THIS IS THE DAY OF SALVATION! Ash Wednesday March 6 Joel 2:12-18; 2 Cor. 5:20-6:2; Matt. 6:1-6, 16-18

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2 ASH WEDNESDAY!! PALM SUNDAY!! HOLY THURSDAY!! GOOD FRIDAY!! EASTER! SUNDAY! 2

3 THIS IS THE DAY OF SALVATION! Ash Wednesday March 6 Joel 2:12-18; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Matt 6:1-6, Sometimes, winter seems to last forever Wish it would end Christmas seems like such a long time ago, and I m ready for something else! But WHAT?? Spring? March break? Tests and exams? Playoffs? Maybe even Easter? Today is ASH WEDNESDAY, the beginning of the season of Lent Today s readings are packed with Lenten themes The prophet Joel quotes God saying return to me with all your heart, with fasting St Paul speaks of reconciliation and says that this is the day of salvation In St Matthew s gospel, Jesus speaks of helping the needy, how to pray and fasting Can t get much more Lenten than these things! Confused? Well, these themes and more will be explored in the following weeks Lord, I seem to have been waiting for this time of year all winter Now that it is here, help me to enter into the Lenten spirit joyfully and with great expectation leading toward the great feast of Easter Help me to wear the ashes I receive today with honour as a visible sign to the world that the significance of this season is important to me and all the children of the world 3

4 COME, TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME Thursday After Ash Wednesday (March 7) Deut 30:15-20; Luke 9:22-25 I always look on Lent with a bit of dread! It s long! I m supposed to do things I don t always feel like doing More important, I ll be asked NOT to do things I want to! I don t even know how to begin to be happy about this again this year Help!!? Of course the way ahead at the beginning of Lent looks daunting: and not just to children! Just remember that anything worth doing is worth doing well To accomplish this, there needs to be a plan Luckily, Jesus gives us an easy direction to begin the process In Luke s gospel, Jesus tells us that the way to salvation is to follow him How complicated is that? The book of Deuteronomy also makes it simple: love God and obey his commandments See? Easy! Now you re ready for a plan Lord, let everything I do this day and in this season of Lent come from your simple direction to follow you Strengthen me to think positively about this very special time in the Church Year Help me to acknowledge my shortcomings Inspire me to be creative about the plan I put together for this time of Lent 4

5 I TRUST YOU HAVE A PLAN? Friday After Ash Wednesday (March 8) Is 58:1-9; Matt 9:14-15 So I suppose I have to start giving stuff up again The usual things, I guess, like candy, desserts, too many snacks Seems to me that giving up things to eat is a big part of what they want us to do during Lent Guess it has to be part of my plan Is that what you think about when you talk about Lent? What you are thinking about is called fasting It is one, but only one, of the essential elements of Lent, and should be part of your plan Your Lenten plan can start with fasting Traditionally, to fast meant going without food except bread and water Today, the Church uses the guideline of one full meal, two smaller ones and no in between snacks Fridays and Wednesdays have always been special fast days Giving up any type of food in Lent is part of fasting Decide now what to give up and when It can be altered as the weeks go by, but you should try to be consistent Both Isaiah and Luke write about fasting today Lord, I know how much you love me It is hard for me to get started on my Lenten plan, but I know your love is always with me and will assist me Help me to use your trust as a way to prepare my Lenten intentions I am weak, but I know with your help, I can use these small sacrifices in my life to draw closer to you this year 5

6 YOU SHALL TAKE DELIGHT IN THE LORD! Saturday After Ash Wednesday (March 9) Isaiah 58:9-14; Lk 5:27-32 Yesterday, I started to get excited about making a plan for my Lenten preparation for Easter, starting with fasting Now I m not so confident Some foods are easy to give up: I don t like them much anyway Some are more difficult: I do have cravings! Then I am supposed to have some things I like because I am told they are good for me nutritionally Pretty hard to come up with decisions with those realities! Need some help? Time to mention another essential element of Lent: sacrifice What does it mean? It means giving up something you want for a positive reason It usually involves feeling some degree of hardship or difficulty Maybe you need to fast from one or two of your cravings so it might hurt a bit What have you given up for Lent? Common items that children traditionally give up are: chocolate, candy, fast food, pop, television, swearing Recently, the list has been expanded to include social networking, video games, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc The good thing is that sacrifice always makes you feel good in the end! It is a sure way to follow Jesus Loving God, I am not asking only to overcome my weakness, but to use it as a sacrifice to delight you Let me make intelligent and realistic decisions as I design my Lenten plan of sacrifice and let me increase my confidence through your trust 6

7 AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION 1 St Sunday of Lent (March 10) - Luke 4:1-13 Yes, it is often difficult to make sacrifices The Lenten plan you come up with should involve some hard tasks: tough, but not impossible If you include some challenges that are worth while, they should be ones that leave you open to temptation: things that make you think twice about doing them; things that make the Devil try to persuade you not to do Sometimes, these will be hard to resist Jesus also had a plan for his journey through his public life Today s Gospel story from St Luke is well known and is the beginning of his plan It involves the sacrifice of fasting It includes direct temptation by the Devil However, it also describes how Jesus resisted the temptations and sent the Devil away Jesus gives us the example we need to be strong in our resolutions Lord God, you who sacrificed your daily comforts and your life for me, help me to be faithful to my promises to you Help me to find my way back to you Help me to make sacrifices and resist temptation this Lent as your son Jesus did 7

