March 31, 2015 - Tuesday

God, you have taught me from my youth;
to this day I proclaim your wondrous deeds. (Psalm 71:17 NABRE)

If you had asked me 468 days ago if I would be a blogger today, I would have laughed! If you had asked me if my blog would focus on my daily prayers, I would have called you crazy. And if you had asked me if I had anything more important to share, I guess I might have admitted that, no, I don't.

And so today, look where the Lord has led us together. Sharing a short verse of sacred scripture each day, meditating on some bit of it, relating it to our day, and even seeing the great models we have in the saints who have walked a holy path before us!

No, I never expected to be proclaiming the wondrous deeds of God for the world, but I guess that's just what I do here. Perhaps it is because the Lord has been a constant companion of mine for more than half a century now. I've had enough proof for ten lifetimes that he is always there for us if we will just stop putting our limits on him!

Seek him in peace. Look for him in quiet places of your own making. Call to him and he will answer if you will just stop demanding! Well, at least that's the only success I've ever had! I pray in the chaos. I pray in the silence. But I'm listening, rather than talking, when I'm praying my best.


Today, I will recall the many times in my youth when God taught me.


Saint Stephen of Mar Saba, who owned nothing and lacked nothing, pray for us.

March 30, 2015 - Monday

Thus says God, the LORD,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and its produce,
Who gives breath to its people
and spirit to those who walk on it. (Isaiah 42:5 NABRE)

A phrase from Isaiah 42 the imagery of which strikes me by its expansiveness. Plucked from a familiar passage applied by Christian tradition to Jesus (see especially verse 1), this description of God the Father reminds me to consider his eternal character. The images contrast in every way with my own mortality and limited perspective.

In this passage, we can almost picture God stretching the heavens out like a sheet of lights over the earth. We are given a view of him spreading life across the earth, plants and animals. And we envision him breathing life and spirit into each one of us, from the first of us right to the most recent of us. We are all part of his creation and that is amazing!


Today, I will remember God's grandeur in every moment I can.


Saint Peter Regalado, who said, "take care not to be disturbed or angered at the sin or the evil of another, because the devil wishes to destroy many through the fault of one," pray for us.

March 29, 2015 - Sunday

The Lord GOD has given me
a well-trained tongue,
That I might know how to answer the weary
a word that will waken them.
Morning after morning
he wakens my ear to hear as disciples do;
The Lord GOD opened my ear;
I did not refuse,
did not turn away. (Isaiah 50:4-5 NABRE)

What a gift to recognize that everything we have is a gift from God! Everything--the good, the bad, and the impossible!

Think of your life, your health, your talents, your passions, your relationships, your finances, your home and possessions, your faith, your awareness of God in your daily life, your unique ability to speak or to write, your skill when caring for others, your physical strength, your particular eye for accuracy with numbers, or your artistic eye.

One by one, think of each one of these things as a gift to you. Pause at each gift. Picture it wrapped in the most perfect birthday paper, being handed to you by your smiling Father. Imagine his embrace as you open each one of these gifts. Feel his presence with you, as you gaze across this table of gifts chosen just for you.

In today's verse, Isaiah reminds us that when we hear as disciples do, we recognize our many blessings as gifts from the Lord, not as accomplishments of our own doing. And we use these gifts to praise and honor the one who gave them to us. It is our purpose! It is our singular reason for drawing breath! And there are so many ways to give glory to God--find yours!


Today, on this Palm Sunday, I will not turn away from what I hear God calling me to do.


Blessed Ludovico of Casoria, who by his great suffering was led toward compassion rather than indifference, pray for us.

March 28, 2015 - Saturday

See, days are coming—oracle of the LORD—when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. (Jeremiah 31:31-32 NABRE)

The new covenant is an occasional prophetic theme, beginning with Hosea. According to Jeremiah, (a) it lasts forever; (b) its law (torah) is written in human hearts; (c) it gives everyone true knowledge of God, making additional instruction (torah) unnecessary. The Dead Sea Scroll community claimed they were partners in a “new covenant.” The New Testament presents the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as inaugurating a new covenant open to anyone who professes faith in Jesus the Christ.* 

Today's passage from Jeremiah addresses unity among the people of God. Though the specific reference is to the houses of Israel and of Judah sharing in this new covenant, I recognize this concept of unity as being somehow broader than that, transcending the boundaries of time which limit our thinking, to include all of God's people, even today. What unifies us is of God, what divides us is not.

