March 13
“When we accept our disappointment at our failures, God immediately
returns to us.”
-St. Therese of Lisieux
Today's Reflection
Lent is the time to be rid of that stubborn pride which does not wish to accept the fact that we might not be as perfect as we imagined. What imperfection are you ready to accept today?
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March 12
“The meek are those who know how to suffer their neighbor and themselves.”
-St. John of the Cross
Sayings of Light and Love, (16th Century)
Today's Reflection
Meekness is not weakness! This is the virtue that gives us strength to remain steadfast and self-possessed even in adversity which often comes in the form of our own – or our neighbor’s - annoying habits. Ask God for the grace to accept our own faults and those of others with meekness and charity.
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March 11
“The law detects, but grace alone conquers sin.”
-St. Augustine: Of Continence (5th Century)
Today's Reflection
Did you ask God for the grace to conquer your bad habits this Lent, or are you trying to do it all yourself? By relying on yourself, you block the grace God wants to give you. Replace your self-reliance with humility and allow yourself to receive God’s help.
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March 10
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind . . .”
-Romans 12:2
Today's Reflection
It’s much easier to become worldly than it is to become other-worldly. For the former, we need only to turn on the nightly news. For the latter, we need the grace of God. Pray today for the grace to reject worldly ideas and to see ourselves – and our world – as God sees it!
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March 9
"I know now that true charity consists in bearing all our neighbors' defects--not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues."
-Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Today's Reflection
Are you tempted to judge the defects of your neighbor? Let us examine today how much we "bear all our neighbors' defects. How charity are our thoughts and action toward them? Resolve today to grow in love by reaching beyond your limits of giving.
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March 8
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like,
it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”
-St. Augustine: Sermons (5th Century)
Today's Reflection
Make this the day you pray, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” and bring to His healing heart all of those truths of the Gospel that you doubt or that seem too hard for you to follow.
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March 7
“You must remember to love people and use things,
rather than to love things and use people.”
- Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
Today's Reflection
Lent is a good time to examine the heart and determine what – or who - is occupying the most place. Is it ourselves, our loved ones, our things? How much space does God occupy in your heart?
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March 6
“Fasting is a medicine.”
-St. John Chrysostom: Homilies (4th century)
Today's Reflection
Sin injures us in many ways, especially in our ability to love like Jesus. When we deny ourselves a pleasure out of repentance for sin, this action becomes like a healing balm upon our wounded heart and enables us to become a more loving person.
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March 5
“We do not become perfect by the multiplication of exercises, penances,
and austerities, but rather by the purity of love with which we do them.”
-St. Francis de Sales: Spiritual Conferences 13 (17th Century)
Today's Reflection
When you give up something for Lent, why are you doing it? Out of habit, because it’s what is expected of you, or out of love for the God?
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March 4
“The power of choosing good and evil is within the reach of all.”
-Origen: De Principiis, 2. (3rd century)
Today's Reflection
“Choice” is a buzzword that is often used to mask sin and make evil appear to be anything but what it is – evil. Lent is the time to tear away the masks, examine the choices we made in life, and repent of those that were wrong.
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