First Reading: Deutoronomy 4:1, 5-9 Moses spoke to the people and said: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees as the LORD, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy. Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ 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.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20 R. (12a) Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you. R. 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. R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. He has proclaimed his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel. He has not done thus for any other nation; his ordinances he has not made known to them. R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” NAB I recently knelt in Confession and voiced my frustration with committing the same, habitual sins that seem to follow me around in a swarm. I admitted that when I was first committing to living more devoutly, the changes were big and substantial, and going to Confession was cathartic and healing. Recently, my confessions had been feeling ugly and repetitive, a litany of slipping into the same mistakes over and over again. In today’s Gospel, Jesus doesn’t seem to have a lot of slack for these habitual sins: “Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments . . . will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.” Ouch. I break a lot of those. Often. I got good advice in the confessional that day. The making of a saint is a lot like sculpting. Imagine the first big chunks coming off of the sculptor’s chisel. Those are the big sins. The ones that take effort to heave out, but when they’re gone—what a difference! Such progress! Honestly, I thought the process would get easier after that. But it doesn’t. It just gets different. The small, habitual sins? That’s the detail work. The tiny chiseling out of ripples in fabric or nuances of a face. The sanding down of harsh lines to create the ethereal sheen we admire on marble. Jesus really is asking to sweat these sins. To be conscious of them and to address them in ourselves. In The Way, Saint Josemaria Escriva makes a similar comparison: It is inevitable that you should feel the rub of other people's characters against your own . . . . Besides, without that friction produced by contact with others, how would you ever lose those corners, those edges and projections—the imperfections and defects—of your character, and acquire the smooth and regular finish, the firm flexibility of charity, of perfection? It’s not easy to become holy. Lent is a great time to remember that we are living in the struggle toward sanctity. Let the struggle with sin smooth out the imperfections of your soul. Grace will sculpt you into a saint. [bctt tweet="Let the struggle with sin smooth out your imperfections. Grace will sculpt you into a saint."] Consider adding the Examen to the end of your day. Time in both gratitude and contrition helps bolster us against temptation to habitual sin. photo credit Brigid Hogan loves the view of the Washington Monument from her apartment, her standing desk, the Green Bay Packers, and a good mystery. She tolerates taking the Metro to the office, where she works as a communications consultant. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-15AB Naaman, the army commander of the king of Aram, was highly esteemed and respected by his master, for through him the LORD had brought victory to Aram. But valiant as he was, the man was a leper. Now the Arameans had captured in a raid on the land of Israel a little girl, who became the servant of Naaman’s wife. “If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria,” she said to her mistress, “he would cure him of his leprosy.” Naaman went and told his lord just what the slave girl from the land of Israel had said. “Go,” said the king of Aram. “I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman set out, taking along ten silver talents, six thousand gold pieces, and ten festal garments. To the king of Israel he brought the letter, which read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” When he read the letter, the king of Israel tore his garments and exclaimed: “Am I a god with power over life and death, that this man should send someone to me to be cured of leprosy? Take note! You can see he is only looking for a quarrel with me!” When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his garments, he sent word to the king: “Why have you torn your garments? Let him come to me and find out that there is a prophet in Israel.” Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. The prophet sent him the message: “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean.” But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out and stand there to invoke the LORD his God, and would move his hand over the spot, and thus cure the leprosy. Are not the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?” With this, he turned about in anger and left. But his servants came up and reasoned with him. “My father,” they said, “if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it? All the more now, since he said to you, ‘Wash and be clean,’ should you do as he said.” So 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.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4 R. (see 42:3) Athirst is my soul for the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God? As the hind longs for the running waters, so my soul longs for you, O God. R. Athirst is my soul for the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God? Athirst is my soul for God, the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God? R. Athirst is my soul for the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God? Send forth your light and your fidelity; they shall lead me on And bring me to your holy mountain, to your dwelling-place. R. Athirst is my soul for the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God? Then will I go in to the altar of God, the God of my gladness and joy; Then will I give you thanks upon the harp, O God, my God! R. Athirst is my soul for the living God. Gospel: Luke 4:24-30 Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away. NAB Sometimes God doesn't do things the way we want Him to do them. Sometimes we feel He doesn't come on time or heal us or our friends in the ways that we want. He doesn't answer our prayers exactly as we requested, and He doesn't show up with the power and immediacy that we would like. Namaan in today's Old Testament reading definitely experienced this. He was a leper and at the recommendation of a little Israelite slave girl, he came to Israel in hopes of healing for his leprosy. However, Namaan is angry that the prophet Elisha gives him such disappointingly simple advice for his cure. Similarly, the people of Jesus' hometown of Nazareth get angry because of Jesus' words. His fellow townsmen get so furious they kick Him out of the city, drive Him up a hill and plan to hurl him over and kill Him. They don't like what Jesus says, and they don't like God not doing what they think He should do. God's ways are not our ways. And we often don't like that. I know that deep inside I am often like Namaan or like those same people of Nazareth. I try to be a good nice Christian and all, but if God is not bringing healing to me or people I know who are really seriously suffering, I too feel tempted to be angry and want to drive Jesus out of my life and maybe throw Him off from the high and mighty cliff of my pride. I don't want to do the simple or routine thing God might be asking of me. In my opinion it would be better if, just like the people in today's Gospel wanted, He would just heal all the lepers and comfort all the widows and end world hunger right now. But God's ways are not our ways. Today is Leap Day. We have an additional twenty-four hours as a completely gratuitous gift today. But it probably won't turn out exactly as we want or expect. No day really does. But that's not what it's all about. It's about taking a leap into God's mercy in the simple or possibly big ways that He is calling us to follow Him in order to receive His healing and joy. Can you take a leap today in the simple and ordinary ways that He is offering you His grace and healing? [bctt tweet="Can you take a leap today in the simple ways that He is offering you His grace + healing?"] How is God calling you to take a leap today? Can you trust in His mercy even if it doesn't end up how you might expect? photo credit Mary Catherine Craige is a lover of creativity and learning new things. When she is not guiding the development of young children through Montessori methods, you can find her behind her harp, taking an art class, or writing. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Exodus 3:1-8A, 13-15 Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, “I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your fathers,” he continued, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. But the LORD said, “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Moses said to God, “But when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?” God replied, “I am who am.” Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.” God spoke further to Moses, “Thus shall you say to the Israelites: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. “This is my name forever; thus am I to be remembered through all generations.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11 R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. R. The Lord is kind and merciful. He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills, He redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with kindness and compassion. R. The Lord is kind and merciful. The LORD secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed. He has made known his ways to Moses, and his deeds to the children of Israel. R. The Lord is kind and merciful. Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. R. The Lord is kind and merciful. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was the Christ. Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert. These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did. Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall. Gospel: Luke 13:1-9 Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’” NAB Gardening requires patience. A plant that is struggling may not be a hopeless case; often, it’s just a matter of hanging in there and trying something new. A few years ago, I had impatiens planted in my backyard, little blooms of fuschia and red and cotton­candy pink. But the plants weren’t thriving; they were leggy and spindly. I almost pulled them out in exasperation, but then I realized my impatiens needed my patience. I decided to clip them back, apply Miracle­Gro more assiduously, and see what happened. Before long, they were flourishing, and I was grateful I had given them another chance. It’s easy to relate to the owner of the underperforming fig tree in today’s Gospel. We can all understand his desire to uproot it and move on. But the gardener comes in with the voice of moderation and patience. Let’s fertilize the tree and give it another chance. There’s an essential life truth here: the right conditions can change everything. Though we may relate to the owner in this parable, we bear a closer resemblance to the lackluster fig tree. We’re humans, and we carry the legacy of original sin. We mess up; we make mistakes. But perhaps we’re less likely to do so if the conditions around us are right. Are we surrounded by people who bring out the best in us, or those who bring out the worst? Are we nurturing our own good habits or the destructive ones? Are we in a job that is leaching our spirit and making us bitter, and is there a way to change that? These are questions worth pondering. Most of all, are we taking time to recognize how God is already operating in our lives? There’s a power in realizing that God has always been committed to helping us bloom and thrive. God does not uproot us at the first sign of a little wilting. God is the patient gardener in there with the fertilizer, turning the soil, helping our roots get air and water and all the things we need to flourish and be the people He created us to be. [bctt tweet="Are we taking time to recognize how God is operating in our lives?"] What are the ways that God is already tending my spirit and nurturing my growth? Where do I see His care in my daily life? photo credit Ginny Kubitz Moyer is a mother, high school English teacher, and BBC period drama junkie. She is the author of Random MOMents of Grace: Experiencing God in the Adventures of Motherhood and Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God. Ginny lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two boys, and about thirty thousand Legos. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 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. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. R. The Lord is kind and merciful. He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. R. The Lord is kind and merciful. He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. R. The Lord is kind and merciful. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. R. The Lord is kind and merciful. Gospel: LK 15:1-3, 11-32 Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable. “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ 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. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’” NAB Years ago, when I was a blushing bride to be and it came time to select the readings for our wedding Mass, our hearts were drawn toward—and settled on—a somewhat eclectic choice for the Gospel reading. Our priest friend who was preparing us for marriage and would witness our vows expressed his amusement for our selection of the parable of the Prodigal Son. Why not Cana? Why not Matthew 19? Why choose something so . . . random? (And I paraphrase.) But it wasn't random, at least not to us. My patient fiancé, a freshly-minted 30-year-old, had waited 3 decades in faithfulness and diligent service to the Father. He'd never strayed, and his steps had never faltered from the path God had set before him. But there were moments of doubt. Frustration. Desolation that although he was in the Father's house and doing his work, there didn't seem to be a feast laid for him. And then there was his fiancee. Three and a half years his junior, and fresh off a rehabilitative stint in Steubenville after an adolescence spent squandering her inheritance and doubting the Father's good intentions. Finally sickened of a life of partying and meaningless pain, I'd brushed myself off and abandoned the pig stye, making my way home to my Father's house. As I shed my rags and allowed Him to embrace me—in a gloomy midwestern steel town well past its prime, of all places—I began to believe that the joy He poured out in response to my return was authentic. That it really could all be made new again. So that was our wedding Gospel. And to this day we take turns playing the part of the Prodigal and the elder son, trading our rags for mercy in the confessional, and shedding our robes of self righteous indignation there, too. It's a life-long process of learning to accept the Father's love, falling into His embrace and acknowledging that none of us merit His mercy, and yet He offers it recklessly and with complete abandon. [bctt tweet="None of us merit His mercy, yet He offers it recklessly and with complete abandon."] Have you received the Sacrament of Reconciliation recently? Make a resolution to get there during the Lenten season. If you already go regularly, consider increasing the frequency. photo credit Jenny Uebbing is a freelance writer and editor and a blogger for Catholic News Agency. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband Dave and their growing family. You can find out more about her thoughts on Catholicism, sex, politics, and parenting here.