Today, I will look for those things which unify people and I will discourage whatever divides us.


Saint Hesychius of Jerusalem, fifth-century priest and monk who wrote, "Keep yourselves free from sin so that every day you may share in the mystic meal; by doing so our bodies become the body of Christ," pray for us.

March 27, 2015 - Friday

The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction terrified me.
The cords of Sheol encircled me;
the snares of death lay in wait for me.
In my distress I called out: LORD!
I cried out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry to him reached his ears. (Psalm 18:5-7 NABRE)

Psalm 18 is a recollection of a song sung by King David "after the LORD had rescued him from the clutches of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul."* The battle imagery is intense and the emotion is extreme and direct. But the heart of the psalm is the king praising his King, the one true God, thanking him for protecting him against every enemy that surrounded him.

Consider the great humility of David. as a newly victorious king, he might have boasted of his skill and bravery. He could have sung stories of how clever and strong he was in battle. He might have described the well-trained power of his army. But instead, he sings of God's power and might. He recalls for us how God listens to his cries of distress. In the song's first line, David says, "I love you, Lord, my strength."*

Lord God, be my strength in battle. Hear my cries of distress as you heard David's. By your Spirit, show me the path of humble service to you, so that your strength may find new expression in my daily life.


Today, I will praise God who hears my voice and who answers my cries of distress.


Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary and patron of fathers, pray for us.

Blessed Francis Faà di Bruno, whose life reminds us that God’s call to reassess our life’s direction can reach us at any age, pray for us.

March 26, 2015 - Thursday

Seek out the LORD and his might;
constantly seek his face.
Recall the wondrous deeds he has done,
his wonders and words of judgment. (Psalm 105:4-5 NABRE)

Psalm 105 is a reminder to praise the Lord because of the great things he has done for his people. Yet it is more than that too. This psalm is a synopsis of the events of the Old Testament to this point. It is a reminder that God was faithful to his people through many generations. And it emphasizes that God remembers the promise he made to Abraham so many years before.

God is indeed faithful to us even today. In Jesus, we are one family, one people of God, and we live under a new covenant. Let us remember that our purpose is to have a relationship with the Lord. Our faith is not another moral code to be used as a behavioral yardstick. Our faith gives us the foundation to begin and to maintain a relationship with this God of love who whispers to us that we should seek his face and his ways each day, each moment.


Today, in each moment, as often as I can, I will recall the wonderful blessings in my life and seek the face of the Lord in those around me.


Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary and patron of fathers, pray for us.

Blessed Didacus Joseph of Cadiz, who gained wisdom by cultivating a loving heart, a listening ear and a wealth of compassion, pray for us.

March 25, 2015 - Wednesday

Surely, I wait for the LORD;
who bends down to me and hears my cry,
Draws me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the muddy clay,
Sets my feet upon rock,
steadies my steps,
And puts a new song in my mouth,
a hymn to our God.
Many shall look on in fear
and they shall trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:2-4 NABRE)

Sing to our God! Is there any more perfect way to celebrate that His protection is upon all who trust in him? It is through his will alone that we are saved spiritually, just as the psalmist describes the way the Lord saves him from the swampy pit, placing him on firm earth.*

Lord, I thank you for bending down to hear my cry. I am grateful to you for drawing me to safety and filling me with song so that I can share in your praise. Thank you for awareness--the sense of your unapproachable greatness, and for this heart which trusts in you always. Thank you for this moment and for the day to come.


Today, on this feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, I will trust in the Lord's call on my life, and despite my own sinfulness and fear, consent myself wholeheartedly to his will as best I can, and as Mary did.

Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary and patron of fathers, pray for us.

March 24, 2015 - Tuesday

LORD, hear my prayer;
let my cry come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly. (Psalm 102:2-3 NABRE)

Honest words from a heart deeply concerned. Psalm 102 is "The prayer of one afflicted and wasting away whose anguish is poured out before the LORD." Desperately disintegrating in both mind and body, the Psalmist cries out to God for help.

