Thursday, March 31: by Nate S.

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. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”



Christ's words have a way of cutting to the core.  While his statement that "every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste" shows that he is acting on behalf of God when he casts out demons, it carries a deeper call within it for those present then and for us today.  He gently reveals to them that although they are God's people, they are making God's kingdom to be a "kingdom divided" as they oppose Jesus and his ministry.   But they don't have to be this way.  He offers them the freedom to rise above all that holds them back from following him fully.  He offers us the same grace today.

Challenge:  Spend a few minutes in prayer asking God if there are any parts of your life that you have been holding back from him.  In what ways have you been "a kingdom divided" as you seek Him?  Knowing that He wants you to be free to follow Him completely, ask Him for the grace to follow him more closely in this area of your life.

Wednesday, March 30: by Annie Y.

For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today? “However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”

How blessed we are that God is constantly reaching out to us. And often every day we fail to notice His presence, or we notice and then forget. We forget answered prayers (as well as those thankfully unanswered prayers.) We forget those times when we grudgingly follow His laws, and end up being better off for it. Yet those are the things that God asks us to remember. As his children, He wants us to see and remember so that we will continue to call out to and stay close to Him. So let us be aware of God’s loving presence in our lives and “be on…guard not to forget” how he cares for us.
 
Challenge: On a piece of paper, write down at least one way that God was present to you today. Place the piece of paper in a place where you will see it tomorrow.  

Tuesday, March 29: by Deb T

Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud: “For your name’s sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant. Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, to whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea. For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you. But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.

As we look at this passage, we should clearly see that really when it comes right down to it, what can we give to God? What great sacrifice? Maybe some of us feel like we've got nothing to give because we've given it all to those around us. But what God really wants more than sacrifice is a contrite and humble heart; a heart that trusts in God. We trust our very lives to Him and he will not disappoint us. He's promised that.
 
Challenge: Today, surrender something in your life to God that He would definitely deal with better than you.

Monday, March 28: by Carly B

Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. He returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.”

Last week, Deacon Marques spoke about the significance of water in the church. Water cleanses, nourishes and rejuvenates. When we enter the church, we use holy water when making the sign of the cross to remind us of the day when we were freed of original sin. Water purifies our bodies, minds and spirits. We all have crosses to bear. As humans, we are expected to sin, despite our greatest attempts to live for our Lord. Fortunately, we are blessed enough to have the opportunity to purge ourselves of the weight on our shoulders. Like Naaman, we should strive to keep our flesh like the flesh of a child, new and clean. Especially during Lent, we need to take advantage of the chance to refresh ourselves and be made new.


Challenge: If you haven't been to Confession yet this Lent, go this week. When you go into the church, take an extra moment when making the sign of the cross with holy water. Appreciate the opportunity to start over new with Him. Despite your darkest days, know that He will always be waiting for you to return.

Saturday, March 26: by Nick S.

Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, that dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old; As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs. Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, and will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.


Forgiveness is an integral part of Christian spirituality. We are, or at least should be, forgiving people just as God Himself is forgiving as shown in today’s passage. Each of us is called by Our Lord to forgive, especially when we really don’t want to forgive someone. While this act of Charity can be hard to perform, we ought to forgive even when the other person does not ask for it. Through this, we can become much closer to God and also become good Christian witnesses in our schools and workplaces.

Challenge: Be forgiving of everyone you meet today, especially your family.

Friday, March 25 (Solemnity of the Annunciation): by Sarah M.

The Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying: Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us!”


For some people, asking a question, asking for help or offering to help can be done without a second thought. But for others, this is quite a heavy task. In this particular instance, Ahaz, out of fear, refuses to ask for a sign from the Lord. But the prophet Isaiah speaks up: "... His name shall be Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us!” If God is with us, what could stand against us? And if our God is for us, who could stop us? These words reassure us to place our complete faith and trust in God.

CHALLENGE: Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation, when Mary gave her “Yes!” to God. Afterward, she immediately went to help her cousin, Elizabeth. Today, when someone asks us to do something or for help, say “yes” and then do it right away.

