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To see the day’s scripture reading and reflection, click the arrow next to the date.
The first Sunday of Lent – March 9, 2025
By Sister Ginger Andrews, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
We cried to the LORD, the God of our ancestors,
Deuteronomy 26:7-10
and God heard our cry
and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.
God brought us out of Egypt
with a strong hand and outstretched arm,
with terrifying power, with signs and wonders;
and brought us to this place, and gave us this land, a 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.’
Today’s reading highlights Israel’s remembrance of God’s actions on their behalf and the debt of gratitude owed for God’s generous responses to their needs in times of trouble. Deliverance from Egyptian slavery and the bestowal of bounteous land as gifts from God were cause for celebration! Remembering God’s faithfulness provided endurance for Israel in anticipation of future afflictions that would come their way.
Lent is a time for remembering the gifts of God in our lives, especially when we faced challenging situations. Reflecting on our own personal deliverances in previous times of trouble can provide us with strength to face the extreme distress we and our brothers and sisters around the world experience with the rise of violence in its many forms. We pray with the adapted refrain from the responsorial psalm: Be with us, Lord…we ARE in trouble! May God deliver us from the slavery of indifference, fear and helplessness. May God free us to use our gifts and resources to respond to the crises of our day, trusting that our faithful God provides us with what we need.
Day 6 – Monday, March 10, 2025
By Sister Sheila Stevenson, Rochester, New York, United States
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
Matthew 25:35-36
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.
And so it begins, the first week of Lent, filled with good intentions. We are determined to focus on the pillars of Lent; prayer, fasting and good works. That IS the Lenten invitation. Today’s Gospel is a call to those good works, acts of love for others as acts of love for Christ himself, done in an intentional way.
A few years ago, the parish where I serve engaged in a strategic planning process with the whole parish. It resulted in six goals. For each goal we focused on three pillars: awareness, engagement and stewardship. I see a correlation with the Gospel from Matthew today.
The first step is awareness. Who are the suffering people in our local and universal world? Do we notice them and their needs? What would it take to enhance our awareness?
Once noticed, how do we enter into an engagement with them thereby knowing their sufferings? Do we even want to become engaged?
And finally, how do we steward our personal resources so as to enable people to benefit from them? In other words, what do we have to give that would relieve their suffering? Perhaps it is in the noticing of them as persons and the extension of mercy, compassion, prayer and love that is most needed.
This is the invitation of today’s Gospel and the call of our Mercy charism as fleshed out in our Critical Concerns. In other words, to notice the suffering of others, to meet them where they, are and to extend our own resources so that we might in some way relieve their misery.
Day 7 – Tuesday, March 11, 2025
By Tylia Barnes Oladipo, Associate, Gastonia, North Carolina, United States
“This is how you are to pray:
Matthew 6:9-14
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors;
and do not subject us to the final test,
but deliver us from the evil one.
If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
Holy and gracious God, thank you for the prayer your son, Jesus Christ taught us. During this sacred season, we surrender ourselves to profound contemplation, repentance, and renewal, turning towards your boundless grace. With hearts open to transformation, we lift our voices in faith and trust.
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” Holy One, remind us of Jesus’ sacrifice, drawing our hearts closer to thy presence and transforming our lives in response.
“Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Teach us to release our own desires and embrace our divine purpose for our lives.
May we become people who seek justice, love mercy, and walk prayerfully with you as our daily bread. Lead us towards hunger for righteousness, rather than the temptations of this world.
“Forgive us, as we forgive”. Lord, grant us hearts of compassion, that we may fully embrace Thy grace and generously extend it, consecrated in forgiving love which always overcomes evil.
Day 8 – Wednesday, March 12, 2025
By Sister Diane Clyne, Burlingame, California, United States
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
Psalm 51: 3-4, 12-13
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
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.
“Even now return to me with your whole heart! A steadfast spirit renew in me.”
My heart has a hard time taking in some recent news. A full bus and at least seven vans filled with immigrant persons living in the broader Chicago area were deported not long ago. More and more people trying to build a better future have been thwarted. This trend has only increased recently as deportations become a more regular part of governmental action.
You God are gracious and merciful. Renew and encourage the hearts of each one. Let us know once again You, o God are gracious and Merciful. Let us continually return to You.
Day 9 – Thursday, March 13, 2025
By Sister Gloria Heese, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Jesus said to his disciples:
Matthew 7:7-8, 12
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets.”
Today, during this first week of Lent, we are presented with three verbs. Action words that, if reflected upon, can enlighten and deepen both our understanding of as well as our relationship with our God.
ASK
- In your heart, what is the ‘it’ you are really asking for?
- Could ‘it’ be a deeper relationship with someone… or some ONE?
- And just who are you asking? What has led you to even think or feel that you can ask?
SEEK
- What is it you are really seeking and how might you possibly ‘find’ it?
- Is it Hope? Is it Love? Is it Peace?
KNOCK
- What door are you hoping will open? Or maybe one that will open a little wider…
- A door to what or to who or to WHOM?
If you ponder and pray about and around these verbs, perhaps by the fifth week of Lent you will not only be enlightened but will have deepened your relationship with the One who really matters.
Day 10 – Friday, March 14, 2025
By Sister Aura Ruselsol Matalines, Iligan City, Philippines
Thus says the Lord GOD:
Ezekiel 18:21-23
If the wicked turn away from all the sins they committed,
if they keep all my statutes and do what is right and just,
they shall surely live, they shall not die.
None of the crimes they committed shall be remembered against them;
they shall live because of the virtue they have 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?
Who among us has never sinned? As the Psalm says, “If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand?” If God kept a record of my wrongs, I would fall short. Yet, in mercy, God erases them when we turn back to God, as Ezekiel reminds us: “None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered.” What a powerful assurance!
This Lent, God calls us to humility—to forgive ourselves and others. Forgiving myself has been my greatest struggle, but through God’s grace, I’ve learned God works in me even when I resist. Forgiveness is a journey requiring readiness and openness, but it is life-giving.
As Jesus teaches, “Be reconciled with your brother.” Forgiveness unburdens the heart and heals the soul. May we, in this season, become ambassadors of reconciliation, reflecting the boundless love of the God who forgave us first.
Day 11 – Saturday, March 15, 2025
By Sister Rayleen Giannotti, Cumberland, Rhode Island, United States
Jesus said to his disciples:
Matthew 5:43-48
“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.”
A call to love our neighbor and our enemies seems especially difficult in a world where we hardly speak to our “neighbor” and hateful rhetoric is far more prevalent than civil discourse when it comes to those who think or believe differently. Jesus’s provocative statement was just as provocative in his day as it is in ours. Yet, he seems to offer us an approach to this seemingly impossible commission. “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” If I examine God’s movement in my own life, I recognize that God is perfect in love. God is perfect in mercy. God is perfect in forgiveness. God is perfect in understanding. God is perfect in listening. God is perfect in whatever it is I need in any given moment. I recognize that if I start with being perfect in listening, I may be more able to be perfect in love. What might enable you to love your enemies?