But in the mere fact of the cry itself, there is hope. There is trust. There is belief. However small these things may be in our hearts at such times, they are there. When we most need the Lord, at these times especially, he hears our calls and he answers.

Lord, it my distress, I turn to you. With no recourse but you, when I have exhausted my earthly options, I humbly remember your greatness, faithfulness and mercy. And I ask that you hear and answer my prayer. I trust in your faithfulness and I rely with great confidence on your mercy. May your will be done, and may I learn even from my suffering, but please, if it is consistent with your will, may this trouble pass me by so that I might know relief.


Today, I will pray for the relief of those who suffer in body and mind.


Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary and patron of fathers, pray for us.

Saint Catherine of Genoa, who shows us how a realistic sense of our own sinfulness can prepare us to meet the needs of our neighbors, pray for us.

March 23, 2015 - Monday

He guides me along right paths
for the sake of his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff comfort me. (Psalm 23:3B-4 NABRE)

When we put our faith in the Lord, we don't get a free pass from the trials of this life. Rather we get a guide, someone who knows the safe way and shows it to us. The Lord leads us along the path of goodness when we are surrounded by evils. Yet, we have no need to fear these evils because the Lord protects us as well. He leads and protects us. What a profound comfort that brings.

Lord, I humbly thank you for leading me along the path of my life. I am grateful beyond words for the presence of your Holy Spirit within me, guiding me, providing for me when I'm most desperately in need, and protecting me from the evil that surrounds me.


Today, I will meditate on the guidance and protection God provides me with in each moment.


Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, who shows us how to love others as they need it, pray for us.

March 22, 2015 - Sunday

But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days—oracle of the LORD. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
They will no longer teach their friends and relatives, “Know the LORD!” Everyone, from least to greatest, shall know me—oracle of the LORD—for I will forgive their iniquity and no longer remember their sin. (Jeremiah 31:33-34 NABRE)

In today's passage from the prophet Jeremiah, God describes a new covenant he will make with Israel and Judah. The New Testament presents the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as inaugurating a new covenant open to anyone who professes faith in Jesus the Christ.* Christians see Jesus as the mediator of this New Covenant.*

And what encouraging terms are in this covenant! God himself says, I will forgive their iniquity and no longer remember their sin." Iniquity is immoral, evil, or unfair behavior* and sin* can be thought of as anything that limits our relationship with God. And when we participate in this new covenant, God himself offers us the great promise to forgive and forget!

And what is our role? We begin when we believe in the name of Jesus and respond to what God has written on our hearts, to love him with all our heart, soul and mind, and to love each other the way we love ourselves.

Lord God, thank you for this creation and the place in it which you established for me personally. I cannot fathom the extent of your creative power, but I appreciate in my own small way, the grandeur of what you have made. Made by your Word. Made from nothing.  Lord Jesus, Word of God, thank you for humbling yourself, connecting with us in human form, mediating the New Covenant, and for opening a door for us to your kingdom. My heart knows you, Lord, for you have placed your law within me. Share with me your Holy Spirit abundantly, so that I might serve as an ambassador for you during my life. A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit. (Psalm 51:12)


Today, I will listen for God's call when he calls me back to him.


Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary and patron of fathers, pray for us.

Saint Nicholas Owen, who found surprising ways to put his skills to work in God's service, pray for us.

March 21, 2015 - Saturday

But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance. (Luke 8:15 NABRE)

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes four types of responses that we can have to his preaching:

1. those who never accept the word of the kingdom
2. those who believe for a while but fall away because of persecution
3. those who believe, but in whom the word is choked by worldly anxiety and the seduction of riches
4. those who respond to the word and produce fruit abundantly

Today's verse describes #4, how we ought to respond to God's word. Some biblical scholars hold that this passage derives from early Christian reflection about apostasy from the faith that was the consequence of persecution and worldliness.*

Today, I will embrace God's word in my heart, seeking to spread and share the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).


Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary and patron of fathers, pray for us.

March 20, 2015 - Friday

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted,
saves those whose spirit is crushed.
Many are the troubles of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him from them all. (Psalm 34:19-20 NABRE)

When was the last time someone really broke your heart? How did it feel? When was the last time you worked hard for something only to be denied, declined, or overlooked? Do you remember the spirit-crushing sensation accompanied a sense of complete failure?

