meditations for the first week of lent w e h i r s t o … · 2017-11-14 · during which we...

Today’s Gospel contains two important aspects to the

beginning of Jesus’ ministry. We are told that he went out into the desert for forty days, where he was tempted by Satan and ministered to by angels. Next Mark says that,

a� er the death of John the Baptist, Jesus announced that the “time of fulfi lment” was at hand and began his preaching and teaching.

What lesson lies here for us? While Lent is a time of service to others, it must also be a time of preparation and renewal of self. We cannot give what we do not have. Just as Jesus had to spend time in the desert, so we, too, need to take time this season to allow God to show us where we need to change and give us the courage and conviction to act on those changes. � is give and take is part of the fl ow of life and one of the great lessons of Lent.

Meditations for the First Week of Lent

W E T H I R S T F O R Y O U ,

O L O R D

Repent and BelieveMark 1:12–15

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Before Jesus began his ministry, the Spirit “drove him out into the desert.” A� er forty days he emerged to announce that the kingdom of God was at hand and to encourage the people to “repent, and believe in the gospel.” As we begin the season of Lent, we, too, enter into our own desert.

❯ What will I do this Lentas an outward sign of myrepentance?

❯ How might I deepen myrelationship with God this holyseason?

❯ How do I overcometemptation?

FOR REFLECTION

Lenten PrayerUnto to you, I cry, my God!

“You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” — Genesis 3:19

Lord, help us see today and all of its stresses in the light of your eternal love.

CatechismCONNECTION “By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church, 540

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SIGNS OF THE SEASON

LentThe word “Lent” has a specifi c religious connotation today, but originally it was used to mean “spring.”

The Color PurpleThe deep purple color that fi lls the Church during Lent symbolizes Christ’s su� ering and death but, because purple is also the color of royalty, it foreshadows Christ’s kingship and resurrection.

Ash WednesdayOn this fi rst day of Lent, we receive ashes in the form of a cross on our forehead and are reminded to “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” In receiving ashes, we embrace Jesus’ journey: the cross of su� ering and the promise of resurrection. We are marked as believers, as sinners, and as people in need of Christ’s forgiveness and salvation.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

Family Calvary StonesThe days of Lent have traditionally been used as a spiritual pilgrimage,

during which we symbolically travel with Jesus to his death on the cross. To help emphasize the idea of Lent as a journey, collect forty small stones, one for each day of the season. (� ese are sometimes available at cra� stores.) Each night at dinner, pray for one person and write his or her name with a marker on one of the pebbles. Collect the stones in a small bowl, and during Holy Week use them to make a “mound” of prayer that holds up a crucifi x.

OUR FAITH

Forty Days in the DesertWhy did Jesus spend forty days in the desert before beginning his

ministry? � e number forty has a special meaning in Scripture and is symbolic of preparation before a major life change. Moses spent forty days fasting and praying on Mount Zion when he received the Ten Commandments (Ex 34:28). An Israelite patrol spent forty days spying on the land of Canaan before reporting back to Moses and Aaron (Nm 13:25). And the entire Israelite people spent forty years wandering in the desert before gaining access to the promised land (Nm 14:34). Jesus likewise spent forty days before leaving his old life as the son of the carpenter to bring new life to the entire world.

Fasting and Abstinence

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• Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of both abstinence and fasting.

• Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence (abstaining from meat).

• Ash Wednesday is forty-six days before Easter, but Lent is considered forty days long, because Sundays are not counted as days of Lent.

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Meditations for the Second Week of Lent


O L O R D

Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him up the mountain where he was

transfi gured before them. When the experience was over, Jesus told them not to say anything about what they saw until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept silent, but the three of them couldn’t help but talk among themselves about what rising from the dead could mean.

� e Transfi guration is a powerful reminder that death is not the end of life. If death meant complete annihilation, as some believe, then Elijah and Moses would not have appeared on either side of Jesus. In this way, the Transfi guration foreshadows the Resurrection. Although the apostles didn’t understand what was happening at the time, later, when the

Son of Man had risen from the dead, they were able to understand what the Transfi guration meant.