First Reading: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13A, 17B-28A Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long tunic. When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him. One day, when his brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem, Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers, you know, are tending our flocks at Shechem. Get ready; I will send you to them.” So Joseph went after his brothers and caught up with them in Dothan. They noticed him from a distance, and before he came up to them, they plotted to kill him. They said to one another: “Here comes that master dreamer! Come on, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here; we could say that a wild beast devoured him. We shall then see what comes of his dreams.” When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from their hands, saying, “We must not take his life. Instead of shedding blood,” he continued, “just throw him into that cistern there in the desert; but do not kill him outright.” His purpose was to rescue him from their hands and return him to his father. So when Joseph came up to them, they stripped him of the long tunic he had on; then they took him and threw him into the cistern, which was empty and dry. They then sat down to their meal. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, their camels laden with gum, balm and resin to be taken down to Egypt. Judah said to his brothers: “What is to be gained by killing our brother and concealing his blood? Rather, let us sell him to these Ishmaelites, instead of doing away with him ourselves. After all, he is our brother, our own flesh.” His brothers agreed. They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21 R. (5a) 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. R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done. They had weighed him down with fetters, and he was bound with chains, Till his prediction came to pass and the word of the LORD proved him true. R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done. The king sent and released him, the ruler of the peoples set him free. He made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions. R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done. Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46 Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “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. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” 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? Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet. NAB The stone which the builders rejected Has become the cornerstone. Back in September we moved into a fixer upper and had a baby in the same week. In the months since I've struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety as an undercurrent to all the surface-level crazy of three littles underfeet and construction projects in every corner. Every cranny of the house begs for us to work on it, insulation peeks out of walls still needing trim; every step forward reveals another step we didn't foresee; and all the diapers need changing and the noses need wiping all at the same time. I look to my husband for support, and he's overwhelmed too. In an effort to get things out of boxes and create some kind of a home out of this construction project, I haphazardly nailed some pictures on the wall. After all the nailing and hanging was done, I paused at a specific cluster. Flanked by mirrors and hanging above an image of me as a child, was a piece of word-art reading: Grace upon Grace. Every time I read the words, I get a glimpse of myself in the mirrors. Now I've since had this image of grace upon grace pouring and covering all the hard moments of my day. The undercooked rice and the short temper and the sharp word. This image of grace pouring has been good for me during this difficult time, but after reflecting on these verses, I realized something. Perhaps I could better use a metaphor that understood grace as something I started with, grace as the stone upon which I built each moment. Instead of picturing grace as something I generously salted over the day's pile of frustrations, I imagined Jesus crouching down so I could stand on Him and me protesting, but He beckons me onto His back: He is no stranger to humility. We're building it together, this solid foundation. [bctt tweet="Grace upon grace to a solid foundation."] Today seek to make Him your foundation. Build your moments grace upon grace. Instead of relegating Jesus to damage control, let Him be the cornerstone of every new moment. photo credit Kate Rhodes is the wife of a lanky carpenter and mother to three littles. She used to teach English, but then she joined the ranks of SAHMs. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-10 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. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6 R. (40:5a) 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. R. 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. R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. Not so, the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes. R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. Gospel: Luke 16:19-31 Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’” NAB "More tortuous is the human heart than all else . . . who can understand it?" Man, that'll preach. There is nothing quite like Lent to remind me of the great flip-flopping madness of my all-too human heart. It can feel so discouraging. I want so much to use this time well, to really embrace repentance and fasting and see the radical conversion of heart I know I am called to if I am to seriously pursue holiness. At least, I want to embrace it until it means giving up that doughnut, swallowing down that harsh word, giving up my agenda to serve someone else. I am certainly glad we have the comfort of knowing that God understands our hearts, because I certainly do not understand my own most of the time. But I do know this, my heart longs for heaven. My heart longs to spend eternity with my Father. And if that is truly my goal, I must learn to deny myself, take up my cross and follow Jesus. I must embrace the life of Lazarus who begged for scraps while his wounds oozed and attracted stray dogs. We spend so much time trying to cover up our wounds and hide our tattered spirits so that we can earn our place at the table, achieve the status and eat of the good things. But God desires a heart that hungers for Him, a spirit that bears its battered wounds in humility, and a soul that is willing to live wholly dependent on grace. It is hard to imagine that such a messy looking life like Lazarus' can be the way to heaven, while the well put together life of the rich man can be the path to hell. But God knows our hearts. No amount of brokenness and messiness makes us unattractive to Him, as long as it drives us to cry for Him in humble faith. On the other hand, if we come to believe that we can put ourselves together all by ourselves and we have no need for him, then nothing will convince us otherwise. May Lazarus remind me that God values the begging of my fallen heart much more than he does the cleanliness of my purple robes. Help me to remember that I can get to Heaven on the grace scraps I beg in my misery faster than I can on the delicacies I prepare from my own perfection. Let's not be confounded by our fickleness and brokenness this Lent, but encouraged by our wounds and sores to embrace the beggar's life, the path that can lead us to Heaven if we only look to the One who dies to save us and rises to give us life. [bctt tweet="God desires a heart that hungers for Him, a spirit that bears its battered wounds in humility."] Are you already finding yourself discouraged with your Lenten promises? Take today to beg God's grace to persevere, and to remember that the work of repentance does not lie in being perfect already, but in acknowledging just how imperfect you really are. photo credit Colleen Mitchell is wife to Greg and mother to five amazing sons here on earth. They serve in Costa Rica where they run the St. Francis Emmaus Center, a ministry that welcomes indigenous mothers into their home to provide them access to medical care, support and education in the weeks before and after the birth of a child. Find out more about her here.

