LENT DAY 1 (6th March 2019)
(Ash Wednesday)
(Ash Wednesday)
Read: Joel 2:12-13
Now,
now – it is the Lord who speaks – come back to me with all your heart, fasting,
weeping, mourning. Let your hearts be
broken, not your garments torn, turn to the Lord your God again, for he is all
tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness, and ready to
relent.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Where have I wandered in my life that God is looking for me and
calling out, “Come back to me”?
• Why does my heart need to be broken?
What is the meaning of this expression?
• Have I ever experienced God as all tenderness and compassion, slow
to anger, rich in graciousness and ready to relent? If never, why not?
Pray: God of mercy and compassion, your love is
eternal and your forgiveness is unconditional.
May these 40 days of Lent be an opportunity for me to experience the
tenderness of your love by turning away from my sins and returning to you.
Amen.
“God never tires of
forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.” Pope Francis
LENT DAY 2 (7th March 2019)
(Thursday after
Ash Wednesday)
Read: Luke 9:23
If
anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his
cross everyday and follow me. For anyone
who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life
for
my sake, that man will save it
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• To be a disciple of Jesus is a personal decision and choice. Do I consider myself a follower or a disciple
of Jesus?
• To be a disciple of Jesus involves making sacrifices. What must I renounce or give up in order to
follow Jesus?
• To be a disciple of Jesus means putting him first in my life. How do I make Jesus the Lord of my life?
Pray: Lord Jesus Christ, I thank
you because in spite of my unworthiness and weaknesses, you still call me to
follow you and be your disciple.
Therefore, give me the grace to respond to your call and the strength to
do your will everyday of my life.
Amen.
“Do not be afraid to be
saints. Follow Jesus
Christ
who is the source of freedom and light.
Be opened to the Lord so that He may lighten all your ways.” Pope John Paul II
LENT DAY 3 (8th March 2019)
(Friday after
Ash Wednesday)
Read: Isaiah 58:6-7
Is
not this the sort of fast that pleases me – it is the Lord who speaks – to
break unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed to
free, and break every yoke, to share your bread with the hungry, and shelter
the homeless poor, to clothe the man you see naked and not turn from your own
kin?
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• When I fast, am I doing it for my own good or for the good of
others? In other words, does it benefit
me or benefit others?
• What are the things that I am attached to in this world, that could
hinder my relationship with God and those around me?
• Fasting purifies our desires so that we can have a greater longing
for God. What kind of fast can I do this
season of Lent?
Pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you fasted in the desert
for 40 days and 40 nights. Help me to
follow in your footsteps that I may be able to be your faithful disciple by
detaching myself from sin and by attaching myself to you. Amen.
“Fasting is the soul of
prayer. Mercy is the lifeblood of
fasting. So if you pray, fast. If you fast, show mercy.” St. Peter Chrysologus
DO YOU WANT TO FAST THIS LENT?
In the words of Pope
Francis
• Fast
from hurting words and say kind words.
• Fast
from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
• Fast
from anger and be filled with patience.
• Fast
from pessimism and be filled with hope.
• Fast
from worries and have trust in God.
• Fast
from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
• Fast
from pressures and be prayerful.
• Fast
from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.
• Fast
from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
• Fast
from grudges and be reconciled.
• Fast
from words and be silent so you can listen.
LENT DAY 4 (9th March 2019)
(Saturday after
Ash Wednesday)
Read: Luke 5:30-32
The
Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples and said, „Why do you
eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?‟
Jesus said to them in reply, „It is not those who are well who need the
doctor, but the sick. I have not come to
call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.‟
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Why would the Pharisees and scribes complain to the disciples about
Jesus? Am I like the Pharisees and
scribes?
• How would tax collectors and sinners feel when they were with
Jesus? What does this say about the
person or character of Jesus?
• God never stop welcoming sinners and calling them to
repentance. What are the sins that I
need to repent from?
Pray: Lord Jesus, you came to call sinners to
repentance. No matter how far I have
gone or how long I have been away, you never stop calling or loving me. May this Lent be a new beginning for me to
renew my friendship and discipleship with you. Amen.
“The Church is a hospital
for sinners, not a museum for saints.”
LENT DAY 5 (10th March 2019)
(1st
Sunday of Lent)
Read: Luke 4:1-4
Filled
with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit through
the wilderness, being tempted there by the devil for forty days. During that time he ate nothing and at the
end he was hungry. Then the devil said
to him, „If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to turn into a loaf.‟ But Jesus replied, „Scripture says: Man does not live on bread alone.‟
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Lent is our 40 days in the wilderness where we reevaluate priorities
in light of the Word of God. What do I
value the most in my life?
• Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit after his baptism. What is the purpose of the Holy
Spirit leading Jesus through the
wilderness?