Thursday, March 24: by Eric H.

Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season, But stands in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit. More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it? I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart, to reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds.



Reflection: "Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings". Sounds pretty grim, doesn't it? Aren't we taught from a young age to trust others--your parents, your friends, your teachers? Of course we are--and we should when it is appropriate. The point of this passage is not "trust no one" but rather to emphasize that the basis of our trust must be in the Lord above all. One who ONLY trusts in other people will ultimately be disappointed. It may work for you for a little while, but eventually your life will be like the barren and empty world the verse describes. Only through trust in God will we truly thrive and bear fruit in good times and bad.

Challenge: "Let go and let God". Think of one thing in your life that you are "holding back" from trusting God with--a relationship, a fear, a desire--and pledge to give it up to God by offering a prayer and telling God that you are letting go of that specific thing.

Wednesday, March 23: by Bobby C.

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.”


How often have we felt superior to someone else? How often have we put ourselves above someone else? Have we ever thought, "I can do that better than him" or "I can do this better than her." There is a human tendency to be competitive and want to be the best but Jesus asks us to go beyond our broken human nature and instead, be a servant. How can we serve another today?

CHALLENGE: Try to commit an act of service for someone that won't be expecting it.

Tuesday, March 22: by Dylan S

Hear the word of the LORD, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah! Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow. Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool. If you are willing, and obey, you shall eat the good things of the land; But if you refuse and resist, the sword shall consume you: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!

Ever since the beginning, even back to Adam and Eve, the Lord has continually reminded his people to listen to his instructions. 'Cease from doing evil, learn to do good.' Even as he does these things, he knows none of us is blameless, and therefore gives us a way to set things right, 'if you are willing, and obey.' Through this statement, God reminds us that we don't have to wait, that our sins can be set right immediately if we are willing.

CHALLENGE: Take a few minutes today to think of the ways that you have turned away from Him in sin, then thank God for His forgiveness.

Monday, March 21: by Maddy B

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “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.”

What if your teacher handed you the first two pages to your physics final with the answers already calculated and said, study this. Now to make it even better, you also know that it is not cheating, because the teacher gave it to you. What would you do? If you wanted to get a good grade on the test, you would study it. No questions. You would memorize it, and pray that the remaining pages were not that difficult.



In this reading, that is what God has given us. He has literally taken a few of the pages out of His “Steps To Get To Heaven” book and given them to us and said, “study this!” However, because nothing is ever that easy, He has also challenged us to “live this.” In reality, we should look at this as an enormous gift, rather than a difficult struggle. Yes, it will be challenging, because every time someone hurts you, it will be your job to forgive them. And yes, it will be challenging, because every time someone wrongs you, it will be your job to show them mercy and not retaliate. But think of how wonderful the reward will be. Actually, we cannot fully comprehend how wonderful the reward will be, because as finite beings, we cannot grasp the infinite wonders of heaven. But it, our reward, will be better than anything we have ever experienced. Viktor Frankl, a WWII concentration camp survivor, upon reflection of his time under Nazi rule said, "In some ways suffering ceases to be suffering, the moment it finds a meaning.” That is to say, although being merciful in the face of wrong-doing or forgiving when you have been intentionally hurt is difficult and sometimes painful, these “sufferings” cease to be so painful, when we attribute meaning to the suffering, in the promise of heaven.



CHALLENGE: I challenge you today, to think beyond school, to think beyond your homework, to think beyond what you will wear tomorrow and what people will think about it. Even if it is only for a moment, think about what you “suffer” for. The goal of this passage is not only to give us instructions to live our lives full of meaning and purpose, but also to give us something to think about living for. It gives us the promise of something beyond this world.

Saturday, March 19: Solemnity of St. Joseph: by Christina M

Brothers and sisters: It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, as it is written, I have made you father of many nations. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist. He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become the father of many nations, according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be. That is why it was credited to him as righteousness.