In such moments, we can become so overwhelmed there seems to be no returning. Driven to desperation, many turn to God, either in anger or anguish. It is in exactly such moments that we should fall back on the words of today's psalm, lean into the promise of God, and ask him for help.

If you are troubled right now, turn your hurt over to God, not in anger but as a child would turn to his parent for comfort. Let God's embrace happen. He is close to you and wants to reconnect with you. Let him!

Lord, I pray for those who suffer today, especially for those who have no one else to pray for them. Please be close to them--so close they can feel your presence! Please relieve their crushed spirits so they will turn to you, leaving anger and misunderstanding aside. Deliver them from whatever troubles them. Show them your gentle healing love so they might turn to you with their hearts and minds, actions and faith.


Today, I will pray for all who are lonely and in need of a friend, that the Lord will lead me, or someone, to them.


Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary and patron of fathers, pray for us.

Blessed John of Parma, who became the seventh general minister of the Franciscan Order and restored to it the spirit of poverty and humility we recognize even today, pray for us.

March 19, 2015 - Thursday

He did not doubt God’s promise in unbelief; rather, he was empowered by faith and gave glory to God and was fully convinced that what he had promised he was also able to do. ( Romans 4:20-21 NABRE)

Abraham, who according to Saint Paul, is our spiritual father in the sight of God, had great faith. His faith in God was so firm that God promised him he would inherit the world because of it. It was his faith alone which made him acceptable to God and worthy of such a promise.

How often do we doubt God's promises to us, casting them aside as nothing more than whispers in the wind? And what does it gain us?!

Consider the power of Abraham's faith and the joy it brought him. And recognize what may be the greatest quality of his faith: Abraham was fully convinced that what [God] had promised he was also able to do.

Lord God, strengthen my faith today and stir your Spirit within me! Give me confidence in prayer so that I may joyfully give glory to you alone. Confirm for me my certainty that you are able to do whatever you have promised you will do. Thank you, Lord, for the spiritual family you have created for me, especially the father figures you have provided--with Abraham as a father, with Joseph the carpenter and husband of Mary who loved and protected your only son, Jesus. I am blessed to live in the heritage of their faithful service to you, and I am thankful beyond measure for your great gifts.


Today, I will give glory to God by each of my words and actions.


Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary and patron of fathers, pray for us.

March 18, 2015 - Wednesday

Praise. Of David.
I will extol you, my God and king;
I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you;
I will praise your name forever and ever. (Psalm 145:1-2 NABRE)

The other day I had a conversation with a few people about our favorite places to pray and where we felt most at peace. Not surprisingly, several people mentioned they pray at home, outside if possible. Others described being most at peace by water, on a mountain top, or in the worship space of a favorite church.

But what about praying in real life? What about praying in the chaos? If we take our queue from Jesus, there is absolutely no prerequisite that we find a place of peace or tranquility in order to pray. The gospels tell us about how he prayed while at the Last Supper, at Gethsemane, and on Golgotha. These were times of tremendous grief and suffering, and he prayed right there in the chaos.

I have found over the past few months that praying in the chaos of the everyday is entirely possible. It helps me to refocus, and can even energize my spirit. So, let this be an encouragement! Pray today. Pray all day. Pray when you are frazzled! Pray when you are happy. Pray gratefully. Pray quickly. Pray a word. Pray a smile. Pray a tear. Pray a breath.


Today, I will pray unceasingly, blessing and praising the name of Jesus.


Saint Salvator of Horta, who teaches us to reestablish our priorities in life before asking for healing, pray for us.

March 17, 2015 - Tuesday

Turn away your face from my sins;
blot out all my iniquities.
A clean heart create for me, God;
renew within me a steadfast spirit. (Psalm 51:11-12 NABRE)

We seek what is good, but we still have a remarkable ability to miss the mark! Even when our focus is on all the right things--things Jesus calls us to do, we struggle and make mistakes. It is amazing really, that even while we are so focused on honesty, for example, we can suddenly realize we've been turning a blind eye to the poor who live in our midst, ignoring the injustice being done to them despite our stunning prosperity!

In contrast, the fruits of the Spirit are "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23a)

Lord, I recognize that it is you alone who can create a clean heart for me. It is you alone who can renew within me a faithful and firm spirit. I know that only you can blot out my sins and forgive what has offended you. I ask you, Lord, for your mercy. Please, turn your face from my sins. Illuminate my mind and protect me. 

