I suppose this is what Jesus’ disciples felt like on this day. They had just been put through a horrendous test. The Master had been killed. Brutally hung on a cross. Would they ever see Him again? Certainly the hope was there. And yet, they must also have felt a real sense of hopelessness. The one that they thought was the Messiah was gone. How could God do this to them? How could God do this to Him? Imagine how they must have felt.

Of course, we have the benefit of knowing the end of the story. And tonight (Easter Vigil) or tomorrow (Easter Mass) we will have the joy of celebrating the Resurrection. If you walk into a Catholic church today, you will see that the altar is bare. But this is just “the calm before the storm.” Only this “storm” is the most joyous storm in the history of eternity!

Father, we pray that we have grown during our Lenten journey. Fill us with anticipation as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

      

Today’s first reading from Isaiah 52 is one of the most beautiful and emotional of the Church year. Listen to what Jesus did for us.

Yet it was our infirmities that he bore,
our sufferings that he endured,
while we thought of him as stricken,
as one smitten by God and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our offenses,
crushed for our sins;
upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole,
by his stripes we were healed.
We had all gone astray like sheep,
each following his own way;
but the LORD laid upon him
the guilt of us all.

Today we reflect upon the cross. Yes, we are a resurrection people. But, as the old saying goes, you can’t get to the resurrection without going through the cross.

Father, we thank you for the sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the cross. Help us to never take that sacrifice for granted. We thank you for our healing by His stripes. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

Today’s first reading contains God’s instructions for the children of Israel for the Passover. At the end of the passage, God says, “This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate with pilgrimage to the LORD, as a perpetual institution.” Even today, the Jews celebrate the Passover, not as a past event, but they believe they are participating in that “perpetual institution.”

Catholics believe the same thing about the Mass. The Mass is a participation in the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ on Calvary. We don’t believe that we are simply commemorating a past event. For us, the Mass – the new Passover – is also a perpetual institution. And just as at Passover the Jews must eat the flesh of the lamb, so do we eat the Flesh of the Lamb of God.

Father, we thank you for Christ, our Paschal Lamb. May we come to a greater knowledge of and love for the perpetual institution we celebrate in the Mass. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

On Wednesday of Holy Week, we think about Judas. Judas is a very enigmatic character in the Gospel story. Was he chosen from all time to be the betrayer of the Messiah? That doesn’t seem quite fair, does it? Or did Judas have a free will? Could he, at any point, have changed course and not given Jesus up? And at what point did he realize that things had spun wildly out of control? Did he ever regret his eternity-altering decision?

You and I probably have a lot more in common with Judas than we may like to acknowledge. We must always remember that he was one of the Twelve. Chosen and sent. And yet he turned on Jesus. Thinking of Judas and my propensity to imitate him always reminds me of an old saying. It has been attributed to St. Alphonse or St. Philip Neri. “Be mindful of me today, Lord. I could turn on you at any time.”

Father, forgive us for those times when we turn on you. Help us to recognize our betrayals more quickly, and free us from all selfishness, the cause of our betrayal. Amen.

Today’s Readings

      

Judas has just left from the Last Supper. Jesus tells the Eleven that he is going away, and that they cannot come with Him. Peter says, "Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answers, "Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times."

Pope Benedict XVI wrote a beautiful reflection about the two sides of Peter.

"We have grown accustomed to making a clear distinction between Peter the rock and Peter the denier of Christ - the denier of Christ: that is Peter as he was before Easter; the rock: that is Peter as he was after Pentecost, the Peter of whom we have constructed a singularly idealistic image. But, in reality, he was at both times both of these... has it not been thus throughout the history of the Church that the pope, the successor of Peter, has been at once Petra and Skandalon - both the rock of God and a stumbling block? In fact, the faithful will always have to reckon with this paradox of the divine dispensation that shames their pride again and again." (Pope Benedict XVI)

While Pope Benedict XVI may have been writing about the pope (himself), he certainly could have similar words about me. I can be a rock or a stumbling block, often within seconds of each. How about you?

Father, you know that we, too, vacillate between a rock and a stumbling block. May our faith in Christ be always increasing. Amen.

Today's Readings 

      

In today’s Gospel reading from John 12, Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anoints the feet of Jesus with costly perfumed oil. Judas Iscariot objects, saying, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” Jesus replies, “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

There have always been poor people. And there always will be. But why? After all, God could end all poverty in the blink of an eye. I believe it all stems from two things: the fall of man, and free will. Material poverty is one thing. But I believe we’re all “poor in spirit” to one degree or another. We have a Christian duty to help the poor. But let’s always remember that that doesn’t just mean the materially poor. Always having the poor presents us with endless opportunities to be a blessing to others - both materially and spiritually.

