I listened to Matthew 6 at the beginning of Lent, as I do every year. This Gospel reading on Ash Wednesday reminds us how to pray, fast, and give alms. It’s one that I remember from my childhood and going to Catholic school. Of course, as I get older, I pay more attention to theContinue reading “Why I Had a Simple Lent: Things that I learned about Lent and about myself”
Category Archives: Lent
According to His Timing
For this Sunday’s Gospel and the other Scrutiny Year A readings, click here! When I pray, I ask God to answer my prayers in His “perfect timing.” I lift up my friends and family and offer Him my intentions. After my laundry list of prayers, I end with “Father, I ask that You answer theseContinue reading “According to His Timing”
Sent as a Witness
For this Sunday’s Gospel and other Year A Scrutiny readings, click here! We often hear people ask “Why do bad things happen to good people?” I can think of a lot of reasons why, but Jesus gives us an answer in the Scrutiny Year A readings which are optional for this Sunday. Jesus says thatContinue reading “Sent as a Witness”
Almsgiving: the Third Pillar of Lent
Almsgiving as a Pillar of LentI feel like almsgiving, or giving alms, is one of the most often forgotten pillar of Lent. Like I mentioned in last week’s fasting post, it seems like we’re more preoccupied by what we’re giving up for Lent. Almsgiving requires us to look outside ourselves and give to others. TheContinue reading “Almsgiving: the Third Pillar of Lent”
With the Woman at the Well
For this Sunday’s Gospel and other Mass readings, click here! The Woman at the Well is one of my favorite Gospel passages. It’s close to my heart, and it has a lot of wisdom in it. Jesus uses the image of living water in His longest recorded conversation in the Bible, and it’s with aContinue reading “With the Woman at the Well”
Fasting: the Second Pillar of Lent
Fasting as a Pillar of LentIf one of the pillars of Lent was the most widely practiced, I assume that it would be fasting. I always hear people ask, “What are you giving up for Lent?” but I rarely hear people ask, “What are you praying this Lent?” or “How are you giving alms thisContinue reading “Fasting: the Second Pillar of Lent”
Encountering the Glory of Jesus
For this Sunday’s Gospel and other Mass readings, click here! The Transfiguration is one of my favorite Gospel readings. I love that Jesus gave Peter, James, and John, the same disciples who would accompany Him in His agony, the gift of witnessing His glory. Every time I hear this reading, I think of how awesomeContinue reading “Encountering the Glory of Jesus”
Prayer: the First Pillar of Lent
What are the three pillars of Lent?Around Lent, I love to talk about the three pillars of Lent for a few reasons. I never knew about them until I was in college. Fr. Adam would give talks about Lent whenever the season started, and he always stressed the three pillars of Lent, which are prayer,Continue reading “Prayer: the First Pillar of Lent”
What Will Happen to Us in the Desert?
For this Sunday’s Gospel and other Mass readings, click here! I remember hearing this Gospel reading when I was little, and I always compared the season of Lent to being in the desert. Jesus intentionally took time to pray and fast in the desert, and since we’re called to be like Him, we spend aContinue reading “What Will Happen to Us in the Desert?”
Sharing in the Last Supper
“For this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28 Missing the EucharistI think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been missing the Eucharist lately. Especially today, I’m longing for the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus. My heart isContinue reading “Sharing in the Last Supper”
Radiant with Joy 