Holy Spirit, I desire to bear your fruit in this world which suffers in so many ways, such that its seeds may fall on fertle soil and grow, bringing abundantly your gifts to us all.


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, seeking a strong spirit of faith to confront my own sinfulness and to bolster my trust in the Holy Spirit of God.


Saint Patrick, patron of engineers, Ireland and Nigeria, pray for us.

March 16, 2015 - Monday

Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
Then truly the LORD, the God of hosts,
will be with you as you claim. (Amos 5:14 NABRE)

The prophet Amos challenged the hypocracy and injustice of his day, denouncing the hollow prosperity of his people. 750 years before Jesus arrives, Amos calls Israel to seek good and not evil.*

What we seek reflects our heart and Amos' words remind me of the words of Jesus.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7)

But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. (Matthew 6:33) 

And so, we should seek what is good, we should seek what is righteous, we should seek the kingdom of God. We should turn our hearts and minds and actions from evil. We should do what is right toward others, making sure the needs of others are met in justice. We should not be like the hypocrites, but put aside the hollow prosperity of our day, seeking life, seeking to find the open door.


Today, I will seek the Lord while he may be found, calling to him while he is near.* 


Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer, who trusted the Lord in the midst of failure, pray for us.

March 15, 2015 - Sunday

And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. (John 3:19-21 NABRE)

Secrets. Lies. Things hidden. How common. How ordinary. How pervasive. How invasive.

Think of it. We might look at any aspect of our lives and recognize a secret we've kept, a hesitation we've made before speaking a truth, a misrepresentation we've made to protect ourselves or to build ourselves up a little too much. Yet, these things are often the small ones. What about the hurts we impose on others when we think no one will find out? What about the judgments and harsh words we throw around, often disguised as humor or, yes, even helpfulness? What about all the ways we mistreat one another?

I don't know why we do these things, but we do them. Perhaps we do them so unthinkingly because it is our earthly nature.

We are called to better things. We are called to truth. We are called to change. It is time to put aside secrets and lies. It is time to stop hiding the things we think and do and say.

Lord, lead me to the light! I want all my works to be pleasing to you. I want to live in the truth and to have my works clearly seen as done in you. I do not prefer darkness, yet I am tempted to seek the darkness at every turn. Lord, help me to prepare my heart for the light. Keep me from darkness.


Today, I will prepare my heart to receive the grace of Reconciliation.


Saint Louise de Marillac, patron of social workers, pray for us.

March 14, 2015 - Saturday

But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:13-14 NABRE)

Here at the conclusion of Luke's account of Jesus' parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, we see a sinful man. This tax collector is not the only sinful man in the story, but he is the only one who recognizes his sinfulness. The Pharisee, on the other hand, is a self-righteous hypocrite who considers himself better than the rest of humanity. He is obviously a sinner too, but does not recognize it in himself.

Dear Lord, thank you for your mercy. I ask that you be merciful to me a sinner. I am like the tax collector who stood off at a distance with downcast eyes. I am like Saint Paul who once said about himself, "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold into slavery to sin.
What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate." (Romans 7:15) Lord, please help me act in ways that please you, strengthen me in moments of decision, and by your Spirit, grant me the words and actions to advance your kingdom in this world.


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and like the tax collector be convinced not of my own righteousness, but of my sinfulness and need for God's mercy.


Saint Joseph, protector of Jesus and Mary, pray for us.
Saint Matilda, celebrated for your devotion to prayer and almsgiving, pray for us.

March 13, 2015 - Friday

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.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31 NABRE)

When questioned by a scribe, asked which is the first of all the commandments, Jesus here quotes from the Law of Moses, found in the books of Deuteronomy (6:4-5) and Leviticus (19-18). The scribe, who was a scholar of the law, responded positively and Jesus told him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34)

For the devout Jew all the commandments were to be kept with equal care, but there is evidence of preoccupation in Jewish sources with the question put to Jesus.* In his response, Jesus brings a new and challenging interpretation of the traditional belief. In Matthew's account, he goes further, stating that, "The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:40)

Lord God, help me to keep my focus on these two commandments. May they be the measure against which I consider all my thoughts, words, and actions today. 