During this second week of Lent, we are asked to think about how we can be transformed through the power of the risen Lord, and we are reminded that one day we, too, will be resurrected.

He Was Transformed Before ThemMark 9:2–10

❯ What would I like transformed in my life by Easter?

❯ As I look over my life, what are some areas where God has already transformed me?

❯ What is one sacrificial action I can perform this week?

FOR REFLECTION


“Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” — 1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Dear God, I don’t know what lies ahead for me, but I trust that your love will be with me now and until the end of time.

CatechismCONNECTION“For a moment Jesus discloses his divine glory, confi rming Peter’s confession. He also reveals that he will have to go by the way of the cross at Jerusalem in order to ‘enter into his glory.’” — Catechism of the Catholic Church, 555

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FAMILY ACTIVITY

Stations of the CrossIf you cannot attend Stations of

the Cross at your parish, create your own. While many Stations in churches are elaborate and ornate, all that is required is to have fourteen crosses, preferably wooden, located so that you can take a step or two between each one. As a family activity, create fourteen crosses from small twigs or branches and place them in a line in your backyard or living room. Walk together as a family, remembering the events of the Passion. At each cross, bow or kneel and say, “Because of your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.”

OUR FAITH

The Last Four ThingsSaint Alphonsus Liguori recommended

that we contemplate the “last four things” especially during Lent. �ese are: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. While talking about these with children can be difficult, parents can use the season of Lent as a way to gently introduce the topics. One aspect to emphasize is that heaven, as Pope Saint John Paul II said, is not “an abstraction nor a physical place in the clouds, but a living, personal relationship with the Holy Trinity.” Heaven, then, is living an eternity in the presence of and in relationship with our loving God. Likewise, the Church teaches that hell is not so much a physical place, but the choice to turn away from God and the deep pain of separation from Our Lord (see CCC 1033).

SIGNS OF THE SEASON

Mount of TransfigurationThe traditional location for the Mount of Transfiguration is Mount Tabor, about eleven miles west of the Sea of Galilee. Mount Tabor rises about 1,800 feet above the level plain below. It was identified as the site of the Transfiguration as early as the third century by the theologian Origen. The Church of the Transfiguration, a Franciscan church built on the ruins of a centuries-old Byzantine church, now stands at the summit of Mount Tabor.

1. Jesus Is Condemned to Death 2. Jesus Accepts His Cross 3. Jesus Falls the First Time 4. Jesus Meets His Mother 5. Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross 6. Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus 7. Jesus Falls the Second Time

8. Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem 9. Jesus Falls the �ird Time Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross Jesus Dies on the Cross Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross Jesus Is Placed in the Tomb

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Meditations for the Third Week of Lent


O L O R D

❯ When I attend Mass, am I fully aware that I am in the presence of God during that time?

❯ When was the last time I went to confession?

❯ As we enter the third week of Lent, what progress have I made spiritually? Do I need to make a “course correction” for the remaining weeks?

FOR REFLECTIONWhen Jesus saw the money-changers, merchants, sheep, oxen,

and doves at the Temple, he became angered, not because of what they were doing, but because of where they were doing it. Making the act of worship into a commercial, for-profi t enterprise by selling those animals within the Temple made a mockery of a sacred duty.

� e temptation to turn faith into profi t is still with us. Today, as in Jesus’ time, there is wealth to be made in religion and spirituality. At the same time, there is a pull to make Sunday

worship into just another thing we do every week, instead of a true act of reverence. When we come to Mass, we can be distracted by worldly aff airs, more concerned with what we (or someone else) is wearing, even slipping out early so that we can get on with “real life.” In today’s Gospel, Jesus is showing us that the time we give to God needs to be given freely and fully — without being compromised by anything else. � is Lent, let us make the time we spend at Mass a highlight of our week.

