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My prayer is that I will grow closer to Christ through my reflections.



Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Lord, in your great love, answer me.
I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving: “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”
Psalm 69


Blessed be God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit! Your mercy and love is great and it lasts forever!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night.

When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.”

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him,
“Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “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.”
Jn 13


Lord this reading is so troubling to me. How hard it must have been to know who would betray and deny You. For me it would be better not to know. Why did the other apostles not try to stop him? I know it was God's plan for our salvation but the apostles did not know that. Was Judas' betrayal about money? Throughout time Your people have chosen fortune and power over Your love. How lonely You must have been. Lord we all want to follow You to heaven but like Peter we want to avoid the cross. Lord we try but we are weak. Thank You for giving us the opportunity to be forgiven and return to You no matter how many times we fail. Thank You Lord for the gift of Your love and salvation. Thank You for loving in my weakness.

Friday, March 26, 2010

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Praised be the LORD, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies.
The breakers of death surged round about me, the destroying floods overwhelmed me; The cords of the nether world enmeshed me, the snares of death overtook me.
In my distress I called upon the LORD and cried out to my God; From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.
Psalm 18


All throughout my life Lord You have heard and comforted me. You have been my rock, my sanctuary. Thank You Lord, I love You!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Brothers and sisters: It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats take away sins. For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’” First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law. Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Heb 10


It is beyond our comprehension that the Creator of the world would become one of it's creatures. That You did this because of Your love for us, is a love beyond our imagination. If we could only comprehend and imagine such a thing, we would be different creatures. Our faithfulness would never falter, our convictions would always be strong. Give me Lord the ability to imagine and comprehend the reality of Your love.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Glory and praise for ever!
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.” “Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. “Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” “Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim; praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” “Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever.”
Glory and praise for ever!
Daniel 3


How very blessed we are to have the Eucharist. We can be with You in heaven while we are here on earth. Help me to always remember and appreciate this awesome gift of Yourself that You have given to us. Glory and praise for ever!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”
Jn 8


Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the great I AM. I strive for what is above. Send me the grace to persevere in the world so that I may join You in heaven.

Monday, March 22, 2010

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.
Psalm 23


Lord, long has this psalm been a comfort to me. Hold me like a lamb, tightly in Your embrace. Guide me, protect me, love me.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” Then each went to his own house.
Jn 7


Lord there is so much prejudice and hatred in our world. Everyone on some level looks at others and passes judgement on them. Where did they come from? Who do they know? What are they wearing? Are they better than me? Are they less than me? Help me to see others as You see them. Help me to see others based on the "fruit that they bear". Help me to make wise choices. Help me to balance, wisely choosing my associations but at the same time not judging others. To hate the sin but not the sinner. You are my Lord and God!

Friday, March 19, 2010

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.
Lk 2


Lord every time I hear this story I think about how Mary and Joseph must have felt. Parenting brings not only great joys but also great worries. I so wish that I could "fix" my children's problems and concerns. Yet, I know how much I have learned and grown from dealing with my own problems. I would not want to remove the wisdom that they will gain from their life experiences. How hard it must be for You to have given us free will. Help me to know the right things to say and the right things to do or not do (as the case may be). Help me to remember that as much as I love them, You love them infinitely more. Please send each one the grace and wisdom to lead their lives according to Your plan. I know that only when this happens will we find true happiness.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying, “Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent he brought them out, that he might kill them in the mountains and exterminate them from the face of the earth’? Let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.’“ So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.
Ex 32


Lord, Your mercy is great. You have saved Your people over and over again. No greater gift can a man give than to give his life for a friend. And You gave Your life for sinners. I am a sinner Lord but I am also Your friend. Please forgive me my sins and embrace my friendship, my love. Help it to grow!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Thus says the LORD: In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you; and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, To restore the land and allot the desolate heritages, Saying to the prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness: Show yourselves! Along the ways they shall find pasture, on every bare height shall their pastures be. They shall not hunger or thirst, nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them; For he who pities them leads them and guides them beside springs of water. I will cut a road through all my mountains, and make my highways level. See, some shall come from afar, others from the north and the west, and some from the land of Syene. Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth,
break forth into song, you mountains. For the LORD comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted.