Today, I will meditate on how I show my love for God and others, making adjustments where needed.


Saint Leander of Seville, who, as bishop about the year 589, introduced the practice of reciting the Nicene Creed during Mass to help reinforce the faith of his people, pray for us.

March 12, 2015 - Thursday

Yet even now—oracle of the LORD—
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God,
For he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,
and relenting in punishment. (Joel 2:12-13 NABRE)

We are told by the prophet Joel to rend, or tear, our hearts. By this he means that we should change our hearts by expressing our grief and sorrow at offending the Lord. During Lent, especially, we spend time doing just that and today's passage brings some measure of comfort to us as we recognize our common tendency to turn away from God and his willingness to welcome us back.

Indeed, the Lord continually accepts us back. As Joel points out, the Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting in punishment. The Lord wants us to return to him with our whole heart, each and every time we fall short, and he welcomes us back! In return he requires our sincere repentance. Knowing this, since we don't generally intend to offend the Lord, but do so anyway, why would we not turn back to Him at every opportunity? Why would we not gratefully express our remorse and continually seek to change our hearts?


Today, I will return again to the Lord with my whole heart.


Saint Maximilian, 21-year-old martyr who said, "I shall not die. If I go from this earth, my soul will live with Christ my Lord," pray for us.

March 11, 2015 - Wednesday

He takes no delight in the strength of horses,
no pleasure in the runner’s stride.
Rather the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his mercy. (Psalm 147:10-11 NABRE)

Lord, I do not have the strength of horses, but I desire to delight you. I do not have the stride of a runner, but I want to please you. With the support and help of your Spirit, I submit myself to you entirely, to your faithfulness and your mercy. 

Lord, I depend on you for all I have. All I have on my own is nothing but you provide all I need. Keep me mindful of your greatness in this moment and in all of the moments this day will bring. Save me from any claim of self-sufficiency* so that I might recognize in all things your sovereign majesty. 

Lord God, I am in awe of your infinite nature, overtaken by thoughts of your endlessness. My own smallness by comparison is humbling! Keep me on the lighted path, grateful for the many gifts you provide. Thank you, Lord, for the countless graces and blessings of my life. I put my entire hope in your mercy, for it is only your mercy which can save me. Amen.


Today, I will recall the endless creative power of God who provides for all my needs.


Saint Francis of Assisi, who recognized creation as another manifestation of the beauty of God, pray for us.

March 10, 2015 - Tuesday

Look upon me, have pity on me,
for I am alone and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart;
bring me out of my distress.
Look upon my affliction and suffering;
take away all my sins. (Psalm 25:16-18 NABRE)

Let today's passage resonate in your mind and in your heart. Read it. Repeat it. Repeat it over and over to yourself. Speak the words aloud. Pray the words in silence. Hear them. Hear nothing else as you do. Join with David the Psalmist. Indeed, join with all those who suffer. See that you do not suffer in isolation, but in the company of all. Like a mantra, let these verses, like healing salve, surround you. Find peace in God's presence in every small moment of your day. He is with you in each moment.


Today, I will meditate continually on these three verses from Psalm 25.


Saint Dominic Savio, who as a young boy said, "I can't do big things. But I want all I do, even the smallest thing, to be for the greater glory of God," pray for us.

March 9, 2015 - Monday

But his servants came up and reasoned with him: “My father, if the prophet told you to do something extraordinary, would you not do it? All the more since he told you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:13 NABRE)

As it turns out, our need for instant solutions is not unique to the last fifty years. Throughout history, we humans have always looked for quick answers to our problems. As it turns out, our desire for supernatural or magical fixes to our problems seems to be part of our DNA.

In today's verse, a sick man is encouraged by his friends to trust that God is responding to his need even though the response is neither what he expects, nor supernatural.

God's response requires the man to act before he fully understands, to trust before he receives freedom from his disease. As is so often the case, God's response to the man is a surprise.

In fact, God's response--to cure the man's skin disease by simply bathing in the Jordan river,-- is an entirely unremarkable and unlikely solution. And that is exactly why it became such a compelling proof to the man of God's living power and presence.

Lord, I am thankful for your presence in my life. Grateful for the many blessings you provide. By the power of your holy Spirit, keep me always mindful of your great graces that surround us every day.