• Am I aware of the Holy Spirit leading me through my daily life? Which area of my life is led by the Holy
Spirit?
Pray: Holy Spirit, my Comforter and Guide, I need
your guidance during this time of Lent.
Help me to see the world as you want me to see it to that I may know how
to live in this world according to the plan of God. Amen.
“God is faithful; he will
not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are
tempted, he will also
provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
LENT DAY 6 (11th Marth 2019)
(Monday of the 1st week of Lent)
(Monday of the 1st week of Lent)
Read: Matthew 25:37-40
Then
the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and
feed you; or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe
you; sick or in prison and go to see you?
And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did
this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• In saying, “You did it to me”, Jesus identifies himself with the
hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked and the prisoner. Why?
• What can I do to become like Jesus in my relationship with others?
• Lent is a time of sharing with others what I have. What are the gifts and blessings that God has
given to me that I can share with others?
Pray: Lord Jesus, when you came
into this world, you became one with us and experienced our human
weaknesses. Give me a merciful and
compassionate heart so that I may share in the suffering others and help them
to be strong and courageous. Amen.
“Whatever God has put you,
that is your vocation.
It is not what we do but
how much love we put into it.” Mother Teresa
LENT DAY 7 (12th March 2019)
(Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent)
(Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent)
Read: Matthew 6:14-15
Yes,
if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you
yours, but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your
failings either.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Lent calls us to experience God‟s forgiveness. He is our Father who longs for the return of
his children. Do I relate to God as my
Father? If not, why?
• What happens when I forgive?
What happens when I don‟t forgive?
• Lent calls us to share God‟s forgiveness with others, especially
those who have hurt us. Who do I need to
forgive in my life? How do I forgive
those who have hurt me?
Pray: Heavenly Father, source of all love and
forgiveness. You never tire of forgiving
me, a sinner. Grant me the grace to
forgive those who have hurt me so that I may reflect your image and likeness in
my life. Amen.
“What
we say and how we say it, our every word and gesture, ought to express God‟s
compassion, tenderness and forgiveness for all.” Pope Francis
LENT DAY 8 (13th March 2019)
(Wednesday of the 1st week of Lent)
(Wednesday of the 1st week of Lent)
Read: Jonah 3:4-5
He
preached in these words, „Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be
destroyed.‟ And the people of Nineveh
believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest
to the least. The news reached the king
of Nineveh, who rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and
sat down in ashes.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Jonah brought the message of repentance to the people of Nineveh and
they repented. What can I do to bring
God‟s message of repentance to my family and friends?
• Why would the people of Nineveh repented after listening to the
words of Jonah?
• The people of Nineveh, from the greatest to the least believed in
God and repented. What is the
significance of putting on sackcloth or sitting down in ashes?
Pray: Merciful Father, you sent
Jonah to bring the message of repentance and salvation to the people of
Nineveh. Send your Holy Spirit to touch
my heart so that like the people of Nineveh, I may receive your forgiveness and
new life. Amen.
“Sin is the wound. Repentance
is the medicine.”
St. John Chrysostom
LENT DAY 9 (14th March 2019)
(Thursday of the 1st week of Lent)
Read: Matthew 7:7-8
Jesus
said to his disciples, „Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will
find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receive; the one
who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened
to him.‟
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Prayer does not mean asking God for all kinds of things we
want. It is rather the desire for God
himself. When I pray, what do I usually
say?
• Sometimes when we search for something and don‟t find it, we become
discouraged. What are the things that I
am searching for most in life? Am I
feeling discouraged?
• Which doors am I knocking on in life? Are they opened or remained shut? Which door does God wants me to knock?
Pray: Lord Jesus, give me the wisdom and
understanding to ask with faith in your divine providence, to search for your
truth with determination and to knock in humility at the door of your heart. Above all, may your plan and will be done in
my life. Amen.
“Pray, hope and don‟t
worry. Worry is useless.
God is merciful and will
hear your prayer.”
St. Padre Pio
LENT DAY 10 (15th March 2019)
(Friday of the 1st week of Lent)
Read: Ezekiel 18:21-22
Thus
says the Lord: „If the wicked man
renounces all the sins he has committed, respects my laws and is law-abiding
and honest, he will certainly live; he will not die. All the sins he committed will be forgotten
from then on; he shall live because of the integrity he has practiced.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Renunciation of sins means saying no to sin. It is the first step in repentance. What are the sins that I need to
renounce?
• „All the sins he committed will be forgotten from then on‟: what does this tell us about the mercy and
forgiveness of God?
• What is the meaning of „integrity‟?
How can I live a life of integrity?
Pray: Almighty and loving God, you take pleasure not
in the death of a wicked man, but in giving forgiveness and life to him. Help me to respond to your call to repentance
and renunciation of sin in order to live a life of integrity and according to
your will. Amen.