Out of the Temple John 2:13–25


“As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.” — Psalm 42:1

My Lord, as we enter into the third week of Lent, help me to put aside worldly concerns and focus more deeply and completely on you.

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SIGNS OF THE SEASON

The ScrutiniesThis week and two following weeks, we celebrate the Scrutinies. Their purpose is “to uncover, then heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good. For the Scrutinies are celebrated in order to deliver the elect from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. These rites, therefore, should complete the conversion of the elect and deepen their resolve to hold fast to Christ and to carry out their decision to love God above all.” (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, 141)

While specifi cally designed for those who are entering the Church, all of us can benefi t from the Scrutinies by examining our hearts and consciences for both healing and strengthening.

The Corporal Works of Mercy

Feed the hungry Give drink to the thirsty

Clothe the naked Shelter the homeless

Visit the sick Visit the imprisoned

Bury the dead

The Spiritual Works of Mercy

Admonish the sinner Instruct the ignorant Counsel the doubtful

Comfort the sorrowful Bear wrongs patiently

Forgive all injuries Pray for the living and the dead

CatechismCONNECTION “In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path (cf. Ps 119:105), we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our conscience before the Lord’s Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others, and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.”

— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1785

OUR FAITH

Works of MercyAlong with prayer, fasting, and

almsgiving, we are encouraged to perform both corporal and spiritual acts of mercy during Lent. During the next few weeks, try to do at least one act of mercy.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

Crown of ThornsTo encourage children to

perform good deeds and make small sacrifi ces during Lent, make a “crown of thorns.” Twist a rope of tan modeling clay into a circle and then stud it with toothpicks. Each time someone in the family makes a sacrifi ce or does a good deed, pull one of the toothpick “thorns” out of the “crown.” Try to remove all the “thorns” by Good Friday.

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The events that give rise to the teachings in today’s Gospel begin

a few verses before when the Pharisee Nicodemus comes to visit Jesus secretly in the night. Nicodemus has heard about Jesus and is curious, but he is also afraid. He wants to believe, but he isn’t quite ready to make a public commitment.

� e people of the Gospels aren’t so very diff erent from us. Nicodemus

is intrigued by Jesus but unwilling to be seen publicly with him. How o� en have you learned that someone you’ve known for a long time is or was raised as a Catholic? � is is particularly true of famous people who are afraid that making their faith public will harm their careers. Sometimes we fall victim to this same temptation, hiding our faith out of fear. However, we should remember that while we fear that we may be mocked or made fun of for our faith, in some parts of the world today, people

actually are being killed for their Christian beliefs.

Truly the words of John 3:16 (“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life”) are at the heart of our Catholic faith. � e season of Lent is the perfect reminder that we are called to let our faith show in our daily lives — with joy and fervor!

Meditations for the Fourth Week of Lent


O L O R D

Proclaiming the FaithJohn 3:14–21

❯ Do the people I work with, go to school with, and spend free time with know that I am Catholic?

❯ Who encourages me most in my faith? Who can I encourage?

❯ How can I come more closely to the light of Jesus this Lent?

FOR REFLECTION

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SIGNS OF THE SEASON

The Color PurpleThe liturgical color for Lent is purple, symbolizing pain, su� ering, and mourning. But why purple? Purple was the most expensive color in biblical times. Extracted from a sea snail, it took as many as 12,000 shells to get enough dye to color a handkerchief. Because of the enormous cost, only the wealthiest (almost exclusively royalty) wore purple garments. When soldiers mocked Jesus for being the “King of the Jews,” they put a purple robe on his shoulders to belittle his claim. Therefore, we use the color purple during Lent to remind us of the Passion and death of the Lord.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

Pretzel PrayersOnce considered the offi cial

Catholic food of Lent, pretzels date back at least 1,400 years. Because fat, eggs, and milk were part of the Lenten abstinence, these little bites of bread made only with fl our, salt, and water were invented. � ey were wrapped in the shape of arms crossed in prayer and the three holes in the middle represented the Trinity. Traditionally, pretzels were the perfect food to share with people who were struggling for food or living on the streets because they didn’t spoil easily. Make your own pretzels as a family (fi nd a recipe on the Internet) and share them with someone in need in your neighborhood or community.