Today, I will maintain an attitude of gratitude.


Saint Frances of Rome, patron of widows and motorists, pray for us.

March 8, 2015 - Sunday

The LORD answered Moses: Go on ahead of the people, and take along with you some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the Nile.
I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the rock, and the water will flow from it for the people to drink. Moses did this, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
The place was named Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled there and tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD in our midst or not?” (Exodus 17:5-7 NABRE)

We test God all the time, don't we? The obvious tests come when we face crises, right? When someone close to us dies, we ask, "Where was God for that person?" Especially for those who lived good lives. When someone loses a job, or finds themselves stricken with a debilitating illness or injury, we ask, as the Israelites did, "Is the Lord in our midst or not?"

We forget that God is always right beside us. Today's passage from Exodus reminds us that God has expressed his closeness in physical, tangible ways. For Moses, God told him, I will be standing there in front of you! And he proved it with the miracle of producing water from the rock for the people to drink.

The Lord is right here with you and I, right now, in the same way (we even see smaller miracles if we quietly pay attention). He is literally standing here in front of you as you read this, or by my side as I write it. Something to think about when we begin to have doubts and question his real presence in our daily lives.


Today, I will recall God's real presence with me in each moment.


Saint John of God, whose humility and selfless dedication to others makes you the intercessor, patron and role model for many including hospitals, nurses, and the sick, pray for us.

March 7, 2015 - Saturday

But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. (Luke 15:22-24 NABRE)

As difficult as it is to admit to ourselves and to God that we have acted badly toward him and others--that we have sinned, just look at the joy which the father takes in our return! It is nearly beyond human understanding! I am convicted to think of my own lack of forgiving joy at times in the past. Imagine it! There is NO sin that is bigger than God's desire to forgive us if we will just turn back to him. Not one!

And this is important: We all need to continually turn back to God, each day. None of us can say we no longer need to do this. And so, each morning, each afternoon, each evening, let us look inside and see if we are keeping our focus where it ought to be, on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and gracious.*


Today, I will bring my own sinfulness to the Lord, confident of his mercy and grateful for his joy at my return.


Saints Perpetua and Felicity, 2nd-century martyrs who were beheaded for refusing to renounce their Christian faith, pray for us.

March 6, 2015 - Friday

Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the scriptures:
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes’? (Matthew 21:42 NABRE)

Jesus speaks of himself as being the cornerstone when he quotes from Psalm 118 to the religious leaders in the temple. They recognize themselves as the builders who rejected it.

Why is it so difficult to recognize Jesus? Throughout all of history, we see the same story play out. We see it in ourselves if we look closely and honestly enough. We miss him so often! We don't recognize him any more than the chief priests and elders did that day in Jerusalem.

Perhaps it is because, like them, we expect something different. They expected a powerful political leader, not a poor son of a carpenter from an insignificant little town. To make a long story short, we should see Jesus in one another. When you look at anyone in need, it is Jesus who needs your help. When someone is hungry, thirsty, cold, or alone, it is Jesus who needs your help. Can you see him now?


Today, I will pray to recognize Jesus in the face of those around me.


Saint Mary Ann of Jesus of Paredes, whose life reminds us that if our self-denial does not lead to charity the penance is being practiced for the wrong reason, pray for us.

March 5, 2015 - Thursday

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:16-18 NABRE)

Jesus, the Son of God--who became incarnate as a man, who lived among men, and who walked on the Earth which he himself created--was a gift to us from God the Father. More than that, he was given over to death on our behalf in the crucifixion.* Jesus came and died for one purpose, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life!

And so, despite it's harsh and threatening tone, the warning here for anyone who knows about Jesus but decides not to believe in him is meant to spur us to believe, to change our hearts if necessary, to recognize and welcome this great gift of God's own Son into our lives. Each of us can change and God never, ever gets tired of forgiving us when we sincerely seek change that would draw us closer to him.

And it is, as Pope Francis writes,* "thrilling" to recall these words of the prophet Zephaniah:

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior,
Who will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
Who will sing joyfully because of you,
as on festival days. (Zephaniah 3:17-18a)

The Archdiocese of Hartford has put together a very welcoming program to help us prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They have made it simple and convenient to participate, hoping to encourage us to follow Pope Francis' lead to seek the sacrament and overcome our own fear in order to become stronger in the faith of God's great mercy and compassion. Maybe it's time.