“If people would do for God
what they do for the world, my dear people, what a great number of
Christians would go to
heaven!”
St. John Vianney
LENT DAY 11 (16th March 2019)
(Saturday of the 1st week of Lent)
(Saturday of the 1st week of Lent)
Read: Matthew 5:44-45, 48
But
I say this to you: love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father
in heaven…You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is
perfect.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• The perfection of the heavenly Father is love and Jesus came to show
us how to love as he did. What are the
characteristics of this love of the Father?
• Why do I find it difficult to love my enemies or pray for those who
persecute me? What is the word of God
challenging me to do today?
• With God, nothing is impossible.
What must I do to be perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect?
Pray: Lord Jesus Christ, on the cross, you prayed
for your enemies, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are
doing.” I know this is hard for me to
do. Therefore, give me the grace and
strength of the Spirit so that I may be to love and forgive my enemies like
you. Amen.
“You
don‟t love in your enemies what they are, but what you would have them become
by your prayers.”
St. Augustine
LENT DAY 12 (17th March 2019)
(2nd Sunday of Lent)
(2nd Sunday of Lent)
Read: Luke 9:34-35
As
he spoke, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into
the cloud the disciples were afraid. And
a voice came from the cloud saying, „This is my Son, the Chosen
One. Listen to him.‟
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Jesus brought Peter, James and John with him when he was
transfigured. Why were they afraid?
• The voice of the Father was heard at the transfiguration of Jesus,
confirming the identity of Jesus as the Son of God. What is the importance of this
revelation?
• The Father‟s command: „Listen
to him.‟ How can I listen to Jesus
today? What is Jesus telling me now in
this season of Lent?
Pray: Lord Jesus Christ, at the
Transfiguration, you strengthened the faith of the disciples in preparation for
your suffering and death on the cross.
May this blessed season of Lent be for me, a time of preparation so that
as your disciple, I may take up my cross and follow you faithfully. Amen.
“If God sends you many
sufferings, it is a sign that he has great plans for you, and certainly wants
to make you a saint.”
St. Ignatius of Loyola
LENT DAY 13 (18th March 2019)
(Monday of the 2nd week of Lent)
(Monday of the 2nd week of Lent)
Read: Luke 6:36-37
Jesus
said to his disciples: „Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judge
yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant
pardon, and you will be pardoned.‟
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• How can we know that the heavenly Father is a God of mercy and
compassion? Have I ever experienced his
mercy and compassion?
• Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears
of another and feeling with the heart of another. Do I have empathy?
• Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation. How can I practice compassion in my daily
life?
Pray: Merciful Father, where sin abounds, your
grace abounds even more. I thank you for
this holy season of Lent and the opportunity once more to experience your mercy
and grace. Fill me with the Holy Spirit
so that I may have empathy on those around me and reach out to them in love and
compassion. Amen.
“The Lord has loved me so
much. We must love everyone and must be
compassionate!”
St. Josephine Bakhita
LENT DAY 14 (19th March 2019)
(Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary)
(Solemnity of St. Joseph, Husband of Mary)
Read: Matthew 1:20-21, 24
The
angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, „Joseph son of David, do
not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is
in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give
birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to
save his people from their sins.‟ When
Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Why was Joseph afraid to take Mary as his wife?
• When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel told him to do. What does this say about the character of
Joseph?
• What would I have done, if I were Joseph? Would I have done what God had wanted me to
do? Why?
Pray: Almighty Father, in your wisdom and
providence, you entrusted the care of Jesus and Mary to Joseph. Give me a steadfast faith that in all my
difficulties and challenges, like Joseph, I may always put my trust in
you. Amen.
“Do not lose hope; St.
Joseph also experienced moments of difficulty, but he never lost faith and
was able to overcome them,
in the certainty that
God never abandons
us.” Pope
Francis
LENT DAY 15 (20th March 2019)
(Wednesday
of the 2nd week of Lent)
Matthew 20:26-28
Anyone
who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to
be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be
served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Why is it difficult to be a servant in today‟s society? What are the challenges or
disadvantages?
• Just as the life of a disciple is modeled after the teacher, so too
the life of a Christian is modeled after the life of Christ. Is my life modeled after the life of
Jesus?
• How can I live the life of a servant in my daily life? What is Jesus asking me to do this Lent?
Pray: Lord Jesus, thank you for your willingness to
give your life as a ransom for many. In
a world filled with so many uncertainties and doubts, help me to hold on to you
as the way that I follow, the truth that I believe and the life that I
live. Amen.
“When we serve the poor and
the sick, we serve
Jesus. We must not fail to help our neighbors,
because in them, we serve Jesus.”