But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.
Is 49



I am so blessed because You love me. Help me to have the forgiveness, courage, motivation and devotion to You that St. Patrick has.
Christ be with me, Christ within me
Christ behind me, Christ before me
Christ beside me, Christ to win me
Christ to comfort me and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger
Christ in hearts of all that love me
Christ in mouth of friend or stranger.
ST PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE (390-461 A.D.)

Monday, March 15, 2010

Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger lasts but a moment; a lifetime, his good will. At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Psalm 30


I will praise You Lord for You have rescued me!!! I believe You Lord, help my unbleief. I trust You Lord, help my untrusting. I love You Lord, help my unloving.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

"Come, let us return to the LORD, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence. Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.” .... For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hos 6



Lord I offer You my heart, my life, my soul. Forgive me for what I have done and what I have failed to do. Take my offering and make it complete, fill up what is lacking. I pray that Your will be done in my life and in the world in which I live.

Friday, March 12, 2010

R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
O Israel, will you not hear me?” “There shall be no strange god among you nor shall you worship any alien god. I, the LORD, am your God who led you forth from the land of Egypt.”

“If only my people would hear me, and Israel walk in my ways, I would feed them with the best of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would fill them.”
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
Psalm 81


Lord, there are so many good things that distract us from You. Help me to always remember that these good gifts show the love of the Creator. How can these things seem more appealing than the lover who gave them? Help me to keep my priorities straight. Send me the grace to always walk with You as my goal, my love, my Lord.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Psalm 95


You alone are my Lord and God! You alone do I worship. Thank you Lord for Your gift of faith, Your grace sustains me!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees as the LORD, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy. Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?
Dt 4


Lord I am so worried about our country and about the future. I know that ultimately the victory is Yours and we must persevere in our belief. I want the world my children and grandchildren live in to be one of peace. Our great country was founded on and followed Your decrees. We were a beacon to the world. Now..... we have turned away from You and everything seems to be unraveling. Please Lord bless this country. Send Your Spirit to change hearts so that we will turn back to You. Open the hearts of all who lead to Your Word. I love You Lord and my hope is in You.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water?

Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

“Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.”
Jn 4


Lord I thirst for living water. Quench my thirst for You. Fill my heart with an unending passion for You. Send me Your Spirit so that I may worship You in spirit and in truth. Guide my life so that I may be pleasing to You. I love You Lord, thank You for loving me.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Sunshine

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of sunshine.  It was one of many blessings today, and I am grateful to You for all of them.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.
Mi 7



Lord, forgive my sins and hold me close to Your heart. You are great and wonderful. Thank You for Your gifts of compassion and salvation. My soul proclaims Your glory!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned.

What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.”

Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
Mt 21


Jesus, so many good gifts You have given to me. I am so very blessed. Help me Lord when You send people into my life to do and say the right things. Help me to remember Your generosity and respond to others the same way. May my life and the gifts You have given to me, help to build the kingdom of heaven.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mt 20


Lord, who am I to serve? Guide my life.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’“
Mt 20


Lord, I have heard Your words over and over again. Why is it that they do not stay next to my heart as I wish they would. Believing is the easier part, doing is what is hard. Help me live my life always in Your ways. Help me to always remember Your love. Help me to always remember my deisre to be with You forever.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Hear the word of the LORD, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah! Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.

Come now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool. If you are willing, and obey, you shall eat the good things of the land; But if you refuse and resist, the sword shall consume you: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken!
Is 1


Lord there is so much evil in our world today. I am fearful that Your wrath will wipe us away like Sodom and Gomorrah! How much You must love us to give us so many chances to turn to You. Lord there is also much good. There are so many people who love You and are trying to follw in Your footsteps. Help me to love You more deeply and follow You more completely. Show me how to lead others closer to You. Put Your words in my mouth and courage in my soul to say and do the right things at the right time. I love You Lord, may Your will be done!

Monday, March 1, 2010

“Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments!
Dn 9



Lord I am so blessed! You have given me so much. Thank You for my wonderful husband. I know that he did not want another pet yet he filled my wishes anyway. This new puppy is such a joy! He brings so much happines to me. He reminds me again how wonderful You are Lord. You have created a great and wonderful world and I am very thankful! Blessed be God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!