First Reading: Jeremiah 18:18-20 The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem said, “Come, let us contrive a plot against Jeremiah. It will not mean the loss of instruction from the priests, nor of counsel from the wise, nor of messages from the prophets. And so, let us destroy him by his own tongue; let us carefully note his every word.” Heed me, O LORD, and listen to what my adversaries say. Must good be repaid with evil that they should dig a pit to take my life? Remember that I stood before you to speak in their behalf, to turn away your wrath from them. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31:5-6, 14, 15-16 R. (17b) 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. R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness. I hear the whispers of the crowd, that frighten me from every side, as they consult together against me, plotting to take my life. R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness. But my trust is in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” In your hands is my destiny; rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors. R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness. Gospel: Matthew 20:17-28 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. 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.” NAB A few weeks before my husband and I got married last summer, we met with our priest to finalize details regarding our wedding liturgy. Towards the end of the visit he stood up and grabbed the large crucifix that was hanging on the wall behind him and set it down on the desk in front of us. Not exactly sure where he was going with this gesture, my husband and I exchanged curious looks as the priest informed us that he wanted us to complete one last activity before we left. He asked me to hold the crucifix and to repeat the following words that sounded something like this: "Lord, help me to be the daughter of God that you created me to be. Help me to always serve my husband and place his needs above my own. Help me to keep my eyes on you, Lord, as you laid down your life for me. Help me to love you with all of my heart." With tears streaming down my cheeks, I handed the crucifix to my husband as he recited a similar prayer. I closed my eyes and realized that even though I had seen the cross nearly every day—on my favorite necklace, on my bedroom dresser, at Mass each Sunday—this was one of the first times I really internalized what the cross did for my life. As I read today's Gospel, I couldn't help but think back to this experience of gazing at the crucifix as Jesus shares the third prediction of His passion with his closest followers. In the first two predictions He shares that He, the Son of Man, will suffer greatly, be killed, and will be raised on the third day, but in this third prediction He takes the details one step further. He reveals that He will specifically be mocked, scourged, and crucified. In sharing these details, He shares what He knew all along: that He must die to save us; that He must place the needs of everyone else above His own needs; that to be great in His kingdom one must serve rather than be served. [bctt tweet="Help me to keep my eyes on you, Lord, as you laid down your life for me."] And so my dear sisters, during these last few weeks of Lent, I challenge you to take some time each day to reflect on the cross and to not only see it as an mere religious decoration but to see it as the greatest symbol of God's love for us. photo by Erica Tighe Joan Geiger is a North Dakota native and newlywed, and in her spare time she can be found going on adventures with her husband, working as a Registered Dietitian, and drinking coffee. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 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! Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 50:8-9, 16BC-17, 21 AND 23 R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always. I take from your house no bullock, no goats out of your fold.” R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, Though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes. He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.” R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12 Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” NAB I have a holy friend. A saint among us, I'm sure of it. She's in her mid sixties. This woman is filled with humor, treatable but not curable cancer, wit, love, and when I was in law school? Always in the mail the Sunday bulletin from our shared parish back home, along with two sticks of gum. Just in case. She fasts every week. One day. Even throughout her cancer troubles, the heartaches four grown and married & parenting children will bring a mother/grandmother, a terrible accident her husband was in (and survived due in large part, I'm absolutely sure, to her hefty banking of graces over the years), she fasts. I don't know this because she advertises it. I don't know this because she moans and groans about being hungry and then dramatically refuses food when at my house. I don't know this because she lectures me and my other family members (including those who've fallen away from the faith) about being Catholic and being Holy and being Righteous. Because she doesn't. She's the antithesis of the Pharisees in today's Gospel. I found out sideways once. And it made sense. How when she's over on those days she only accepts water as a snack. How we never schedule lunches or dinners together on those days. How she nimbly slips away from conversation about her suffering, and focuses on how wonderfully I'm doing as a mother, or how my own mother is so kind and attentive as a grandmother. None of her works are performed to be seen or garner praise. If there's a cooler on your back porch filled with meals already made with love, she's been there. If your child opens a package in the mail for Saint Patrick's Day and there are three outfits in the right sizes saying "Kiss Me, I'm Irish," she's thought of it. If you're wrestling with something in your marriage, she's got just the right words and prayers for you. She epitomizes humility and real charity. We are so blessed by her in our lives, and by her example. [bctt tweet="May we be this vessel for God's love for each other."] May we be this vessel for God's love for each other. May we reach beyond wanting credit for doing the right thing and looking so great, and turn that glory back to God. May we humble ourselves to one day, in Heaven, be exalted. photo credit Nell O'Leary is an attorney turned stay-at-home mom to three lovelies. She and her husband live in the great city of Saint Paul. You can find out more about her here.