St. Rose of Lima
LENT DAY 16 (21st March 2019)
(Thursday of the 2nd week of Lent)
Read: Jeremiah 17:9-10
The
heart is more devious than any other thing, perverse too: who can pierce its secrets? I, the Lord, search to the heart, I probe the
loins, to give each man what his conduct and his actions deserve.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Why does prophet Jeremiah say that the heart is more devious or
perverse than any other thing? Do you
agree with him?
• What is the condition of my heart?
If the Lord were to search my heart, what would he find there?
• The Lord gives each man what his conduct and his actions
deserve. Does this bring me joy or
sadness? Why?
Pray: Create in me a clean heart,
O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and
do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and sustain in me a willing
spirit. Amen.
“Don‟t let your life be
sterile. Be useful. Blaze a trail. Shine forth with the light of your faith and
light up all the ways of the earth with the fire of
Christ that you carry in
your heart.” St. Josemaria Escriva
LENT DAY 17 (22nd March 2019)
(Friday of the 2nd week of Lent)
Matthew 21:37-39
Finally
he sent his son to them. „They will
respect my son‟ he said. But when the
tenants saw the son, they said to each other, „This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his
inheritance.‟ So they seized him and
threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Why would the landowner send his son to the tenants after so many
servants of his were killed by them?
• After all that the landowner has done for the tenants, why would
they kill his son? What does this tell
you about the character of the tenants?
• Like the landowner, God is persistent in reaching out to us,
offering his even his only Son to us for the sake of our salvation. What is my response to him?
Pray: God our loving father, you never give up on
me, even though so often I have taken you and what you have given me for
granted. Grant me a grateful heart so
that I may be thankful for all that you have sacrificed for my sake. Amen.
“Let us remember that love
lives through sacrifice and is nourished by giving.
Without sacrifice, there is
no love.”
St. Maximilian Kolbe
LENT DAY 18 (23rd March 2019) (Saturday of the 2nd week of Lent)
Micah 7:18-19
What
god can compare with you: taking fault
away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever but delighting in showing
mercy? Once more have pity on us, tread
down our faults, to the bottom of the sea throw all our sins.
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• God delights in forgiving and showing mercy.
Does
this give me confidence in asking for
God‟s pardon and
forgiveness? Why
• Why is it difficult for me to forgive or show mercy? What can God do to help me forgive others?
• Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does change the
future. When God forgives, he forgives
completely. When I forgive, how do I
forgive?
Pray: Heavenly Father, no words
can express my gratitude for your mercy and forgiveness. Let the power of your forgiveness touch my
heart and permeate my being, so that I may be a channel of your mercy and love
in this world especially to those whom I find difficult to forgive. Amen.
“Our sins are nothing but a
grain of sand along the great mountain of the mercy of God.”
St. John Vianney
LENT DAY 19 (24th March 2019)
(3rd Sunday of Lent)
Exodus 3:7-8
And
the Lord said, „I have seen the miserable state of my people in Egypt. I have heard their appeal to be free of their
slave-drivers. Yes, I am well aware of
their suffering. I mean to deliver them
from the hands of the Egyptians and bring them up out of that land.
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Just as God knows the suffering of his people in Egypt, so too he
knows the suffering that we go through in life.
How does this make me feel?
• Just as the people were enslaved by the Egyptians, so too we are
enslaved by sin. What are the sins that
I am currently struggling with? Am I
able to conquer them?
• God comes to deliver and free his people from bondage. How would God deliver me from sin? What is God willing to do for my freedom and
salvation?
Pray: Lord God, my deliverer and strength. In you alone I place my hope and trust. Give me the conviction and confidence in your
power to deliver me from the bondage of sin and death so that I may experience
your freedom and walk in the light of God.
Amen.
“The greater your
suffering, the greater God‟s love for you.” St. Padre Pio
LENT DAY 20 (25th March 2019)
(Solemnity
of the Annunciation of the Lord)
Luke1:28-31, 38
But
the angel said to her, „Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God‟s favor. Listen!
You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus…‟ „I am the handmaid of the Lord‟ said Mary
„let what you have said be done to me.‟
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• In spite of what the angel told her, Mary still said „yes‟ to
God. How can I be like Mary and say
„yes‟ to God in my life?
• 
Mary said „yes‟, and Jesus came into this world. By saying „yes‟ to God, Jesus comes into my
life. Why do I need Jesus in my
life?
Mary said „yes‟, and Jesus came into this world. By saying „yes‟ to God, Jesus comes into my
life. Why do I need Jesus in my
life?
• Jesus is the center of Mary‟s life; everything she does is because
of him. Is Jesus the center of my life?
Pray: Heavenly Father, you chose Mary to be the
mother of Jesus. Help me to be generous
to your call like Mary so that in saying „yes‟ to you, I too may bring Jesus
into this world as the source of life and salvation. Amen.
“If you ever feel
distressed during your day, call upon our Lady.