OUR FAITH

A Good PhariseeAlthough the word “Pharisee” has come

to have a very negative connotation, not all Pharisees were wicked. Nicodemus, the

curious Pharisee in today’s Gospel, was one of those who eventually followed Jesus.

Besides his secret visit to Jesus at night, he appears twice more in Scripture. A member of the Sanhedrin, he defends Jesus when the chief priests and other Pharisees are debating what to do with Jesus. And a� er the Crucifi xion, along

with Joseph of Arimathaea, he brought about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloe

to anoint Jesus’ body. Tradition says that he was martyred for the Faith.


“No one who lights a lamp hides it away or places it [under a bushel basket], but on a lampstand so that those who enter might see the light.” — Luke 11:33

Lord, give me the courage to be a brave and bold witness to you in all that I say and do.

CatechismCONNECTION“By giving up his own Son for our sins, God manifests that his plan for us is one of benevolent love, prior to any merit on our part: ‘In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.’ God ‘shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.’”

— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 604

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Pretzel Prayers

bread made only with fl our, salt, and water were invented. � ey were wrapped in the shape of arms crossed in prayer and the three holes in the middle represented the Trinity. Traditionally, pretzels were the

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Meditations for the Fif th Week of Lent


O L O R D

As the Gospel opens, Jesus is well aware that his time on

earth is coming to a close. In fact, he admits that he is “troubled,” but adds, “Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Upset as he admits he is, he still puts the Father fi rst.

In today’s Gospel, a voice responds to Jesus’ prayer by saying, “I have glorifi ed it and will glorify it again.” In the second part of this passage, Jesus tries to explain to the crowds his true identity, the Son of Man, and the real meaning of the cross — the salvation of all the world.

� rough his obedience to the Father, Jesus reveals God’s glory.

He foreshadows his crucifi xion and death through the language of service: “If someone might give service to me, let him follow. Where I am, there also will be my servant.” As we enter the fi nal weeks of Lent, we are called to bring forth the glory of the Lord as we follow Christ in service to God and one another. Let us remember not just the pain of Christ’s passion, but the reason for his death — to bring us the gi� of reconciliation with God the Father.

The Son of ManJohn 12:20–33

❯ Am I carving out enough time to pray this Lenten season?

❯ Is there someone in my life that I need to forgive?

❯ How am I doing on keeping my Lenten discipline?

FOR REFLECTION


“This is the promise that he made us: eternal life.” — 1 John 2:25

� ank you, my God, for your steadfast love, which guides me in this life and waits to welcome me home to the next.

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SIGNS OF THE SEASON

FastingFasting, one of the Lenten practices, is often observed as fasting from food. It is not because our bodies need to be punished (or that we need to go on a diet). We fast to allow our physical hunger to remind us of our spiritual hunger, our need for God. We fast to remind ourselves of our baptismal commitment and need for renewal.

Fasting not only reminds us of our dependence on God but also on the needs of others, the hungry and the poor. Fasting is a Gospel value, but not fasting by itself. Fasting and almsgiving are Gospel twins. Our tradition of fasting has never been to purge, to deprive the body for deprivation’s sake, but to have more to give away. We fast in order to place ourselves in solidarity with the poor and hungry. If the grocery money saved by our fasting does not somehow help feed the poor and hungry then our fasting is empty and useless.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

Random Acts of KindnessPart of penance is service, and we are called to serve one another with

joyful hearts! As a family, write out several random acts of kindness that can be carried out over the week. Include things like smiling at someone, picking up trash, inviting someone to play a game, making a phone call to a grandparent, and helping someone carry a package. � roughout the week, have each family member draw a slip and complete the action. When everyone has completed their random act, talk about what happened and how it felt. Be sure to pray for the recipients of your acts of kindness.