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle First Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-4 Beloved: I exhort the presbyters among you, as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed. Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23:1-3A, 4, 5, 6 R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage. R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” NAB Today we celebrate the feast of the Chair of Peter. We remember the lineage from which our Church is descended, the great faith of Peter which cries out “You are the Christ, Son of the Living God.” What we celebrate is not a position of power, but a grace-filled reality ordained by Christ himself. When Jesus knew that the time was drawing near for Him to leave and ascend to the throne of Heaven, He looked mercifully on those of us who were to come behind and follow Him, and refused to leave as “sheep without a shepherd.” In His fraternal care for us, He ensured that we could always look to someone, who while strapped with the same human burdens as us, would stand at the head of this motley flock and continue to point us to Christ. In my lifetime, I have had the privilege of watching three popes lead the church. They have each had their own style of leadership, but each has been a rock in my life as I strive to grow in my faith and embrace the life God has called me to lead. As they tend to me, a little lamb in their flock, with sound teaching and instruction, I am empowered to go out to my little flock of five boys and the community I serve as a missionary and tend to them well. It is no easy task to lead a flock to Christ, whether it is the large flock of the universal church or the little flock right under our roof. But we can walk in humility, knowing that to lead is really to serve, and to serve is really to love. We bring people to Jesus by being Jesus present to them. This is the beauty of the Church in our lives and it is our calling as the leaders of our own little flocks. To lead with oversight but not constraint, eagerly and not for own profit, with example rather than the iron fist—this is the way that Jesus led, this is the blue print He left for the Church, and it is the plan for us as well. Let us look to the Church to lead us and guide us on the path to Heaven, and let us in turn lead well, with hearts full of love and humility. So that, together, we can celebrate the eternal victory. [bctt tweet="To lead is really to serve, and to serve is really to love."] How can you lead the flock you are asked to tend with love today? As you strive to do so, remember to offer a prayer for Pope Francis as he strives to the same for his flock, the Church. photo by Madi Myers-Cook Colleen Mitchell is wife to Greg and mother to five amazing sons here on earth. They serve in Costa Rica where they run the St. Francis Emmaus Center, a ministry that welcomes indigenous mothers into their home to provide them access to medical care, support and education in the weeks before and after the birth of a child. Find out more about her here.

First Reading: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 The Lord God took Abram outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness. He then said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.” “O Lord GOD,” he asked, “how am I to know that I shall possess it?” He answered him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old she-goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” Abram brought him all these, split them in two, and placed each half opposite the other; but the birds he did not cut up. Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Abram stayed with them. As the sun was about to set, a trance fell upon Abram, and a deep, terrifying darkness enveloped him. When the sun had set and it was dark, there appeared a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch, which passed between those pieces. It was on that occasion that the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14 R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call; have pity on me, and answer me. Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks. R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Your presence, O LORD, I seek. Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant. You are my helper: cast me not off. R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD. R. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Second Reading: Philippians 3:17—4:1 Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord. Gospel: Luke 9:28B-36 Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen. NAB Have you ever come home from a retreat or pilgrimage that just left you floating high spiritually? Prayer comes more easily or maybe you hear God's small, still voice a little more clearly? Sound familiar? Yes, I am sure we've all had experiences like that in our walk of faith. Peter, James, and John are flying high spiritually and they don't want to leave their mountain top experience. They see and experience Jesus in miraculous glory, not to mention He's chatting with famous Old Testament prophets telling them what the Father will accomplish through Him in Jerusalem. Think of it like a miniature version of a Heavenly party. Let's be honest, would you want to leave a party like that? Yeah, me neither. And Peter's response always makes me chuckle because I see so much of myself in him: "Lord, this is awesome! Why don't we pitch a tent and set up camp, so we can continue to worship? This is the best thing ever! John come help me get these tent stakes in the ground!" And while it is not directly stated in this passage, there's a sense that our spiritual worship needs to be much more than just worship. Our worship of God should lead to action. Our worship should lead to us becoming the hands and feet of Christ in the world. Our worship of God should push us to become as the Holy Father says, "missionaries of mercy." While it is nice and beautiful, we cannot stay on the mountaintop forever. We have to come back down, get our hands dirty, and allow our worship to transform how we live and love. Yes, it is good that we pray the Rosary, go to Mass, and read God's Word. But all those acts of worship ideally transform us from the inside out, as then we go out to transform the world in the name of Christ in our own special ways. Yes, it is good that we are here, but it is even better to be sent out, whatever that looks like in your life. [bctt tweet="How is your worship leading to action?"] How is your spiritual worship leading to action where God has put you in life? Where are you being sent out to be His hands and feet? Spend some time sitting with that today. photo credit Patty Hubbard is a runner, youth minister ordinaire, and recovering know-it-all. When not fundraising for World Youth Day, she is learning to find grace in all things. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:16-19 Moses spoke to the people, saying: “This day the LORD, your God, commands you to observe these statutes and decrees. Be careful, then, to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. Today you are making this agreement with the LORD: he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees, and to hearken to his voice. And today the LORD is making this agreement with you: you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you; and provided you keep all his commandments, he will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory above all other nations he has made, and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God, as he promised.