Just say this simple prayer:
„Mary, mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now‟.
I must admit: this prayer has never failed me.” St. Mother Teresa
LENT DAY 21 (26th March 2019)
(Tuesday
of the 3rd week of Lent)
Daniel 3:25, 40-42
Azariah
stood in the heart of the fire, and he began to pray: May it be your will that we follow you
wholeheartedly, since those who put their trust in you will not be
disappointed. And now we put our whole
heart into following you, into fearing you and seeking your face once more.
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• The prayer of Azariah expresses his determination to follow God‟s
commandments even if it means suffering persecution. Do I have determination or perseverance like
his?
• Lent is a time when my faith will be tested. God can turn a mess into a message, a test
into a testimony, a trial into triumph and a victim into a victory. Has my faith ever been tested?
• Why should I put my trust in God rather than someone else?
Pray: God our Father, make our hearts burn with
love of you so that we may follow you wholeheartedly. I put my trust in you, for only you can bring
the best out of any situation. Let your
will be done in my life always. Amen.
“Do not let the past
disturb you – just leave everything in the Sacred Heart and begin again
with joy.” St. Mother Teresa
LENT DAY 22 (27th March 2019) (Wednesday
of the 3rd week of Lent)
Read: Deuteronomy 4:1,
Moses
said to the people: „Now, Israel, take
notice of the laws and customs that I teach you today, and observe them, that
you may have life and may enter and take possession of the land that the Lord
the God of your fathers is giving you.‟
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Observing God‟s law and commandments brings life and blessings to
his people. Where do we find God‟s law
and commandments?
• Lent is a time when we reevaluate our priorities by discovering the
things that will bring me to heaven and the things that will not. Do I know my priorities in life?
• That you may have life: God
desires life for all his people. What
kind of life does God desire for his people?
How is this life different from the life the world is offering?
Pray: Lord Jesus, you have come that we may have
life and have it to the full. You are
the source of life. Help me to seek you
with all my heart so that my life would find its fulfillment in your laws and
commandments. Amen.
“Let nothing disturb
you. Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing away. God never
changes.” St. Teresa of Avila
LENT DAY 23 (28th March 2019)
(Thursday of the 3rd week of
Lent)
Luke 11:21-23
So
long as a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are
undisturbed; but when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the
stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil.
„He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me
scatters.‟
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• What are my weaknesses? What
are my strengths? Where does my source
of strength come from? What weakens me?
• What happens when I am not with Jesus or independent from him?
• When I am weak, I am strong because God gives me his strength. Where can I find God‟s strength?
Pray: Faithful God, thank you for loving me at my
worst and carrying me in my weakest. In
you, I find new meaning and purpose and because of this, I can do all things
with Christ who strengthens me. Help me
to remain strong in faith, hope and love.
Amen.
“Jesus remains faithful,
even when we have done wrong, and he waits to forgive us: he is the face
of the merciful
Father. This is a faithful love.”
Pope Francis
LENT DAY 24 (29th March 2019)
(Friday of the 3rd week of Lent)
Hosea 14:2
Israel,
come back to the Lord your God; your iniquity was the cause of your
downfall. Provide yourself with words
and come back to the Lord – I will heal their disloyalty, I will love them with
all my heart, for my anger has turned from them. I will fall like dew on Israel.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Lent is a time when I come back to the Lord. He never grows tire of calling me home. What is keeping me from coming back to
him?
• Lent is a time of healing when God heals my disloyalty. When have I been disloyal to the Lord?
• I will love them with all my heart:
God loves us radically and totally.
Do I love God with all my heart?
Pray: Merciful and gracious God,
you never abandon us to our sinfulness even though we have forgotten you many
times. Thank you for your love which
heals our wounds and your faithfulness which restores our soul. Send your spirit to bring me home to you for
I belong to you. Amen.
“Do not be afraid to throw
yourself on the Lord!
He
will not draw back and let you fall. Put
your worries aside and throw yourself on him; He will welcome you and heal
you.” St.
Augustine
LENT DAY 25 (30th March 2019) (Saturday of the 3rd week of Lent)
Luke 18:13-14
The
tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to
heaven; but he beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me a
sinner.” This man, I tell you, went home
again at rights with God; the other did not.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles
himself will be exalted.‟
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• How did the tax collector pray?
Where did he stand? What did he
do? What does that tell you about his
character?
• God, be merciful to me a sinner:
this prayer of the tax collector tells me that he knew he was a sinner
and that God is merciful. Do I
acknowledge myself as a sinner before God?
• What are some examples in Scriptures to illustrate the fact that Jesus was
humble? Why is it difficult for me to be
humble?
Pray: Lord Jesus, meek and humble of heart. Be merciful to me a sinner. Grant me the grace of repentance so that I
may turn away from sin and return to you so that it is no longer I who live but
Christ who lives in me. Amen.