CatechismCONNECTION“It is called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest’s sacramental absolution God grants the penitent ‘pardon and peace.’ It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to the sinner the life of God who reconciles: ‘Be reconciled to God.’” — Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1424

OUR FAITH

The Sacrament of ReconciliationAccording to Church law, all Catholics “having reached the age

of discretion” are required to confess all “grave sins” at least one a year. It is also recommended that they confess venial sins. Lent is the ideal time to make a good confession. Most parishes off er extended confession times and even special penance services.

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The fi nal week of Jesus’ life was fi lled with activity, from his

triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Sunday until his death on Friday. We remember his actions, his prayers, his trial, his suff erings, and fi nally his death. As Lent draws to a close, we have the opportunity to join our sorrows more deeply with him so that we, too, can rise again with him on Easter.

Today we are given the entire story of the Passion that will play

out this week. One way to enter more fully into these events is to imagine that you are present at Christ’s passion. Take in the details and think about what you would have been thinking or feeling if you were present when Jesus entered into Jerusalem to be greeted by palms and “Hosannas.” How would you have reacted when the woman poured precious oil on

his feet? What would have been going through your

mind at the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, or the Way of the Cross? By allowing yourself to enter more fully into the experience of the Passion, Easter Sunday will become even more meaningful.


O L O R D

The King of the JewsMark 14:1—15:47

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❯ What part of the Passion narrativetouches me the most deeply?

❯ Can I set aside time this week tosimply be in the presence of theLord?

❯ How might I more fully immersemyself in Holy Week this year?

FOR REFLECTION

Meditations for the Sixth Week of Lent

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SIGNS OF THE SEASON

Holy WeekHoly Thursday has a dual emphasis. During the liturgy, we recall the Last Supper and the First Eucharist. At the same time, we commemorate the establishment of the priesthood. As you attend Mass, be sure to pray for all the priests around the world, especially those in areas of persecution.

Good Friday is the only day of the year on which Mass is not celebrated. The special Good Friday liturgy, in its solemnity, invites us to enter deeply into the passion of Our Lord. Remember that today is a day of fasting and abstinence.

Holy Saturday is the fi nal day of preparation for Easter. During the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night, new members are brought into the Church, and we celebrate the great mystery of our redemption. The Paschal candle that is lit at the Vigil is a sign of the Easter mystery.

OUR FAITH

The Suffering ServantThe Old Testament, especially the Book of

Isaiah, foretold that the Messiah would have to suff er and die. During this Holy Week, look up the following Scripture passages and see how they can be applied to Jesus, the Suff ering Servant of God.

• Isaiah 42 — God’s servant will bringjustice to the nations.

• Isaiah 49 — � e words of God’s servantabout himself.

• Isaiah 50 — How salvation will comethrough the suff ering of God’s servant.

• Isaiah 52 — � e suff ering of God’sservant will be the salvation of manynations and peoples.

FAMILY ACTIVITY

It is customary to color eggs for Easter in many cultures around

the world. Eggs symbolize new life, and they are a wonderful reminder of the new life Christ attained for us. If you have a traditional way of coloring eggs, pass it down and keep alive the tradition. You may also fi nd a white crayon and write the words, “Alleluia” or “He is Risen!” on the eggs before placing them in the dye. Display your fi nished eggs or give them as Easter gi� s.


“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” — Psalm 22:2

Out of the depths of my sorrow, I call to you. Do not let me be forgotten, Lord, but hear and answer me.

CatechismCONNECTION“Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem manifested the coming of the kingdom that the King-Messiah was going to accomplish by the Passover of his Death and Resurrection. It is with the celebration of that entry on Palm Sunday that the Church’s liturgy solemnly opens Holy Week.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church, 560

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meditations for the first week of lent w e h i r s t o … · 2017-11-14 · during which we...

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