Abraham believed, 'hoping against hope' that he would become the father of many nations. His hope led him to a true faith in God: that God was who he said he was and that he would be faithful to the promises he had made to Abraham. St. Joseph also trusted God with his entire life and hoped against hope in God's faithfulness and provision when he accepted Mary into his home and agreed to be the father of Jesus. Both men did not exercise faith by denying their fears or weaknesses, but but recognizing them and submitting them to God. In what ways is God asking you to trust him more fully? In what areas have you given up hope in his promises and in his power and desire to do good things in your life?

CHALLENGE: Spend some time thinking about the courage and faithfulness of St. Joseph. Identify at least one area/struggle that you are having trouble trusting God with and say a prayer to St. Joseph, asking for his intercession and example of true faith and true hope

Friday, March 18: by Rachel M

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. “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, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.


Christ uses the beautiful metaphor of leaving gifts for God at the altar. I think a lot of times we assume that God is too busy to deal with our petty problems and worries, but He yearns for us to reach out to Him. Bring everything that is on your mind to prayer and just offer everything to God, even if it seems silly or totally random God wants to hear it from you.

Challenge:
If you are anything like me, then you say sarcastic stuff to your friends or siblings that can be kind of mean. While your intentions probably aren’t to hurt anyone’s feelings, you never know how the other person is going to react to what you say. Today try to not make any negative side-comments or ridicule any one else (even if your joking). When we speak positively we tend to feel positive too, so the next time you want to say something negative or mean just bite your tongue (not literally cause that would kind of hurt).

Thursday, March 17: by Peter M

Jesus said to his disciples: “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. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”

In this gospel, Jesus clearly tells us to ask for help from God. He also says that God will give us what we ask for. However, Gods gifts often come in surprising and un-looked for guises. Many of the little things that we take for granted are in reality gifts, gifts that many don't have. As we become more aware of these things, we also become more aware of larger things, things that we notice, but never react to, because in our minds we deserve only the best.

Challenge: Today find at least 5 things to be thankful for. These don't have to be large things, rather go for the little things, thanking people for things that they never would expect to be thanked for.

Wednesday, March 16: by Samantha H

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. When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles: “Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath, so that we shall not perish.” When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.

Trusting in what God says or tells us, even though we may not like the idea of it can prove to be what’s best. The people of Nineveh believed what God had said and they prepared for the destruction of the city, and ultimately God rewarded them for their belief and did not destroy them. So even when we do not understand God’s ways, if we trust in what He’s doing and obey Him, things will turn out for our best.

Challenge: when small challenges arise today face them with humility and obedience to God and try not to get discouraged or frustrated.

Tuesday, March 15: by Robyn

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.

Like the rain and the snow, God's words have the power to make life grow. When we share the message of God's love with others we can share in that too: changing our world for the better, one word at a time. Even though you may never witness the effects yourself, remember that when speaking the truth, your words are never in vain.

Challenge: Use your words only for goodness and truth, don't tease anyone or use sarcasm for the entire day.

Monday, March 14: by Kathy H

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 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.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘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.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Some thoughts: Who are the ”least” in your life? There are the homeless and those who are monetarily poor, but there is also another type of poverty, a poverty of spirit and a hunger for love. Many go starving every day, in their own prison of sadness. I know, I’ve be one of them. A smile and hello, inviting them to eat lunch with you so they don’t have to eat lunch alone. Trust me, it means a lot. These are small ways you can care for “Jesus” who you see every day at school. There can be also poor in your very own home or extended family. Blessed Mother Teresa said, “There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives - the pain, the loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them.” Live your life in love – Loving God – directly through your worship, and through your actions of love towards others. And, if you are the one starving for love, Give Love – there is always someone we can give to – and pray Jesus will send someone to you..

Let us Pray: God thank you for loving me unconditionally. Please help me to love as you love. Please help me to love you more, giving and loving those you bring into my life. Please let me see you in them. May my life give Glory to you, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who was in the beginning, who is and ever shall be, a world without end. Amen.