“Humility, humility, and
always humility.
Satan fears and trembles
before humble souls.”
St. Padre Pio
LENT DAY 26 (31st March 2019)
(4th Sunday of Lent)
(4th Sunday of Lent)
2 Corinthians 5:17
For
anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone,
and now the new one is here. It is all
God‟s work. It was God who reconciled us
to himself through Christ and gave us the work of handing on this
reconciliation.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• What did Jesus have to do in order to make me into a new
creation? Do I prefer the old life or
the new life? Why?
• What do I have to do in order to be a new creation in Christ and
receive this new life in Christ? What
should I do so that I grow in this new life?
• It is all God‟s work: our new
life in Christ is lived in total dependence on God, a life of grace. What would my life be like if I lived in
total dependence on God?
Pray: Almighty Father, thank you for making me a new
creation in Christ. I am not defined by
my failure or mistakes but by the power of your love. Give me a new heart, that I may love and
desire what you love and desire. May I
be always faithful to you. Amen.
“Above all the grace and
the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self.”
St. Francis of Assisi
LENT DAY 27 (1st April 2019)
(Monday of the 4th
week of Lent)
(Monday of the 4th week of Lent)
Read: Isaiah 65:17-19
Thus
says the Lord: Now I create new heavens
and a new earth, and the past will not be remembered, and will come no more to
men‟s minds. Be glad and rejoice forever
and ever for what I am creating, because I now create
Jerusalem
„Joy‟ and her people „Gladness.‟
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• The past will not be remembered:
Why would God say something like this?
What does this tell me about who God is?
• I am a new creation in Christ.
My past mistakes are meant to guide me, not define me. I am forever loved by God. What do I want God to recreate or renew in my
life?
• The Lord comes to bring joy and gladness to my heart. Do I have joy and gladness in my life right
now?
Pray: Loving God, you are the source of my joy and
gladness. Thank you for creating me anew
in the likeness of Jesus. I want to
reflect his glory and goodness. Help me
always to live in newness of life and walk in the confidence that I am chosen
and loved by you forever. Amen.
“The important thing is not
to think much but to love much and so do that which best stirs you to
love. Love is not a great delight but
desire to please God in everything.” St. Teresa of Avila
LENT DAY 28 (2nd April 2019)
(Tuesday of the 4th week of Lent)
LENT DAY 28 (2nd April 2019)(Tuesday of the 4th week of Lent)
Read: John 5:6-9
Jesus
saw him lying there and knew he had been in this condition for a long time, he
said, „Do you want to be well again?‟
„Sir,‟ replied the sick man „I have no one to put me into the pool when
the water is disturbed; and while I am still on the way, someone else gets
there before me.‟ Jesus said, „Get up,
pick up your sleeping-mat and walk.‟ The
man was cured at once, and he picked up his mat and walked away.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Lent is a time to get up and walk in the newness of life. What are the things that paralyze me?
• Jesus asks me the same question today, „Do you want to be well
again?‟ What is it that I want Jesus to
heal in my life?
• Jesus healed with his word.
He commanded and the paralytic was healed. Does the word of God have an important place
in my life?
Pray: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but
only say the word, my soul shall be healed.
There is healing in your word.
You know my condition and so I
entrust all into your healing word. Let
your will be done in my life. Amen.
“We are all sinners, but
God heals us with an abundance of grace, mercy and tenderness.”
Pope Francis
LENT DAY 29 (3rd April 2019)
(Wednesday of the 4th week of Lent)
Read: Isaiah 49:14-15
For
Zion was saying, „The Lord has abandoned me, the Lord has forgotten me.‟ Does a woman forget her baby at the breast,
or fail to cherish the son of her womb?
Yet even if these forget, I will never forget you.
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• „The Lord has abandoned me, the Lord has forgotten me.‟ Why would the people of Israel think that the
Lord has abandoned or forgotten them?
Like Zion, have I ever said this before?
Why would I think that God has abandoned or forgotten me?
• God says, „I will never forget you.‟
How does this word of God change our way of thinking?
• God will never let us down because his love is unconditional. Is my love for God unconditional or
conditional? What is the
difference?
Pray: Heavenly Father, I love because you first
loved me. I am sorry for ever thinking
that you have abandoned or forgotten me.
I repent from it. Fill me with
your Spirit, that wherever I go, I may experience your abiding presence. Amen.
“To fall in love with God
is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the
greatest human achievement.”
St. Augustine
LENT DAY 30 (4th April 2019)
(Thursday
of the 4th week of Lent)
Read: Exodus 32:7-8
The
Lord spoke to Moses, „Go down now, because your people whom you brought out of
Egypt has apostatized. They have been
quick to leave the way I marked out for them; they have made themselves a calf
of molten metal and have worshipped it and offered it sacrifice.