Father, give us a generous spirit, that we may minister to all the poor. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

There are some who don’t really care for today’s Mass. Too long, they say. Ugh…we have to stand for the entire reading of the Passion. My feet hurt. The readers are boring. Can’t they hurry; don’t they know there’s a game on TV?! Life is filled with little inconveniences, isn’t it? I wonder how inconvenient it may have seemed to Jesus when He was getting whipped and beaten to a bloody pulp. Or if He thought about how much His feet hurt while He was walking the Via Dolorosa. Or if He bothered to check His sundial every two minutes while He was hanging on the cross. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?

This is a day for us to recall all that He suffered for us. Perhaps if we think of that glorious ride into Jerusalem and the rapidity with which the people turned against Him, we can put aside our petty inconveniences for just a moment. Maybe the fact that we will spend an extra 12 minutes at Mass might begin to pale in comparison to the sacrifice He bore for us. When your belly begins to grumble because your coffee and donut fix is a few minutes late, offer it up!

Father, we thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus for us. Help us to remember that all of our sacrifices are small in comparison. Give us the grace to unite all of our sacrifices with His. Amen.

Today’s Readings

      

In the Gospel reading today from John 11, Caiaphas, the high priest, says to the Sanhedrin, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” This is when the plot was hatched in earnest to have Jesus killed.

We all know that Jesus died for all. He paid the price for the sins of the world. We must never lose sight of the smaller picture though. Not only did Jesus die for the nation (meaning all people), He died for YOU. And if you were the only person on earth, Jesus would still have paid the ultimate price for you. Have you thanked Him for that lately?

Father, thank you for sending your Son to die for me. May I always show my gratitude for His sacrifice for me. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

In the Gospel reading from John 10, Jesus tells the people, “If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” In essence, Jesus was telling them that if they didn’t believe what He was saying, then at least believe what He was doing. Actions speak louder than words.

I believe a similar principle can be applied in our own lives. There may be times where our faith wavers. We may be going to church and reading the Bible, but something’s missing. That’s when we need to open our eyes and see the works of Jesus, the grace of God in our lives; because it’s always there. See it, believe it.

Father, thank you for Jesus pouring out grace into our lives. May we recognize this more each day, and believe. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

In our society today, we tend to think in terms of contract, not covenant. Many people look at marriage as a contractual agreement. But it isn’t. Marriage is a covenant. And a covenant is way different than a contract. A contract is for an exchange of goods and services. You do this for me, and I will give this to you. But a covenant is a mutual giving of persons. Listen to the covenant that God makes: “I will be your God and you shall be my people.” In essence, “I give myself to you, and you give yourself to me.”

We often think in contractual, or transactional, terms with God, as well. "Okay, Lord, if I do more good stuff than bad in my life then you have to let me into heaven." That's so wrong-headed. We need more covenant thinking. "Lord, as you have given yourself freely and fully to me, I give myself freely and fully to you."

Father, we thank you for being our God. For always watching over us and giving yourself freely and fully to us. Help us today to give ourselves freely and completely to you. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

The Gospel reading from Luke 1 is the story of the Annunciation. We may also think of it as the Incarnation, because upon Mary's "yes," God took on flesh in the womb of Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." With those words, the world was changed forever.

Mary's "yes" was the most momentous occasion in the history of the world. We must always remember to imitate our Blessed Mother, who said "yes" to God at every moment of her life. You see, when we do that, our "yes" can change the world as well. Not only can it, rather, it does change the world. It may be in ways unseen and unknown to us and the rest of the world, but God knows. And our faithfulness will always be rewarded.

Father, help us to say "yes" to your will always, that we, too, may change the world. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

We know that Satan took the form of a serpent in the garden. In the story from Numbers, we can think of these serpents as representative of Satan. Satan's poison is sin. Our antidote for that poison is Jesus. There is one place where the analogy diverges, and it is an important distinction.

For the Israelites, they may not have had a choice about whether they were bitten by a serpent. But when it comes to us and Satan, we have a choice. We can choose to allow him room in our lives, or we can choose to keep him out and be faithful to God. So the question today is simply this: Are you allowing room for the serpent in your life today?