CHALLENGE: Look for a least person in your life, pray for them and do unto them as you would to Jesus. (say hello, buy them a soda, give your mom a hug) Be the answer to some one’s prayer.

Meditation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd6U5ci_uB8&feature=related

Saturday, March 12: by Tim T

Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.”
And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

The lesson we see in today's passage is definitely one we've seen before: essentially, help out those in need. A lot of times, we hear about reaching out to the "kid at school with no friends," or the "girl who eats by herself," and we feel nervous about these dramatic actions. But you don't have to reach out to a total stranger for your actions to be meaningful. I bet there's lots of people you call friends at school that are just outside your "close friends." You'll say hi to these people in the hallway, and ask the usual, "Hey, how's it going?" and everything's cool.
CHALLENGE: Next time you have one of these encounters, maybe today, or maybe Monday at school, I challenge you to show you're there for them. That doesn't mean you have to say, "Hey, man. I'm always here for you, whenever you need me." No, no, no... too dramatic. Just ask a 1 or 2 extra questions about their lives. Just by asking what they're looking forward to, what they're nervous about, what they enjoy doing, if there's anything they're really excited about, you really will make a difference -- trust me, that's all it takes.

Friday, March 11: by Dan B

Thus says the Lord GOD: Cry out full-throated and unsparingly, lift up your voice like a trumpet blast; Tell my people their wickedness, and the house of Jacob their sins. They seek me day after day, and desire to know my ways, like a nation that has done what is just and not abandoned the law of their God; They ask me to declare what is due them,
pleased to gain access to God. “Why do we fast, and you do not see it? afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?” Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits, and drive all your laborers. Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting, striking with wicked claw. Would that today you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high! Is this the manner of fasting I wish,
of keeping a day of penance: That a man bow his head like a reed and lie in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD? 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. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

A lot of people think that Lent is about giving something up. They view it as that time of the year when they have to stop their urge to have something they like just because that’s what they’re supposed to do. In this reading, the Lord is trying to tell us that that’s not the kind of fasting he wants. What he wants is for us to do what we can to help our fellow man, to be just, generous, and kind. He wants for us to be better Christians, and ultimately better people. Giving
something up for Lent is a way to keep that in mind; a reminder to do what you can to be the best that you can be. When we do this, God heals us and we please him. When we do the right thing and help others, he will be there to protect us and to shelter us.

CHALLENGE: find someone in need today and be generous to them. Maybe you'll need to be generous with your time, your money, your listening, your patience, whatever. Just be generous.

Thursday, March 10: by Chip

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.” 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. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”


All the elements necessary for our Lenten journey seem to be contained in this one passage from Luke: “deny yourself”, “take up your cross”, “lose yourself.” The most important, though is “follow me.” By making daily sacrifices for the sake of others we can mirror – in a very small way – the great sacrifice Jesus made for us. We “lose our life” when we put the needs of others before our own needs and desires. And in doing so we will begin to discover the true life He calls us to – a life of generosity and love; a life focused on the people around us instead of on ourselves.

CHALLENGE: Today, so something special for someone close to you. Maybe you empty the dishwasher without being asked, carry in the groceries, walk the dog, or make time for a conversation you’ve been putting off. And as you make that small sacrifice today, offer a quick prayer to Jesus that He will help you see additional opportunities to “deny yourself” and follow Him throughout Lent.

Lord, help me to love the people around me today, and in sacrificing my desires for the needs of others lead me to a better understanding of the sacrifice you made for me. Amen.

Ash Wednesday, March 9: by Perry

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

Today is the start of Lent, a season of sacrifice and repentance leading up to Easter. We live in a world that is so focused on what we can get that sometimes that spirit of sacrifice for others gets lost. God calls us to sacrifice for him in the same way Jesus did, prayerfully and without complaint. Remember throughout this lent to quietly and humbly turn our sacrifice toward heaven, and to always keep looking forward to the great sacrifice of Christ that saved us.

CHALLENGE: Do one thing for someone else today without being asked, and without looking for thanks.