Lent 2nd Week , Tuesday, March 10th

Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 / Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus rebukes the Pharisees: “They widen their phylacteries.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-6,8 reads: “Hear, 0 Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words....Bind them at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead.” which held tiny scrolls. The boxes were strapped to the left arm (signifying subjugation of the heart to God) and on the forehead (signifying subjugation of the mind to God).

Lent 2nd Week, Monday, Mar 9th

Daniel 9:4-10 / Luke 6:36-38

Jesus teaches his disciples: “Stop judging and you will not be judged.”

A young businessman began dating a charming young actress. The relationship developed to the point that the businessman was pondering marriage. So, he hired a detective agency to investigate the actress. He wanted to make absolutely sure that there was nothing in her past that would embarrass him. The agency assigned to the case an agent who was told nothing of the client’s identity. When the agent filed his report, it read: “The lady is a tremendous young woman, except for one blemish. Recently she has been keeping company with a businessman of questionable reputation.”

President Obama's Farewell Speech - For today's World

1st Week of Lent, Saturday - Mar 7th

Deut 26:16-19 / Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus teaches about love: “Pray for your persecutors"

A father and his son were traveling by bus. The father inadvertently violated a minor safety regulation. The bus driver went berserk. He verbally abused the father, humiliating him in front of his little son and the rest of the passengers. After it was all over, the boy said to his father, “Dad, you didn't have to take that He was out of line.”

1st Week of Lent, Friday - Mar 6th

Ezekiel 18:21-28 / Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus teaches about anger: “The angry person is liable to judgment.” 

1st Week of Lent, Thursday - Mar 5th

Esther 4:10-12,17-19 / Matthew 7:7-12
Jesus talks about prayer: "Ask and it will be given to you."

March 2-7: Reflections

March 2 Monday: Matthew 25: 31-46: “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. 34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ 40 And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 …46 USCCB video reflections: http://www.usccb.org/bible/reflections/index.cfm

Lent 2nd Sunday A - Transfiguration

Opening Story:

1) The Samurai Warrior and the Zen Master 

One day, a Samurai warrior went to a Zen master for instruction. "Please," the huge man asked in a thundering voice that was used to instant obedience, "teach me about heaven and hell."
The master scowled at the swordsman, then broke into mocking laughter. "Me, teach you about heaven and hell? I wouldn't waste a moment trying to instruct the brain of an overweight ignoramus like you! How dare you ask me for such a lofty insight?" 

Lent 1st Week - Wednesday

1st Week of Lent, Wednesday, Mar 4

Jonah 3:1-10 / Luke 11:29-32

People asked Jesus for a sign

“No sign will be given." 

The sign of Jonah was the radical conversion of the Ninevites as a result of Jonah’s preaching. The Ninevites underwent a radical conversion because they heard God's voice in Jonah's. The reason they converted was that their ears and hearts were open to what Jonah had to say. The Jews weren't converted when they heard Jesus preach because they didn't recognize God's voice in his. And the reason they didn't do this was that their ears and hearts were closed to what Jesus had to say. If the Jews had opened their hearts to Jesus’ preaching, they too would have seen the "sign of Jonah,” a radical conversion of themselves and their brothers and sisters.

Who hurts you? Abraham Lincoln

When Abraham Lincoln became the president of America, his father was a shoemaker.  And, naturally, egoistic people were very much offended that a shoemaker’s son should become the president.   On the first day, as Abraham Lincoln entered to give his inaugural address, just in the middle, one man stood up.  He was a very rich aristocrat.  He said, “Mr. Lincoln, you should not forget that your father used to make shoes for my family.”  And the whole Senate laughed; they thought that they had made a fool of Abraham Lincoln.