Father, when our lives are filled with You, there is no room for the serpent. May we keep him at bay by filling our lives with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” Of course the elders, the scribes and the Pharisees all walked away, one by one. They knew that they had been punked. Of course, Jesus’ message was one of mercy. After they had all left, Jesus says to the woman, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

We can be so quick to condemn. While I acknowledge that there is certainly evil in the world and some people do wicked things on purpose, I believe that most people are just doing their best to get by. This is not to say that sinning is alright. But I have found that just about everyone has some justification for their sins. Before we go casting stones, perhaps we should remember the actions of Jesus. Show mercy, and encourage our brethren to go and sin no more.

Father, teach us mercy. Help us to not be so quick to throw stones. Give us the grace to own up to our own actions, and to have mercy on others who share our struggles. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

And Jesus wept.

There's so much power in this shortest of all Scripture verses. Jesus wept for his friend Lazarus, yet He knew what was about to happen - that He would raise him from the dead. It shows Jesus' love and humanity. It also makes me think about other things that would make Jesus weep. Like my many sins, the times when I turn my back on Him. The souls of those who have rejected Him. Today, let's reflect on those times where we may cause Jesus to weep, and to repent of those things.

Father, forgive us for the times when we may cause Jesus to weep. Create in us a clean heart. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

"O LORD of hosts, you who test the just, who probe mind and heart, let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause."

We can be very vengeful people, can't we? Even though we ourselves may not act out in revenge, I think we're often like Jeremiah and would very much like to see God enact vengeance on our foes. Crush 'em like a bug, Lord!! Because if God crushes them, we can still claim our moral high ground because we didn't do the deed, right? But isn't wishing that bad things will befall someone - even at the hand of God - wrong? I think so...

Father, forgive us for our vengeful spirit. As we pray for blessings on those we love, we also pray for blessings on those we need to love better. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

It goes on. "He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD...his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways. He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure."

While this is a perfect descriptor of Jesus, could it not be of Christians today? I think many today feel the same way as the people in this reading. When we stand up for life, for Christian values, we are obnoxious to them. They feel about us much the same as the people in this reading. But just as Christ stood up for truth because of His great love, so must we. Even though we may be treated much the same.

Father, increase our love, our strength, our confidence in you. Even though we may be viewed as obnoxious, may we always stand for truth. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

Did you know that not a word of Joseph’s is recorded in the Scriptures? But, many of Joseph’s actions are recorded. I think that this speaks volumes about the person of Joseph. He was certainly a devout and humble man that always did whatever God asked of him. And how special must he have been? After all, he was the one chosen from all time to care for the Messiah and His mother. He was the one who taught Jesus how to behave; taught him a trade and gave him a work ethic. He was the one tasked with protecting the child Jesus and Mary from people and forces that would come against them. He was the one who showed them what holy, masculine love truly was. Joseph was the perfect example of a protector, provider and teacher.

As a father, Joseph is especially precious to me. We fathers must work to pattern our fatherhood after blessed St. Joseph, who was surely the most perfect of earthly fathers. He let his actions speak for him. He always did God’s will, no matter how difficult, no matter what other people may have thought. He took a young virgin as his wife, spirited her and the child off to Egypt, then back to Nazareth to make a home for them, all the while dedicating his whole life to God. Husbands and Dads, are we following the example of St. Joseph? Ask today for his intercession that we might be husbands and fathers more like him.

Father, we thank you for the gift and example of St. Joseph. We pray especially for fathers today. Help us to imitate the man that you chose to help raise your Son. Blessed St. Joseph, pray for us. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

In the first reading from Isaiah 49, the LORD says this: “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.”

The bond between mother and child is so powerful. It may be the strongest human bond of all. Yet we know that there are times when even that bond may fail. God assures us that the bond between God and you will never be broken – at least by him. There is never anything that you could say or do that would make God love you any less. That is an iron-clad guarantee. So remember, even in those moments where you may feel that God doesn’t even know you exist, He never has, nor ever will, forget you.

Father, we thank you for always remembering us, always keeping us close to your heart. May we do the same to you. Amen.

Today’s Readings

      

In the Gospel reading from John 5, Jesus cures a man who has been ill for thirty-eight years. Jesus slipped away, and met up with the man later. He told him, "Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you." Why would Jesus say this? And what could be worse than being inform for thirty-eight years?

Even though the man had been healed, Jesus knew the power of sin. The devil is constantly tempting us, hoping we will fall into sin, severing our relationship with God. This could lead to something far worse than physical infirmity - the loss of hope or even the loss of our soul. Problems of the flesh are not fun, but they pale in comparison to losing our soul. Christ has power over sin, so we must always stay close to and rely on Him and His strength.

Father, help us to sin no more. Keep us ever close to you through your Son, Christ Jesus. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

In the first reading from Isaiah 65, we read about our future (if we remain faithful). "There shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create...No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there, or the sound of crying."