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, but Egypt was still
in their hearts; they went back to the life of idolatry. Is there anything or anyone that I placed
above God in my life?
• Even though God hates sin, but he loves the sinner. When I know that I have wandered away from
God, what is it that I should do?
• A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying. What should I do when I am discouraged and
tempted to give up?
Pray: God of mercy and love, thank you for your
willingness to reach out and bring me back to you for my heart is restless
until its rests in you. Conform my heart
and mind to your will, that I may rise from my failures and stand on your
faithfulness for you are Lord of my life.
Amen.
“When God forgives a sinner
who humbly confesses his sin, the devil loses dominion over the heart that he
had taken.”
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
LENT DAY 31 (5th April 2019)
(Friday of the 4th week of Lent)
(Friday of the 4th week of Lent)
Read: John 7:28-29
Then,
as Jesus taught in the Temple, he cried out:
„Yes, you know me and you know where I came from. Yet I have not come of myself: no, there is one who sent me and I really
come from him, and you do not know him, but I know him because I have come from
him and it was he who sent me.‟
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Jesus came into the world to show us who he is. Do I know Jesus personally or do I merely
know about him? What is the
difference?
• Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. And so, how can I know who Jesus is? How would this knowledge of who Jesus is
change my life?
• Why did Jesus come into the world?
Who is the one who sent him?
Pray: Lord Jesus, to know you is to love you and to
love you is to know you. Send your Holy
Spirit to enlighten my mind and touch my heart so that I may know and love you
with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.
Amen.
“Grant me, O Lord my God, a
mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to
you, faithful perseverance in waiting
for you, and a hope of finally embracing you.”
St. Thomas Aquinas
LENT DAY 32 (6th April 2019)
(Saturday
of the 4th week of Lent)
Read: Jeremiah 11:20
But
you, the Lord of Hosts, who pronounce a just sentence, who probe the loins and
heart, let me see the vengeance you will take on them, for I have committed my
cause to you.
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• For Jeremiah, God is just and looks at the heart of everyone. If the Lord were to look at my heart right
now, what would he find?
• Why am I tempted to take revenge towards those who have wronged
me? For Jeremiah, vengeance is God‟s,
not his. What can I learn from
Jeremiah‟s attitude towards the bad things that happened to him?
• I have committed my cause to you: here, Jeremiah placed his trust in
the will of God. Do I have enough faith
to commit my cause to God? What hinders
me from letting go and trusting God completely?
Pray: Gracious God, there are many things happening
in my life that I don‟t understand but I know that you do. Help me to commit my cause to you for you are
just in all that you do and you know what is best for me. Amen.
“Cast yourself into the
arms of God and be very sure that if he wants anything of you, he will fit you
for the work and give you strength.”
St. Philip Neri
LENT DAY 33 (7th April 2019)(5th Sunday of Lent)
Read: Philippians 3:13-14
I
am far from thinking that I have already won.
All I can say is that I forget the past and I strain ahead for what is
still to come; I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us
upwards to receive in Christ Jesus.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• What is the prize or the goal that St. Paul is talking about
here? When will he receive this
prize? What is the difference between
this prize and the prize that the world offers?
• The key to the success of St. Paul:
I forget the past and I strain ahead:
Can I do this in my life? Is it
difficult for me to forget the past?
Why?
• What happens when I cannot let go of the past? How would it have an effect on my
future?
Pray: Lord Jesus, in all the obstacles that I face
in life, give me the grace of perseverance and determination so that I may run
this race and win the prize of eternal life.
May I trust the past to your mercy, the present to your love and the
future to your providence. Amen.
“Holiness consists simply
in doing God‟s will and being just what God wants us to be.”
St. Therese of Lisieux
LENT DAY 34 (8th April 2019) (Monday of the 5th week of Lent)
Read: John 8:12
Jesus
said to the Pharisees: „I am the light of
the world; anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark; he will have
the light of life.‟
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• What happens to the mind and heart that is darkened by sin? If I walk in the dark, can I find Jesus? Why not?
• Where there is light, there is no darkness. I need the light of Christ to enlighten
me. How can I receive the light of
Christ? What can the light of Christ do
in my life?
• It is in my darkest moment that I must focus to see the light. Lent is a time when I examine my life under
the light of Christ. Have I done my
preparation before my Lenten confession?
Pray: Lord Jesus, light of the world. Shine in my heart and dispel the darkness
deep inside. May your light so permeate
my life so that I may be a reflection of your image and likeness. Help me not to be afraid, but to walk always
in the light of your truth with courage and faith. Amen.