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8 R. (1b) Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart. R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept. Oh, that I might be firm in the ways of keeping your statutes! R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! I will give you thanks with an upright heart, when I have learned your just ordinances. I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me. R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” NAB I wouldn’t say I am a rule breaker, but I’m most certainly a bender. I drive a little faster than I should, I sneak food into the movies, and I’ve smuggled lip gloss onto a plane when liquids were totally banned. It’s real Bonnie and Clyde stuff, I know. But when it comes to my faith, I am such a stickler—scrupulous at times, even. Last year, I had a baby ON Ash Wednesday, and I hemmed and hawed over whether I was exempt from fasting that day (side note: that’s totally an exemption). Holy Day of Obligation? You better believe I am like one of those action heroes in the movies who is crawling on her belly through a firestorm with sweat on her brow letting nothing stop her from completing her mission. And the irony of it is, I’m not even near perfect. I spend all of this time pontificating over the rules of the Church and how best to follow them, and I still slip and sin. Or, more commonly, I find convenient ways to justify the decisions I make. And, I wouldn’t say wanting to be perfect in our faith is a bad thing. We are to observe the laws of the Church with all of our heart and soul. We are to “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” And “blessed are those who follow the law of the Lord.” But, like all things, if your heart is not in the right place, this desire can be an occasion of sin. How often do I spend time flaunting Biblical knowledge and memorizing Church teachings on specific matters but forget to love Jesus? I look over the fact that these teachings and laws are designed to bring me closer to Christ. I gather information as if that is the end goal. But, it’s not. Jesus is the goal. So we must remember that rules and teachings are tools to we must use to stay on the path to holiness. Use them for that purpose, and don’t forget to love Jesus. Next time you learn something about the Church, ask yourself how you can use that information to love Jesus more. Jenna Hines has teeny army of three children and is married to a bearded fellow named Mike. A former high school English teacher, she now stays at home where she blogs and runs a crafty embroidery business. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:21-28 Thus says the Lord GOD: If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced. Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live? And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die. You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair? When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die. But if the wicked, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life; since he has turned away from all the sins that he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7A, 7BC-8 R. (3) If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered. R. 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. R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? For with the LORD is kindness and with him is plenteous redemption; And he will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. R. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26 Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. “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. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” NAB These are the real words of Jesus in today's Gospel and they are terribly hard to ignore. But we ignore the words of Jesus so easily, don't we? I find myself taking the words of Christ and slowly, over time, adjusting them, massaging them, flattening them, and growing used to them. So much so that they become comforting platitudes that simply make me feel good about myself. Then, I find myself turning over these thoughts more often than not: I'm basically a good person, do I really do horrible things, do I really need to fast, pray, confess my sins to a priest? Do I really need to believe what the Church says if I try to do what feels right? But—"Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven." Surpasses. Jesus isn't saying—forget about these Pharisees who only followed rules, forget about all rules, do what you think is ok, be a good person. Jesus says—surpass these men who were seen as holy in the eyes of the Jewish faith. Become more holy. Jesus is telling us straight up today that we have to surpass this rightousness. And that is intimidating. It's a call to radical holiness, a holiness that forces us to lay down our preferences, our comforts, our ideas, for those of Christ. To follow Christ means we do not pick and choose; it means we lay it all down. It is so hard to admit that we don't have all the answers, that we may be wrong. It is hard to put faith in a Church that at times we do not understand. It is difficult to acknowledge that we sin again and again. But Lent is all about this realization, and in turn the realization that Jesus came to give us the grace to become holy like Him. He wants us to admit our sins, to confess, to accept His forgiveness and grace, to live a sacramental life in His Church. [bctt tweet="To follow Christ means we do not pick and choose; it means we lay it all down."] Let this Lent be about laying down our own desires, and carrying the true words of Christ in our hearts and minds. photo credit Christy Isinger is the mom to five lovely, loud children living in the Canadian wilds. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Jonah 3:1-10 The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’s bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. 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. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19 R. (19b) A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. R. 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. R. 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. R. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. Gospel: Luke 11:29-32 While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.” NAB Well, ladies, we are in it . . . Lent. I am solemnly happy about it. It presents the opportunity for leaps and bounds of spiritual growth! It also gives me time to pause, take my faith seriously, and to go deeper. It's a thoughtful, reflective, and remorseful time. We are called to take a good and honest look inside, and see if God truly resides there and how much real estate we give Him. In that light, today's Responsorial Psalm really hit home for me, My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. Do I really, really have a deep awareness of how much I NEED God? Do I know how much I really NEED His mercy? Do I know how much I NEED His grace? I rely on Him daily, but remain unaware of this reliance. My heart is full of me and there is no room for the one thing I rely on most: Jesus. This might not be everyone's struggle, but pride is my ultimate struggle, my cross and the source of much of my sin. In my pride of thinking I have it all together, I don't consider the role of God's grace and how He can move my heart. Having a contrite heart that is humbled before God puts everything in proper order and place. If I can master the discipline of having a contrite and humbled heart to the One Who gave me my heart, then everything would not be so haphazard, rather it would make sense and be rightly ordered. Therefore my prayer this Lent also hails from this same Psalm, 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. [bctt tweet="Do I really, really have a deep awareness of how much I NEED God?"] Lord, renew the spirit within me, I want to be steadfast, unwavering, and true to you. I want my heart to be clean, contrite, humbled, and once again entirely Yours. photo credit Cassie Kent is a wife, mom to two kiddos, loves to get a little crafty and celebrate the gift of creativity. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy. “You shall not steal. You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another. You shall not swear falsely by my name, thus profaning the name of your God. I am the LORD. “You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor. You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer. You shall not curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD. “You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment. Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty, but judge your fellow men justly. You shall not go about spreading slander among your kin; nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake. I am the LORD. “You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove him, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15 R. (John 6:63b) 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. R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart. The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye. R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just. R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 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.” NAB It’s 112 degrees. The hot sun beats down on my neck and my feet are covered in dry dust from the dirty roads. I’m two months into a semester of teaching English in India. The little orphan faces that surround me are faces I have come to know and love. I see in them the face of Christ. Fast forward a few years. Every day my drive to and from work takes me on an exit ramp that is a popular place for homeless people to stand with their tattered signs. “Homeless, Hungry. Anything helps. God bless.” I reach into my back seat and take a few things from the bags of groceries there. As I hit the red light I roll down my window and pass them to the man on the corner. I see in him the face of Christ. Fast forward a few more years. I’m standing in my kitchen. I’m bouncing a baby in one arm and frantically trying to make lunch with the other for the toddler who is clinging to my knees. Both children are crying, hungry, and completely dependent on me to meet their needs. I see in them the face of Christ. My life has changed dramatically over the years. The scope of my world has become much smaller. But one thing that has not changed is the daily opportunity I am given to be a minister of Christ’s love to those around me. The First Reading today gives us a daunting command, “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” And how am I to be holy? By loving my neighbor as myself, and by seeing the face of Christ in those around me. [bctt tweet="How am I to be holy?"] Who in your life needs you to show them the love of Christ? As you minister to them, look for His face. photo credit Anna Coyne is a wife, mother, musician, knitter, gardener, and convert to the Catholic faith. Read more about her here.

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Moses spoke to the people, saying: “The priest shall receive the basket from you and shall set it in front of the altar of the LORD, your God. Then you shall declare before the Lord, your God, ‘My father was a wandering Aramean who went down to Egypt with a small household and lived there as an alien. But there he became a nation great, strong, and numerous. When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us, imposing hard labor upon us, we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and he heard our cry and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders; and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey. Therefore, I have now brought you the firstfruits of the products of the soil which you, O LORD, have given me.’ And having set them before the Lord, your God, you shall bow down in his presence.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 R. (cf. 15b) Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble. You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.” R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble. No evil shall befall you, nor shall affliction come near your tent, For to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all your ways. R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble. Upon their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the asp and the viper; you shall trample down the lion and the dragon. R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble. Because he clings to me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress; I will deliver him and glorify him. R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble. Second Reading: Romans 10:8-13 Brothers and sisters: What does Scripture say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart —that is, the word of faith that we preach—, for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. For the Scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Gospel: Luke 4:1-13 Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.” Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time. NAB We find ourselves at the first Sunday of Lent. So, how’s the fasting going? Chances are it is a struggle to give up what you gave up. Our purpose in fasting is spiritual. In our daily lives, the world can overwhelm us. We are bombarded by all those things that fill our senses and demand our attention. Both the desires and the needs of our flesh distract from our spiritual growth. Our goal is to grow more perfect in Christ. Christ went into the desert to fast. He knew that so many things get in the way. Fasting isn’t an end in itself or a good deed by which we merit a reward. Fasting is a means to a spiritual goal, a way to make us aware of all the obstacles between us and living like Christ did. Hopefully, our Lenten fast brings spiritual renewal. Why, though, do fasts often fail to achieve their intended spiritual ends? Our hearts are made of stone. Fasting is difficult because those stones don’t yield to mercy. But they do soften when we forgive. In the Upper Room, knowing well the sins that would be committed against Him by His friends, Jesus knelt and washed feet—a gesture of service and sacrifice. He knew what those disciples would do to hurt Him. He knows what we will do to hurt Him. Still, He knelt. Jesus died to forgive us. He showed us how to love; through His forgiveness we can forgive. After He finished washing their feet, Jesus commanded them (and us) to love as He did. Watching the Teacher in the Upper Room, we learn that the act of forgiveness is an act of pure love. We worship Him, strengthened for fasting when we forgive as He did. [bctt tweet="Both the desires and the needs of our flesh distract from our spiritual growth. Our goal is to grow more perfect in Christ."] Our fasting is not about giving up chocolate. It’s about letting mercy in. Do a sincere examination of conscience and get to confession this week. photo credit Elizabeth Foss is a wife, the mother of nine, and a grandmother. She finds the cacophony of big family imperfection to be the perfect place to learn to walk in the unforced rhythms of grace. You can learn more about her here.

