thought for Good Friday March 29

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
Take courage and be stouthearted,
all you who hope in the LORD.
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

John 18: 1 – 19: 42  When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Does this sink in?  Can I really “be in the moment” of Jesus death?

Action:  Spend some time between noon and three today contemplating Jesus death.

Thought for Holy Thursday March 28

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 27

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 26

I will sing of your salvation.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
I will sing of your salvation.

John 13: 21 – 38  Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."

Have I ever been betrayed (by a friend, family member, government, Church or other respected institution)?  Does a betrayal negate forever all of the good someone does?

Action:  If you have ever been betrayed and are still upset about it, make a list of all the good your betrayer has done and try to show him as much compassion as Jesus showed Judas.

Thought for Tuesday March 26

I will sing of your salvation.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked.
I will sing of your salvation.

John 13: 21 – 38  Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, "Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."

Have I ever been betrayed (by a friend, family member, government, Church or other respected institution)?  Does a betrayal negate forever all of the good someone does?

Action:  If you have ever been betrayed and are still upset about it, make a list of all the good your betrayer has done and try to show him as much compassion as Jesus showed Judas.

Thought for Monday March 25

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.

John 12: 1 – 11  He [Judas Iscariot] said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.

Why would Jesus have such a low-life among his Apostles?  Doesn’t Jesus only call people who are good and holy to do his work?

Action:  Examine your conscience.  Is there anything you do that would make other people wonder why Jesus would want you around?  Work to change that and know that Jesus loves you anyway.

Thought for Friday March 22

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.

John 10: 31 – 42  The Jews answered him, "We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy.”

Do I place more value on works or words?  Is it easier to misunderstand works or words?

Action:  Try doing something good without talking about it and see if your work speaks for itself.

Thought for Thursday March 21

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

John 8: 51 – 59  Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'

Is “child of God” a central part of my identity?  Do I use that phrase to describe other people?

Action:  Think of the 5 people that annoy you the most and for each one say, “____________ is a child of God.”  Repeat to yourself as often as necessary.  

Thought for Wednesday March 20

Glory and praise forever!
"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 forever!

John 8: 31 – 42  Jesus said, “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."

How does the truth set me free?  Have I ever been trapped in a lie?

Action:  Look at a bad situation and see if any Gospel truths are being ignored.  Try to bring truth into the situation.

Thought for Tuesday March 19

The son of David will live forever.
The promises of the Lord I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness,
For you have said, "My kindness is established forever";
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
The son of David will live forever.

Matthew 1: 16 – 24  Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.

Have I ever been inclined to just quietly slip out of a bad situation?  What does it take for me to get past my fears and do the most loving thing I can?

Action:  Fix something around your home today in honor of St. Joseph.

Thought for Monday March 18

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:  Notice the signs of spring and remember them when you start to feel the dark creeping in.

Thought for Friday March 15

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

Wisdom 2: 1, 12 -22  The wicked said among themselves,  thinking not aright: “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.

Whom do I find to be obnoxious?  Am I ever obnoxious?

Action:  Listen to people who have different opinions from your own instead of just writing them off as obnoxious idiots.

Thought for Thursday March 14

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 13

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. 

Thought for Tuesday March 12

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?”  The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up;”

Can I imagine having no one to help me when I need it?   Would I have helped this man?

Action:  Help someone (either on your own or through someone else) who has no one.

Thought for Monday March 11

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 8

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: Do something good for a neighbor.

Thought for Thursday March 7

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.

Am I gathering or scattering?  Who was the best gatherer I ever met?

Action:  Do something today to bring people together.

Thought for Wednesday March 6

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

Matthew 5: 17 – 19  I have come not to abolish [the law] but to fulfill.

Have I ever thought of the law as something to be fulfilled?  What is/ should be the purpose of law?

Action:  Pick a law, any law (biblical, criminal, institutional) and ask what its real purpose is and what values it upholds and decide how you can uphold those same values in everything you do.

Thought for Tuesday March 5

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 do I owe God?  What am I doing to pay him back?

Action:  Do something to help someone in honor of someone who helped you.

Thought for Monday March 4

Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
As the hind longs for the running waters,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?

 
Luke 4: 24 – 30  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.

Do I ever feel overwhelmed seeing how many people need help?  Who do I feel I have been sent to help and can help?

Action:  Focus some effort on one person you know you can help, even if it is with something small.