Category: Daily Reflections for Lent

“Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’” —Luke 15:31-32

When I worked as a hospital chaplain on an in-patient drug and alcohol rehab floor,

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. —Psalm 51:1-2

My professor of sacramental theology surprised us one day by saying,

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” —Mark 12:28

There’s a crowd of people around Jesus with different views on interpreting their religious laws: there are Pharisees,

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. —Psalm 95:7-8

As a spiritual director, people often ask me, “How do I know God is talking?” or “How do I know it’s God’s voice and not just my imagination?” These are great questions,

But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.

“Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” —Matthew 18:21-22

I don’t know about you,

This week is the second anniversary of when my region of the country shut down, and sheltering-in-place began in hopes of reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations. Like many, we thought we were hunkering down for two weeks at home with the kids.

“‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” —Luke 13:8-9

I had this parable in mind for years after we planted an apricot tree in our backyard.

We are at the end of the second week of Lent now. How has this season been for you? Does it feel different from the rest of your year, or have you not entirely entered into the spirit of it yet?

Are Fridays in Lent any different for you than Fridays during the rest of the year? Like many Catholics my age or older, Fridays in Lent conjure images of fish sticks for dinner. Since I’m a vegetarian now, I can sometimes go an entire Lenten season without thinking about the value behind the call to go meatless.

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord… They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious,

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit,