Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Since the Ascension God's plan has entered into its fulfillment. We are already at "the last hour."
- CCC No. 670

Reflection: There is a great deal of speculation about whether or not we are living in "the end times," but, in fact, the Church still proclaims what the first followers of Jesus knew, that the "end of the age" began with the Ascension of Christ and will continue until his return.


Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to prepare for your return with a spirit of joyful hope.

From: Day by Day with the Catechism (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, March 25, 2011

Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, precedes us into the Father's glorious kingdom so that we, the members of his Body, may live in the hope of one day being with him for ever.
- CCC No. 666

Reflection: The Ascension---not the Resurrection---is the real source of our hope. If Jesus' Resurrection only mean living forever on earth, that would not be good news! The Ascension points us to our ultimate destiny beyond this earth.


Prayer: Jesus, help us to lift our eyes beyond the borders of this earthly life to our eternal destiny with you.

From: Day by Day with the Catechism (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, March 24, 2011

All truths, even those most inaccessible to human reason, find their justification if Christ by his Resurrection has given the definitive proof of his divine authority, which he had promised.
- CCC No. 651

Reflection: By his resurrection from the dead, Christ "earned our trust" so to speak, so that we may embrace even the most difficult of his teachings. It makes no sense to believe the Resurrection but question his power to work miracles, the Eucharist, or hard teaching like "love your enemies."

Prayer: Lord, let the truth of your Resurrection take root in our hearts.

From: Day by Day with the Catechism (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, March 22, 2011

By means of touch and the sharing of a meal, the risen Jesus establishes direct contact with his disciples...yet at the same time this authentic, real body possesses the new properties of a glorious body: not limited by space and time but able to be present how and when he wills.
- CCC No. 645

Reflection: The resurrected Jesus, as he is presented in the Gospels, defies human definition. This is not a ghost, not a dream or an apparition.


Prayer: Resurrected Christ, we acknowledge your presence among us. Remain with us always.

From: Day by Day with the Catechism (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, March 21, 2011

The mystery of Christ's resurrection is a real event, with manifestations that were historically verified, as the New Testament bears witness.
- CCC No. 639

Reflection: A real live human being was killed and then rose from the dead. This is not a myth or symbol. Jesus didn't return as a ghost, or merely live on as an inspirational memory. He really rose from the dead. The more honestly we wrestle with that, the more firmly we will believe it.


Prayer: Jesus, help me to really know you and to experience the power of your resurrection.

From: Day by Day with the Catechism (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, March 15, 2011

From the first moment of his Incarnation the Son embraces the Father's plan of divine salvation in his redemptive mission: "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work."
- CCC No. 606

Reflection: In the Gospel portrait of Jesus, we see a man on a mission. From the moment of his baptism to his death on the cross Jesus remains focused on fulfilling God's plan for him.


Prayer: Lord, help us to overcome all that distracts us to that we may focus on and never waver from our goal to serve you.

From: Day by Day with the Catechism (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, March 14, 2011

To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of "predestination," he includes in it each person's free response to his grace.
- CCC No. 600

Reflection: God has so much respect for us that first he lets us make our own choice in response to his activity, then works out his loving plan, never allowing our mistakes and sins to thwart his great design.


Prayer: Father, give us wisdom to know your will and strength to carry it out, for in your will is our peace.

From: Day by Day with the Catechism (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, March 09, 2011 (Ash Wednesday)

The ashes we use are the burnt palms from last year's celebration of Passion Sunday.
We begin our Lenten journey aware of where we are going.
We want to enter into the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus for us more fully.
That is the purpose of our journey. It is why we mark our heads with his cross.
It is why we fast today and abstain from meat.


Our Lenten program is not an effort to save ourselves.
We have been saved by his sacrifice.
Our self-denial helps us, in the darkness that surrounds us,
to prepare ourselves to receive his light.
For this is a journey to the Easter font,
where we will renew the promises of our Baptism,
remembering that in dying with him in the waters of Baptism,
we are re-born with him to everlasting life.


This year's journey begins today.

Yet even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;

Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.

- Joel 2:12-13

Source

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, March 07, 2011

Christ enables us to live in him all that he himself lived, and he lives it in us.
- CCC No. 521

Reflection: The imitation of Christ is the goal of every Christian. But we are meant to be more than just actors, mimicking Christ. We are to be channels, animated by Christ himself, as he lives his life in us. His triumphs, sufferings, his glory and all the graces he possessed, he shares with us when we die to self and allow him to live in us.


Prayer: Thank you for dying for me, dear Jesus. May I live for you. May you live in me.

From: Day by Day with the Catechism (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)