Thought for Monday April 1

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.

Thought for Friday March 29

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.

Luke 12: 28 – 34  “Which is the first of all the commandments?” 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.

Do I love God this much?  How do I express my love for God?

 Action:  Find a way to tell God how much you love him this weekend.

Thought for Thursday March 28

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

  

Luke 11: 14 – 23  Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed.

Do I ever wish the “demon” in me were mute?  Do I use the power of speech responsibly?

Action:  Say something nice to 10 different people today – in person.

Thought for Wednesday March 27

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.

Do I pick and choose what commandments or teachings I will follow?   Am I bearing witness to everything I believe in?

Action:  Don’t break a commandment.

Thought for Tuesday March 26

Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Matthew 18: 21 – 35  Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?”

Do I have a limit on how much I will forgive?  Is forgiving the same as forgetting?

Action:  Forgive someone who has done something to you even if he/she hasn’t asked for forgiveness.

Thought for Monday 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 Friday March 22

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 21

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Luke 16: 19 – 31  If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.

Do I read the Bible with the intent of making changes in my life?  What does it take to get me to change?

 Action:  List the last 3 changes you have made in your life and the next 3 you intend to make.

Thought for Wednesday March 20

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  Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.

  

What did my parents want for me?  What do I want Jesus to do for my children (or Godchildren or nieces, nephews, cousins, etc)?

  

Action:  Do something good for somebody’s kid today.

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

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 15

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,

How common is anger in my society? How often do I feel myself getting angry?

Action:  The next time you read something that makes you angry, find something positive in the situation to help you defuse your anger.

Thought for Thursday March 14

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  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

What am I looking for in life?  Are there any spiritual doors I don’t want to have opened for me?

Action:  Start asking, seeking and knocking for a new spiritual insight – you might have to take a class, join a prayer group, attend a retreat, read a book, volunteer for a service project or talk to someone about God (children often have excellent insight).

Thought for Wednesday March 13

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  She came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.

Where do I look for wisdom?  Do I think of Jesus as wise?

Action:  Identify some situation in your life which you have not handled with wisdom and try to fix it.

Thought for Tuesday March 12

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 11

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 8

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.

Matthew 9: 14 – 15  The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Do I fast and abstain?  If so, does it help me appreciate Jesus?

Action: Abstain in solidarity with the worldwide church. 

Thought for Thursday March 7

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  Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

How do I feel about my daily cross?  What helps me do the hard, everyday things I have to do?

  

Action:  Do something nice for someone who has helped you with your daily burdens.

Thought for Ash Wednesday March 6

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 5

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

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

What is the “everything” Peter gave up?  What did Jesus give up for me?

Action:  Give up something that will help you focus on the salvation Jesus gives everyday this Lent.

Thought for Monday March 4

Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.
For this shall every faithful man pray to you
in time of stress.
Though deep waters overflow,
they shall not reach him.
Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord.

  

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.