“I plead with you – never,
ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become
discouraged. Be not afraid.” Pope John Paul II
LENT DAY 35 (9th April 2019)
(Tuesday of the 5th week of Lent)
(Tuesday of the 5th week of Lent)
Read: John 8:28-29
„When
you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I
do nothing of myself: what the Father
has taught me is what I preach; he who sent me is with me, and has not left me
to myself, for I always do what pleases him.‟
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Jesus lived a life of humble obedience to the will of the
Father. How can I put this into
practice?
• Jesus always does what pleases the Father. What displeases the Father? How can I please the Father in my daily
life?
LENT DAY 36 (10th April 2019)
(Wednesday of the 5th week of Lent)
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
• Lent is a time when I renew my discipleship with Jesus. According to the words of Jesus today, how
can truly I become his disciples?
• Jesus is the way, truth and life.
Where can I discover the truth of Christ? Why is this truth important for me?
• Sin enslaves us but Jesus set us free. What areas in my life do I need Jesus to set
me free?
“Do not be afraid to be
saints. Follow Jesus
Christ who is the source of
freedom and light. Be open to the Lord
so that he may lighten all your ways.” Pope John Paul II
LENT DAY 37 (11th April 2019)
(Thursday of the 5th week of Lent)
(Thursday of the 5th week of Lent)
Read: Genesis 17:7
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Why would God make covenant with his people? What are the benefits or the blessing of this
covenant?
• What is the difference between covenant and contract? Do I have a contractual relationship with God
or do I have a covenantal relationship with God?
Pray: Loving Father, I thank you for all the
covenants you have made with your people, especially the covenant made through
the blood of Jesus. Give me a steadfast
faith and unwavering hope so that I may be faithful in this covenant with
you. Amen.
“The happiness you are
seeking, the happiness you have a right to enjoy, has a name and a face: it is Jesus of Nazareth.” Pope Benedict XVI
LENT DAY 38 (12th April 2019)
(Friday of the 5th week of Lent)
(Friday of the 5th week of Lent)
Read: John 10:37-38
Jesus
said, „If I am not doing my Father‟s work, there is no need to believe me; but
if I am doing it, then even if you refuse to believe in me, at least believe in
the work I do; then you will know for sure that the Father is in me and I am in
the
Father.‟
A moment of silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• When I pray, God listens.
When I listen, God talks. When I
believe, God works. What can I do to
have a deeper faith, trust and belief in God?
• Jesus is always in communion with the Father. How can I be in communion with the Father and
Jesus? Why is this communion
important?
• Jesus came to do the will of the Father. What is the work that the Father has sent
Jesus to do in this world? What is the
work that God has sent me to do in this world?
Pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you never cease to carry
out the will of the Father. Help me to
dedicate my life on this earth to do what God wants me to do so that my life
will have true purpose and meaning. Give
me the strength so that I can do all things with great love. Amen.
“Not all of us can do great
things. But we can do small things with
great love.”
Mother Teresa
LENT DAY 39 (13th April 2019)
(Saturday of the 5th week of Lent)
LENT DAY 39 (13th April 2019)(Saturday of the 5th week of Lent)
Read: Ezekiel 37:26-27
I
shall make a covenant of peace with them, an eternal covenant with them. I shall resettle them and increase them; I
shall settle my sanctuary among them forever.
I shall make my home above them; I will be their God, they shall be my
people.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Covenant entails lifelong commitment. Am I aware of the covenant that God has made
with me? What are the things that I must
carry out in this covenantal relationship?
• The eternal covenant in Ezekiel is fulfilled in Jesus whose blood
ratifies the new and eternal covenant.
Which part of mass do we find the words, „eternal covenant‟?
• “I will be their God, they shall be my people”: God gives us a sense of belonging. What is the benefit of belonging to God?
Pray: Lord Jesus, you
came and established the new and eternal covenant in your blood. By your blood, I am marked as God‟s precious
child. Give me the courage and strength
to live in this world as your child and may I honor the covenant you made with
me by lives of service and humility.
Amen.
“God loves each of us as
if there were only one of us.” St. Augustine
LENT DAY 40 (14th April 2019)
(Palm Sunday)
(Palm Sunday)
Read: Philippians 2:6-7
His
state was divine, yet Christ Jesus did not cling to his equality with God but
emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave and became as men are; and
being as all men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a
cross.
A moment of
silence to meditate on the Word of God
Reflect:
• Imagine the pain and suffering that Jesus had to endure while nailed
to the cross. Why would Jesus empty
himself and accept death on a cross?
• We begin Holy Week today.
Jesus invites me to accompany him on the way of the cross.
What
is my answer to him?
Pray: We adore you O Christ and we praise you
because by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world. Help me to be faithful to you so that I may
always glory in your cross, which is the source of my life and salvation. Amen.
“There is no evil to be
faced that Christ does not face with us.
There is no enemy that Christ has
not already conquered. There
is no cross to bear that Christ has not already borne for us, and does not now
bear with us.”
Pope John Paul II
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