March 31: DAY OF SILENCE

The Lord GOD is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let him confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?

BE QUIET TODAY. As much as possible, spend time in silence. Talk as little as you can, and when you have opportunities to listen to music or watch TV, choose to do something silently instead. Ask God for His help to live in the silence today. It is not an easy thing to do, and the silence can often be awkward and even scary. Take a minute to think of how Jesus remained silent while others mocked Him, cursed Him, and spoke lies about Him. Thank Jesus for continuing to love us in the midst of our indifference

March 30: I will never deny 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.”

Take a minute or two to think of a time when you denied Christ. Think of a time when you didn't stand up for your faith, or maybe when you joined others in mocking the faith. Tell God that you're sorry for this, and ask for His forgiveness. Ask God for the grace that He gave St. Peter to live for Christ even after he denied Jesus 3 times.

March 29: Love the Lonely

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
To open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

Love someone who seems lonely today. Maybe it means sitting with them, smiling at them, or just saying "hello" and asking them how they're doing today. It may be someone at school, it may be an older person that you see in your neighborhood, it may even be someone in your family. Ask God for the courage to step out and let this person know that you care about them. Ask God to bless this person today, and ask Him to let them know how much He loves them

March 27: Help-A-Child

I will make with them a covenant of peace;
it shall be an everlasting covenant with them,
and I will multiply them, and put my sanctuary among them forever.
My dwelling shall be with them;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people

Find an opportunity today to help someone who is younger than you. Ask God to provide an opportunity to help someone, and take a few minutes to thank Him for lowering Himself to help us.

March 26: Skip-a-Meal

But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion

MISS ONE MEAL TODAY. Offer this sacrifice as a prayer. When you're hungry, take a few minutes to imagine that this is just a small glimpse of the pain that Jesus endured so that you could be know you are loved by God. Take a minute to realize that the hunger you chose for a few hours is something that millions of people experience every day as they struggle with poverty. Thank God for suffering for you, and pray for those who go without food today.

March 25: Hail Mary

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation. This is the day that the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would become the mother of our Savior. Spend a few minutes in prayer, praying the mystery of the Annunciation (Our Father, 10 Hail Mary's, and the Glory Be prayer). Don't just repeat the words mindlessly, try to focus on what the experience must've been like for Mary. While praying, thank God for choosing to come as one of us to save us from sin and reveal His love.

March 24: Alms for the Poor

If our God, whom we serve,
can save us from the white-hot furnace
and from your hands, O king, may he save us!
But even if he will not, know, O king,
that we will not serve your god
or worship the golden statue that you set up.”


DONATE MONEY TO SOMEONE IN NEED TODAY.
In the movie "Into the Wild," there is a powerful scene where the character burns his money. No, I am not at all encouraging you to do this (In fact, it's a federal offense). The strange act shows that the main character refuses to value materialism anymore. Today I want you to donate money to a charitable cause. Give it to an organization that helps the poor, like the church or another poverty-relief organization or cause. God doesn't want your money because He's run out of cash. He wants your money because you need to know that it does not belong to you. He wants you to give your money to show that you don't cling to it as a god in your life. Just like the Israelites were asked to kill a lamb and sprinkle its blood on their doorpost as a sign that the wouldn't worship animals like the rest of the Egyptians, we are called to sacrifice our money to be free from our attachment to materialism. Don't just give a few pennies, sacrifice money that you would've spent on a movie, a video game, or a meal.

March 23: Never Alone

"The one who sent me is with me.
He has not left me alone,
because I always do what is pleasing to him.”

Take a few minutes to think of one time that you knew God was with you. If you've never had this experience, ask God to show you one time when He stood by you in your difficulties. Thank Him for never leaving you alone. Tell Him that you never want to leave Him.

March 22: Skip-a-Meal

Jesus spoke to them again, saying,
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”

Skip a meal today. Whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner, choose to fast from one meal today. When you feel hungry, tell God that you offer up this hunger as a prayer to Him, and tell Him that you want to hunger for Him like you hunger for food.

March 20: Deeeee-Fense

O LORD, my God, in you I take refuge;
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,
Lest I become like the lion’s prey,
to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me

Think of one person in your life who has been your defender. Think of someone who has supported and encouraged you in a difficult time. Thank them for what they've done. Take a few minutes to thank God for the people He's put in your life to defend you, and thank Him for being a constant defender in your life

March 19: Be Like Joe

“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.

Today, ask God for the faith of St. Joseph. Ask God for the grace to follow His call in your life. Ask Him to show you how to love others today. And then do it.

March 18: Father's Day

I came in the name of my Father,

but you do not accept me;
yet if another comes in his own name,
you will accept him.
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another
and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?

Today, let your dad know that you love him. Tell him what you admire about him. I know that some of us have strained relationships with our dads, but it will really mean a lot for you to let him know that you love him and that you're grateful for who he is. Thank God for the gift of your father.

March 17: You Mom

Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.

Today, let your mother know that you love her and let her know why you're thankful for her. Your mom probably doesn't want to just hear a list of the things she does for you. Let her know why you love her, let her know what qualities you admire in her. At some point today, thank God today for your mother. Thank God for choosing her to bring you into the world. Even if your relationship with your mother is difficult, make the effort to thank her and pray for her today.

