Thought for Tuesday April 1

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 31

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 28

I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"Unseen, I answered you in thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear, my people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, will you not hear me?"
 I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Mark 12: 28 – 34  And no one dared to ask him [Jesus] any more questions.

Have I ever been afraid to ask Jesus a question?  Are there answers I don’t want to hear?

Action:  Take 5 minutes and ask Jesus a question about a passage you find difficult and quietly listen for an answer.

Thought for Thursday March 27

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 26

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 think about how you uphold those same values in everything you do.

Thought for Tuesday March 25

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
"In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight,
and your law is within my heart!"
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Luke 1: 26 – 38  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.

Would this kind of greeting make me nervous?   Would I be worried or excited about what was coming next?

Action: The next time you are called upon to perform some “special” task, respond with as much trust in the Lord as Mary showed.

Thought for Monday March 24

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.

Thought for Friday March 21

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 March 20

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 19

The son of David will live for ever.
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 for ever.

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 Tuesday March 18

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 just can’t?

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

Thought for Monday March 17

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 March 14

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the LORD.
If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?

 

Matthew 5: 20 – 26  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,

Is Jesus’ standard too high for me?  Would I prefer a simpler Old Testament set of rules?

Action:  Outnumber Hunger! Text HUNGER to 80153 through March 24 and General Mills will donate more than 5 meals directly to your local Food Bank!

Thought for Wednesday March 12

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 March 11

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 – 13  Our Father who art in heaven,

Who do I include in “our”?  Who does Jesus include?

Action:  Pray the Our Father slowly and think about the meaning of every word from Jesus’ point of view.  What did he mean by Father, Heaven, Kingdom, Bread, Temptation, etc.?

Thought for Monday March 10

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: 21 – 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 child or 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 March 7

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 March 6

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 March 5

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 March 4

The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
The Lord has made known his salvation.

Mark 10: 28 – 31  Peter began to say to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you.”

What have I given up?  What do I refuse to give up?

Action:  Give up something real (not just symbolic) for Lent this year.

Thought for Monday March 3

The Lord will remember his covenant forever.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.
The Lord will remember his covenant forever.

Mark 10: 17 – 27  So Jesus again said to them in reply,  “Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.”

Is Jesus saying it is easy for poor people to enter the Kingdom of God or that being wealthy doesn’t really help?  Do I think anything I have or can do will get me into the Kingdom of God?

Action:   Do one thing today that only a “saved” person would do.