First Reading: Isaiah 58:9B-14 Thus says the LORD: If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday; Then the LORD will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. He will renew your strength, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails. The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up; “Repairer of the breach,” they shall call you, “Restorer of ruined homesteads.” If you hold back your foot on the sabbath from following your own pursuits on my holy day; If you call the sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable; If you honor it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or speaking with maliceB Then you shall delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 R. (11ab) Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me, for I am afflicted and poor. Keep my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God. R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you I call all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading. R. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. Gospel: Luke 5:27-32 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.” NAB What was it about Jesus of Nazareth? What was it about Him that made fisherman walk away from their boats, the life they knew? What was it about Him that made a self-seeking, well-off tax collector walk away from all his riches and comfortable life for completely unchartered territory? Was it His simple attire? Was it His muddied feet, weary from journey? Was it His physical resemblance to the common folk, His mother, Mary, or the ordinary dialect in which He spoke? No, those things wouldn't have caused Him to stand out in the crowd; on the contrary, He would have blended in beautifully, unseen by the man whose eyes were fixated on the financial plentitude in front of him. So why, Levi, why, Matthew, did you leave it all for a two-word command that promised no regality or prominence? If not for the reasons the senses can perceive, then why? Surely, then, you must have beheld in Jesus of Nazareth the light rising for you in the darkness. In those two words, you must have acknowledge His guidance. He must have given you plenty, even on the parched land of your dehydrated heart. He must have renewed your strength, rebuilt the ancient ruins in your soul, repaired the breach, and made you ride on the heights of the earth. In two simple words, Jesus, the Nazarene, must have shown Himself to you as your Savior, your friend, your resurrector. And you followed. Sisters, what do we see when we look at Jesus? Do we take Him for what our weary eyes behold, or do we allow His gaze to penetrate our hearts? Do we ask Him to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah within our own lives? Do we look up from gathering and counting our possessions in order to hear His command? [bctt tweet="Sisters, what do we see when we look at Jesus?"] Do we follow Him? photo by Jenna Wilber Olivia Spears is a middle school religion teacher turned SAHM who is married to her high school best friend. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Moses said to the people: “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy. If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen, but are led astray and adore and serve other gods, I tell you now that you will certainly perish; you will not have a long life on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy. I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6 R. (40:5a) 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. R. 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. R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes. R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. Gospel: Luke 9:22-25 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?” NAB Today’s readings are so beautiful in their simplicity. The First Reading instructs us as to the clear and simple choice that God provides us with—choose life or choose to perish. If we follow His commandments we will live and grow numerous and be blessed. Sounds good to me! In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that the choice is not quite so simple. “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Daily? You mean following those 10 commandments isn’t enough? I thought I was doing pretty well just by avoiding murder and adultery and all that. Leave it to Jesus to point out the complexities of life! We have to make the choice daily. We have to deny ourselves and lose our lives for His sake. That is a much heftier commitment. Lent is such a time for us to hone those skills of self-denial and self-control through simple daily decisions. While it's tempting to list off lofty spiritual and physical goals, I find that to implement simple, meaningful ones with my family is hard enough during these 40 days as I grumble without my daily crutches (coffee, chocolate, wine). I want more of my spiritual life, but like a famished child at a buffet. I take on more than I can handle, and end up unsatisfied with a spiritual tummy-ache. Somehow I don’t think that is what Jesus meant when He said we were to lose our lives for His sake. Our lives, but not our minds! This Lent I am striving for practical simplicity and accountability: daily prayer along with our Blessed is She devotion readings, increased giving, and Friday fasting. It isn’t much, but it is doable and sustainable. I am trying to look upward and inward, not outward. Jesus knows your heart and your love for him. You don’t have to prove it to Him with grand gestures. Rather give Him your life, take up your cross daily, and turn yourself over to Him in small meaningful ways. [bctt tweet="Give Him your life, take up your cross daily, and turn yourself over to Him."] What will you do, realistically, with your Lenten journey? Are your Lenten commitments sustainable and meaningful? photo credit MaryRuth Hackett is a full-time wife and mother doing her best to teach her four children to love God and country. You can find out more about her here.