March 16: Holy Water

The angel brought me, Ezekiel,
back to the entrance of the temple of the LORD,
and I saw water flowing out
from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east

Today, just drink water. Don't have juice, coffee, soda, or even Powerade Zero! Offer up this small sacrifice for someone you want to pray for. When you feel the craving for a different drink, tell God that you want to thirst for Him like you thirst for the coffee, soda, or whatever you're craving.

March 15: Hug-A-Tree

Thus says the LORD:
Lo, I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
The things of the past shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness
in what I create;

Today, take a few minutes to thank God for what He's created in nature. If possible, take a short walk outside to just enjoy how amazing our world is. It's so easy to just take the earth for granted, so take a few minutes to think of times when you've been blown away by natural beauty, and thank God for the beauty of His creation

March 13: Humble Yourself.

for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Humble yourself today. Let other people go in front of you in a line, pick up trash if you see it, hold your tongue if you have an opportunity to brag or talk about your own accomplishments today. Ask God for the gift of humility (warning: this is one of those prayers that He always answers quickly)

March 12: Tearing Down Altars

“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.”

What are the "strange gods" in your life?
What are the other things that you look to for fulfillment? Is it popularity? Is it success and achievement in school? Sports? Money? Something else? When you think of one (or a few) of these false gods in your life, tell God that you don't want to bow to them anymore. Tell Him that He is the only God you want to live for. Ask Him to help free you from attachment to these false gods.

March 11: Bow Down

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.

Tonight, before you go to bed, spend 5 minutes praying to God on your knees. It may seem unimportant whether you stand, sit, or kneel, but this is an opportunity to learn how our posture says a lot. When we kneel, our bodies reflect the attitude of our hearts; we come as beggars before God. Your prayers themselves could be simple written prayers (Our Father, Angel of God, etc) or it could just be a time of praising God just for being God, thanking God for what He's done, offering petitions, and acknowledging your sins.

March 10: Remember

“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,
but teach them to your children and to your children’s children

We are a forgetful people. God has done so much for us, and yet when we pray, we can only remember the things that He hasn't done yet. Today, take a few minutes to think of 3 concrete ways that God has provided for your life, and thank Him for providing. Try to spend time later in the day remembering more things that He has done for you. A simple, whispered "thank you" is a beautiful prayer that you can pray at any time you recognize His movement in your life.

March 9: Wonders.

Do not let us be put to shame,
but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.
Deliver us by your wonders,
and bring glory to your name, O Lord.”

How big is your God? Do you only say "realistic" prayers? Do you only ask God for things that seem practical? What if you prayed for Him to work WONDERS in your life, in your family, in your relationships that seem beyond repair? I think that we often ask too little of our God who desires to love us in huge ways.

Pray for Him to work wonders. Pray for something that seems unrealistic. Pray for a specific need, situation, or relationship that requires a miracle. Pray for a miracle today.

March 8: Home Life.

Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth:
“Amen, I say to you,
no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Yeah, it's easy to feel like Jesus sometimes. My family just doesn't recognize my greatness! In all seriousness, the hardest people to love are usually the ones we live the closest to. Today, do something for your parents. Maybe you offer to take care of the dishes or take out the trash. Whatever it is, however great or small, know that your acts of kindness will impact your family.

March 6: Compliment Someone.

He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.’

In our individualistic, self-centered culture, we often view other people as competitors. We often have difficulty rejoicing in the success of others. Today, ask God for the opportunity to compliment someone that you don't normally compliment. Take an opportunity to compliment them. Be specific, no one likes to hear things like "uh, you're cool."

March 5: Are You Fruitful?

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.”

Is your faith bearing fruit? If other people didn't know you were Christian, and they saw you in school, at home, with your friends, would they know that you were Christian?
Take a minute to thank God for the ways that your faith is bearing fruit in your life, and ask God for the courage to live your faith more fully.

March 4: Where is Your Hope?

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It fears not the heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit.

What do you hope in? What are the things you look forward to? What do you live for?

What, where, who do you turn to when things are tough? Take a few minutes to ask yourself these questions. Tell God that you want to hope in Him, that you want to live for Him above all else.

March 3: Be a Servant.

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.”

Be a servant today. Do something to serve others. Maybe it means throwing out other peoples' trash at lunch, maybe it means serving a family member at home in some way. If we wish to be Christians, we must be like Jesus. If we wish to be like Jesus, we must serve.

March 2: Set Things Right.

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.

Go to confession. Go this week. We have confessions here at the Worship Center from 6:30-8pm on Wednesday night. St. Mary's also has confessions on Saturday afternoons at 3:30PM. If you'd rather go sooner than that, call the church and ask if you can set up a time for one of the priests to hear your confession. Don't let sin keep you back anymore.

March 1: Don't Judge.

Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you

How many people do we judge everyday? Sometimes it's people we don't even know, sometimes it involves people that we know really well. Today, whenever you are tempted to judge someone's heart or their intentions, ask God to remind you that you, yourself, stand in need of God's mercy. We have no room to judge others.