Thursday, March 29, 2018

Thought for Good Friday March 30


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  “It is finished.”


With all of the thoughts that had to have been running through Jesus’s mind, how did he come up with that single, final thought?


Action:  Surrender.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Thought for Holy Thursday March 29


Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ.

 1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 26  I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you,  that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,  took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying,  "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
 

John 13: 1 – 15  He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.


Is there anything Jesus could have done for me that is more loving than what he did?


Action: Love.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Thought for Wednesday March 28


Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak,
I looked for sympathy, but there was none;
for consolers, not one could I find.
Rather they put gall in my food,
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Lord, in your great love, answer me.


Matthew 26: 14 – 25  One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,  went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?"  They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.


What price do I put on loyalty, love, and friendship?   Have I ever been rewarded for doing something I now regret?


Action:  As every year at this time, all our attention is turned to the passion of Our Lord, and the Holy Church covers with a veil of mourning crosses and statues of saints who mourned in their time the death of Jesus.  Let us walk with Him from the palms to the cross, to be his consolation in the ordeal.

Monday, March 26, 2018

Thought for Tuesday March 27


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 betrayed anyone?  What does it take to forgive and be forgiven for betrayal?


Action:  As every year at this time, all our attention is turned to the passion of Our Lord, and the Holy Church covers with a veil of mourning crosses and statues of saints who mourned in their time the death of Jesus.  Let us walk with Him from the palms to the cross, to be his consolation in the ordeal.

 

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Thought for Monday March 26


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  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.


Have I ever had an experience a little bit like Lazarus – have I ever been given a second chance?  Have I used Lent to rethink some things and start over?


Action:  As every year at this time, all our attention is turned to the passion of Our Lord, and the Holy Church covers with a veil of mourning crosses and statues of saints who mourned in their time the death of Jesus.  Let us walk with Him from the palms to the cross, to be his consolation in the ordeal.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Thought for Friday March 23


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  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.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Thought for Thursday March 22


The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
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 forever.

John 8: 51 – 59  Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.

Have I ever said anything that was perfectly true but still made people mad?  Do I ever hide who I am to avoid conflict?

Action:  Be who you are and speak the truth you know.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Thought for Wednesday March 21


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 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.

Monday, March 19, 2018

Thought for Tuesday March 20


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 feel alone?
 
Action:  Do something pleasing to God today.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Thought for Monday March 19


The son of David will live forever.
“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 forever.

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.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Thought for Friday May 16


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.
he 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.
 
Am I just?   How do I react when someone reproaches me?
 
Action:  Be obnoxious.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Thought for Thursday March 15


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.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Thought for Wednesday March 14


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.”

Whose will do I seek?  Am I good at setting aside my own will and judging fairly?

Action:  The next time you are asked to “judge” something, honestly admit to yourself what would be best for you, so that you are aware of your own potential to be unjust.

 

Monday, March 12, 2018

Thought for Tuesday March 13


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  One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.  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 would it be like to suddenly be well after 38 years of being sick?  Would I be grateful for the new life or resentful of all of the years I was sick?
 

Action:  Work to improve your life so that you can do more for the Kingdom of God.

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Thought for Monday March 12


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  Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine.


Do I think Cana had changed as a result of the miracle that Jesus worked there?  Have I changed because of the little miracles I have witnessed?


Action:   We are halfway through Lent; if you haven’t made any changes yet start now.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Thought for Friday March 9


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:  Think of and do one concrete action to show your love for God or a neighbor.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Thought for Thursday March 8


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.

 

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Thought for Wednesday March 7


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  Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.  But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.


Which is the least important of all of God’s commandments, i.e which one do I think it is OK to break?  Who do I call the greatest in the Kingdom?


Action:  Be a commandment role model – obey them, teach them, celebrate them.

Monday, March 5, 2018

Thought for Tuesday March 6


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.

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Thought for Monday March 5


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.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Thought for Friday March 2


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 the ways I pray, worship and serve God to see if they are bearing fruit?


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