Thought for Tuesday March 1

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart;
for I am gracious and merciful

Matthew 18: 21- 35  Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

What’s my limit?  How do I balance my need to protect myself with the need to love others as Jesus loved me?

Action:  Go one level beyond your usual limit for someone this week.

Thought for Thursday February 25

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 24

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Matthew 20: 17 – 28  Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?”  She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”

What would my mother, on a good day, ask Jesus to do for me?  Would I want to sit that close to Jesus all of the time?

Action:  Do something to make your mother proud today.

Thought for Tuesday February 23

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the LORD,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.

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. For they preach but they do not practice.

Do I practice or preach?  Whose example do I follow?

Action:  Be aware that others are watching you and may follow whatever example you set.

Thought for Monday February 22

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
 The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

1 Peter 5: 1 – 4  Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock.

Am I responsible for anyone other than myself?  Am I a good shepherd?

Action:  Be a shepherd to someone who seems a little lost.

Thought for Friday February 19

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  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.”

Was Jesus saying the scribes and Pharisees were going to hell or just setting a higher standard for us?  What standard of righteousness have I set for myself?

Action:  Raise the bar for yourself – raise one goal for your behavior and then start trying to live up to it.

Thought for Thursday February 18

Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.

Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Esther 4C:12, 14 -16, 23 -26: Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the LORD. “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you.  Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, for I am taking my life in my hand. As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you. Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O LORD, my God.

Do I ever feel this alone?  Can I fully appreciate God if I never have this experience?

Action:  Make time to be alone this Lent – no phone, computer, book, music, TV, etc. – just you and God.

Thought for Wednesday February 17

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.

Jonah 3: 1 – 10  The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’s bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.

If you had tried ignoring God’s voice and been swallowed by a big fish, would you do what he said the second time he called?   Do you listen to people who have turned their lives around after bad experiences?

Action:  Repent.

Thought for Tuesday February 16

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.

 

Isaiah 55: 10 -11  Thus says the LORD: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down  And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

What do I do to insure God’s words have an effect on me and the world?  What is the “end” for which God sent his words? 

Action:  Spend some extra time on the next rainy or snowy day meditating on God’s words.

Thought for Monday February 15

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

 

Matthew 25: 31 – 46  ‘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.’

 

Do I really believe I am “accursed” if I have failed to do these things?  What do I do that makes me feel like I am living my faith?

 

Action:  Pay attention to those around you and do what you can to help.

Thought for Friday February 12

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

 

Isaiah 58: 1 – 9  This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.

 

Are these actions part of my routine practice of my faith?  Can I really claim to be a faithful Christian if these are not part of my life?

 

Action:  I think it is obvious.

Thought for Thursday February 11

Repent, says the Lord;
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Luke 9: 22 – 25  What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?

Have I ever lost part of myself trying to achieve worldly success?  Have I ever found part of myself when I let go of the things of this world?

Action:  Take the time to examine your conscious frequently this lent and see what you can learn about yourself.

Thought for Ash Wednesday February 10

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
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.
Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Joel 2: 12 – 18  Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.

What is my plan for Lent?  Do I make some sacrifices during Lent just because I think I am supposed to or because I really expect the sacrifices to help me change?

Action:  Take Lent seriously.

Thought for Tuesday February 9

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!
I had rather one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!

Mark 7: 1 – 13  So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”  (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders.)

Does unclean mean more than just dirty?  Is there value in keeping traditions?

Action:  Every time you wash your hands, pick one thing your “hands” can do to make things better.

Thought for Monday February 8

Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
Alleluia, alleluia.

 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 5

Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart,
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Mark 6: 14 – 29  King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying. “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”  But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”

Why would Herod be so quick to believe John had been raised from the dead? – it didn’t happen very often.    How do I face things that challenge me to my core?

Action:  Face a news story you have been avoiding and pray for those involved.

Thought for Thursday February 4

Lord, you are exalted over all.
“In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.”
Lord, you are exalted over all.

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

How important is it to have the support of a community when you are doing the work of God?  How much trust must the Apostles have had in Jesus to be sent out like this?

Action:  Trust Jesus and find a community to support you, if you don't already have one.

Thought for Wednesday February 3

Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
 Alleluia, alleluia.

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 2

Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
Who is this king of glory?  It is the Lord!

Luke 2: 22 – 40  “Now, Master, you may let your servant go  in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

What would I have to see to be at peace?  Am I already at peace?

Action:  If something [or more likely someone] bothers you today remind yourself that Christ is the light.