It's always good to remember that as Christians, we know the end of the story. And today the LORD, through Isaiah, tells us the end of the story. Though we suffer now, our eternal future looks really bright. Let us always cling to this hope for our bright future.

Father, we await with joy the new heavens and new earth. May we always remain faithful that we may participate in this bright future. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

In the second reading from Ephesians 5, St. Paul talks about darkness and light, and writes, "Everything exposed by the light becomes visible." And our Gospel reading from John 9 is the story of Jesus healing the man born blind.

Do you ever thank God for your eyesight? For those of us that can see, we probably take it for granted. Today, though, let's think not only about our eyesight, but our vision. Let's go to a deeper level. What if we could see the way God sees? What if we could look at people the way Jesus looked at people? Getting past the visual and truly trying to "see" them with spiritual eyes. Let's ask God today to give us true vision.

Father, we thank you for the amazing ability to be able to see. Help us to have your eyes - the eyes of Christ - that we may truly see. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

A Pharisee thanks God that he is not like all the low-lifes out there, including a tax collector who is with him in the temple. “I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on whole income.” Impressive, no? Well…no. The tax collector won’t even raise his eyes and prays, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” No airs, no pretensions; just a plea from the heart acknowledging how puny he was. Jesus ends with, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Pharisee’s great sin, of course, was pride. He thought himself better than everyone else because of his righteous deeds. How often do we fall into that trap? I can tell you it happens to me. I see a well-dressed couple give up a single dollar bill in the collection basket at Mass and think to myself, “Glad I’m not stingy like them! Don’t forget to look at the numbers on my check, Lord!” Of course, the Lord doesn’t see the numbers on my check. He sees the black spot on my heart. And calls me to repentance.

Father, help me to repent of my great pride. If I refuse to humble myself, I ask you to humble me today, O God. Amen.

Today's Readings

You'll find great resources to grow in knowledge of the faith at www.GusLloyd.com. 

      

A scribe replies affirming Jesus, saying that the two commandments are “worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. When Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” Wow! Quite the compliment, no? How I would love to hear Jesus say those words to me. And the reason He said this is because the scribe “got it.”

There are times in my life when I really get it. The true message of love for God and love of neighbor goes right to the core of my soul. Unfortunately, there are also times when I don’t get it. I let my own pride, anger or selfishness get in the way of getting it. It’s a good thing that God is very patient with me. When it comes to understanding God’s ways, I really, really want to get it!

Father, help us to get it today. Help us to understand more and more how to love You more, and love our neighbor more. Amen.

Today's Readings

Share the faith this Easter with your whole parish by giving away copies of A Minute in the Church, available for just $1,50 a copy in bulk at www.GusLloyd.com. 

      

The first reading today from Jeremiah 7 takes a rather dire tone. God recounts the state of the people. It is not pretty. “But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs, not their faces, to me. When you speak all these words to them, they will not listen to you either; when you call to them, they will not answer you. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech.”

Faithfulness has disappeared. Could these same words of Jeremiah not have been written yesterday? Sometimes we can look around at the world and feel that same way, that faithfulness has disappeared. The devil is strong and seems to be influencing more hearts and minds than God is. We can be tempted to lose hope. We must never let that happen! As long as a seed of faith is alive in your heart, there is hope. When we allow God to grow our faithfulness, then we can begin the process of turning around the world. May our faithfulness grow today, and may we share our faith with others.

Father, our hope is in you. Help us to grow in faith and love today, that we may help faithfulness to reappear more and more. Amen.

Today’s Readings

      

In the first reading from Deuteronomy 4, Moses teaches “the statutes and decrees as the Lord, my God, has commanded me…Observe them carefully…” Then in the Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.” He goes on to say that “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.”

Rules are a part of life. Everything has rules – school, work, family, organizations – everything! Including religion. Many don’t want to acknowledge rules regarding the practice of the faith. Or perhaps it’s just that they don’t want to follow the rules; they don’t want to obey. Obedience is a difficult thing, especially when it challenges us, when it cuts against our nature. But obey we must. And we must teach others to obey. There will be a heavy price for disobedience. And an even heavier price for those who teach others to be disobedient. Let’s pray that God will give us the grace to obey and teach.

Father, you know how we dislike rules; we hate to be told what we should do. Give us the grace to accept and obey your laws, and to teach others to do so. Amen.

Today’s Readings

Could you teach the faith in one minute? You can with A Minute in the Church! Order copies today for your parish to give away at Easter at www.GusLloyd.com. 