Today, I will prepare my heart for change so that I can draw closer to the Lord.


Saint John Joseph of the Cross, who reminds us that self-denial should lead us to charity, pray for us.

March 4, 2015 - Wednesday

But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28 NABRE)

Have you ever jockeyed for position at work? Tried to gain an advantage either by talking down about a coworker or by exaggerating your own success? Today's verse is Jesus' response to the kind of competitive thinking that prompts us to act this way. And it goes to the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

He tells his disciples that rank among believers is nothing to be sought, unless perhaps one seeks to be a slave. His counter-intuitive teaching was radical then and is just as radical today. Christians serve one another and in the same spirit of service, we reach outside our community to serve others. This is our call. This is our first footstep toward making "disciples of all nations."*

In the spirit of Lent, Pope Francis recently reached out, offering some tips on preparing for Confession. They are a profound reminder of how much of our everyday thinking, how much our everyday lives can interfere with our walk with God, turning our heads aside from the path he has set out for us. Maybe it's time to straighten things out with him, in trust, confident in his faithfulness, love and mercy.


Today, I will speak well of all my coworkers, honestly but only in a manner that reflects well on them.


Saint Casimir, patron of Lithuania, Poland, and Russia, pray for us.

March 3, 2015 - Tuesday

Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. (Ezekiel 18:31a NABRE)

Sounds like great advice! Simple really, God gives each of us the chance to turn things around. In fact, he knows we're all going to need more than one chance too. And he accepts us over and over as we work to make a new heart and a new spirit for ourselves. No need to distract from such a simple, powerful message!


Today, I will cast away from myself all the crimes I have committed against the Lord and others.


Saint Katharine Drexel, wealthy 20th century American, who reminds us holiness can be lived in today's culture, pray for us.

March 2, 2015 - Monday

“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (Luke 6:37-38 NABRE)

These words of Jesus are direct and authoritative. He insists that we put aside our own arrogance and treat others with kindness and mercy, because he says, that is how God will deal with us if we do. Jesus challenges us to our core, indeed I find this personally convicting!

• How often do I judge others rather than, as the saying goes, walking a mile in their shoes? 
• How often do I condemn others with whom I disagree, publicly expressing my disapproval rather than privately speaking with them about ways to change? 
• How often do I refuse to forgive others, stubbornly focusing on how they hurt me instead of seeing their pain? 
• And perhaps most troubling of all, how often do I resist being generous toward others, worrying instead about my own wants?

Too often. Jesus reminds me in strong terms that if I want God to be merciful, compassionate, forgiving, and generous toward me--knowing exactly how much I needs him to be, I must resist my natural inclinations and change.


Today, I will ask for the Holy Spirit to empower me in each moment I can be more merciful, compassionate, forgiving, or generous.


Saint Agnes of Bohemia, whose life shows us we all can gradually exchange our standards (inclination to selfishness) for God’s standard of generosity, pray for us.

March 1, 2015 - Sunday

My life is deprived of peace,
I have forgotten what happiness is...
But this I will call to mind;
therefore I will hope:
The LORD’s acts of mercy are not exhausted,
his compassion is not spent;
They are renewed each morning—
great is your faithfulness!
It is good to hope in silence
for the LORD’s deliverance. (Lamentations 3:17, 21-23, 26 NABRE)

In his apostolic exhortation,* The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis writes to us that, "The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus." When we read today's verse, written more than 2,500 years ago, we come to recognize that this has always been true. Francis also points out that, "Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved." (Evangelii Gaudium)

Lord Jesus, thank you for the infinite love you have for me! Holy Spirit, I seek to live in and nurture a constant awareness of your nearness. I seek to experience the joy each day, amid the little things of life, which Pope Francis refers to as a response to the loving invitation of God our Father: “My child, treat yourself well, according to your means… Do not deprive yourself of the day’s enjoyment” (Sir 14:11, 14)*

Today, on this second Sunday of Lent, I will find joy in the Lord's mercy, compassion, faithfulness, and infinite love toward me.


Saint David of Wales, patron of poets, who knew joy because he lived in and nurtured a constant awareness of God’s nearness, pray for us.