      

Jesus responds, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” You may have also heard this as “seventy times seven times.” In any case, Jesus is saying that there should be no end to our forgiveness. Jesus then goes on to tell a story of a man who was forgiven a great debt by the king, but then would not forgive a man who owed him a very small amount. The king did not take this well, and handed the man over to the torturers. Jesus then says, “So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.” Ouch!

We always have to remember that forgiveness is not an emotion. Like love, it is an act of the will. We may not FEEL like extending forgiveness to someone. And the more egregious the sin, the less we FEEL like forgiving. But forgiveness is not about how we feel. In fact, the act of forgiving is often in direct conflict with how we feel. We can’t really choose how we feel. But we can choose how we act. So no matter how difficult it may be, let us choose to forgive.

Father, you always forgive us, no matter how little we deserve it. Help us this day to choose forgiveness, no matter how badly we’ve been hurt. Amen.

Today’s Readings

Today’s Gospel reading is one of the many Scripture passages included in Magnetic Christianity. Get your copy today and become a more Magnetic Christian!

      

Jesus is in the synagogue at Nazareth, his own hometown. He tells the people, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.” He then goes on to recount how Elisha, a powerful prophet, could not cure any lepers in Israel except Naaman, a foreigner. Elisha performed more miracles than any of the other prophets. Yet now lepers would be cured. Why is that? Perhaps it is because people knew Elisha. He was Elijah’s understudy. How could Jesus be a mighty man of God? After all, they knew him since he was a kid.

So it can be with us. We, too, are called to be prophets. To share with others the Word of God. You’ll probably find that, in your prophetic ministry, you, too, will have a hard time being accepted “in your own hometown.” Often the people that know us best have the hardest time believing that we have changed; that we have become “new creations in Christ Jesus.” They know better, right? They’ve seen you at your worst. Friend, don’t let that stop you! Stay the course! Be a prophet! Live your life in Christ and that will speak volumes to them. It may take years, but eventually they will get the message. And even if they don’t, you are called to keep living and delivering the message.

Father, thank you for calling us to be prophets. Give us the grace to persevere in our prophetic mission, whether we are accepted in our own hometown or not. Amen.

Today’s Readings

      

Jesus meets up with a Samaritan woman at a well. Two unusual things automatically pop into mind here. First, the woman was a Samaritan. A good Jew would NEVER have dealings with a Samaritan. Second, the woman was a woman. Striking up a conversation with a strange woman was way outside of protocol. Once again, Jesus is breaking down barriers. He reveals to the woman who he really is, the Messiah. She is convinced, and begins to spread the word about him. And the scripture tells us that many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him.

Are we willing to break down barriers? Or are we stuck in our own little ruts, only dealing with the people with whom we are familiar and around whom we are comfortable. Jesus was comfortable around everyone. Do you know why? Because He loved everyone. He had nothing to be afraid of. His comfort zones were everywhere. The Bible tells us that perfect love casts out all fear. Can we be more like Jesus, able to break down barriers with love?

Father, forgive us for those times when we put up barriers because of our own fears. Give us the kind of love that breaks down barriers. Amen.

Today’s Readings

      

The older son in the story is often forgotten, or vilified for being unloving. Think of him as the un-prodigal son. He objects when his father throws a huge banquet for his irresponsible brother, yet he never so much as got a small party, even though he was faithful all his life. I don't know about you, but I can sure relate with the older son. I get him.

Perhaps the older son's gravest error was forgetting that the father loved him just as much as he did the younger son. I'm sure he broke his father's heart saying what he did. Let's give the un-prodigal son credit for his faithfulness, and be sure we never doubt the Father's love for us.

Father, help us never to doubt your love for us, and rejoice when the lost are found. Amen.

Today's Readings

      

In the Gospel reading from Matthew 21, Jesus tells a parable about a landowner and his tenants. The landowner sends his servants to obtain his produce, but the tenants beat and killed them. So the landowner sent his son, thinking they would respect him. But they killed him as well.

Envy is listed as one of the seven deadly sins. It is jealousy on steroids, which incites one to evil action. Envy causes us to wish destruction on another. If we love someone, we are happy for their successes. But envy can cause us to be bitter and angry and lash out in inappropriate ways. Search your heart for envy today, and replace it with love and good will.

Father, forgive us for our envy. May we be truly happy for others out of a pure love for them. Amen.

Today’s Readings

In A Minute in the Church: Back to the Basics is a section on the seven deadly sins, including envy. Learn more about the basics of the faith at www.GusLloyd.com.