8 AS YOU DID TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF MY BROTHERS, YOU DID TO ME Monday after 1 St Sunday of Lent (March 11) Lev 19:11-18; Matt 25:31-46 So, I think I get the idea about sacrifice I m supposed to fast and give up something or some things that I don t really want to be without I suppose I can try to do that I ll put it in my plan Is that all? I seem to remember that there was more that I did in Lent last year Sacrifice by fasting and giving up certain foods is certainly beneficial during Lent There are, however, other ways to sacrifice that are appropriate Lent has always been a time to donate money or goods that benefit less fortunate people This is called almsgiving Doing what we can to help others has always been a Lenten custom As members of the HCA, we donate to help needy children See if you can help your group raise some funds Loving God, give me the confidence to make the right decisions as I make my sacrificial resolutions this Lent Allow me to realise that I need to help those in the world who are less fortunate than me Make my journey to you this Lent one of grace, giving and gentle love 8

9 THIS, THEN, IS HOW YOU SHOULD PRAY: Tuesday after 1 St Sunday of Lent (March 12) Is 55:10-11; Matt 6:7-15 Now, I remember that thing about giving to the poor during Lent! We always had some special events to raise money for the Holy Childhood We need to do it again this year But, I think there were some other things we were supposed to do in Lent besides giving things up and donating to poor children Let me think You are right: there are other special requests God makes of us during Lent One of them you already know about because you do it all the time: pray! In today s Gospel, Matthew tells the story about the perfect prayer that Jesus gave us, the Our Father We know lots of prayers, but your Lenten plan should always include time for many Our Fathers Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil Amen 9

10 LET EVERYONE TURN FROM HIS EVIL WAY Wednesday after 1 St Sunday of Lent (March 13) Jonah 3:1-10; Lk 11:29-32 Giving up, fasting, almsgiving, prayer - I m putting all of these into my plan Now I seem to remember learning about all of these things last year But I have a feeling that I have left out something pretty important, and knowing me, it s something I probably should have remembered first Now let me think some more Right again! There is an important element to Lent that you have not remembered Need a clue? It has something to do with the story of Jonah No, not Jonah in the whale, which is what everyone always thinks first! After being released from the fish s stomach, Jonah succeeds in getting the King of Nineveh to order his people to repent of their evil ways Got it now? Yes, repentance is a key Lenten component We must, in our plan, leave room to express our sorrow to God for our what we have done wrong Lord Jesus, I know you receive what is in my heart Let me be inspired by your words and by the actions of Jonah, your great prophet Guide me to make repentance this Lent in the spirit of selfdenial and with greater attention to you and to those around me 10

11 FOR EVERYONE WHO ASKS WILL RECEIVE, AND ANYONE WHO SEEKS WILL FIND Thursday after 1 St Sunday of Lent (March 14) Matt 7:7-12 As the list of Lenten responsibilities piles up, do you get the feeling that it gets harder and harder to actually do these things consistently during these six weeks? After all, depending on how we have been throughout the year, Lent could mean a big change in your life Do you think that it is really possible? Do you think that maybe you need a little help along the way? Lucky for us, Jesus knows us so well that he thought of that! Where can we go for help? Straight to him! He knows that we will have difficulty, so he wants us to get help from him How? Ask him for help! He told us: Ask, and you will receive If we really believe in Him, then we believe that He will support us in our sacrifices If we ask Him sincerely, we will feel that He is responding to us in a true way However, we have to believe: and we have to ask! Lord, it sometimes seems too much to keep doing your will It s too easy to slip back into my old ways and forget about my Lenten resolutions Please be with me on this journey and help me to ask for your help so that your spirit can guide me in the right direction I know that with your help, anything can be done 11

12 GO AT ONCE AND MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR BROTHER Friday after 1 St Sunday of Lent (March 15) Matt 5:20-26 OK, I ll start asking Jesus for help Actually, I ve already started to do this, and you know what? It actually works! It s really not that hard, when you think about it So much so, that it leads me to believe that there is something I have forgotten I strongly suspect that there is something else I need to add to my plan in order to make it complete You are correct Lent is a time to concentrate on forgiveness Jesus taught repeatedly about the need to forgive others He also taught frequently about how God will forgive us if we repent Sin is the breaking of our relationship with God Restoring any relationship is called reconciliation In today s reading, Jesus speaks of the need for this before all else In the Catholic Church, the most significant way to re-establish our relationship with God is through the sacrament of Reconciliation Lord Jesus, please be with me on this Lenten journey and help me to remember that your own spirit can guide me in the right direction toward reconciliation Help me to understand the need for restoring healthy relationships with everyone Help me to observe Lent in a way that shows true repentance 12

13 WHY SHOULD GOD REWARD YOU IF YOU LOVE ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE YOU? Saturday after 1 St Sunday of Lent (March 16) Deut 26:16-19; Matt 5:43-48 The first week of Lent is pretty much over You have been pretty busy this week recalling what the important elements of Lent are and how to incorporate them into a working plan Do you think that this has given you a better understanding of what preparation for Easter is all about? More significantly, are you getting an appreciation for why it is so important to prepare for Easter? Throughout Lent, if you look at the daily readings, you will see the same themes repeat themselves over and over The theme of love is one that continually appears throughout Lent After all, Jesus sacrifice on the cross was all about His love for us In today s reading from Matthew, Jesus outlines one of his most radical and important teachings: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you You will be well on the way to fulfilling your Lenten plan if you continually practice this Lord, please help me to turn my heart toward you, and to seek your kingdom with all of my heart Soften my hardened heart so that I might love others, especially those who do not show love to me Grant me this with the ever-present guidance of your spirit, because on the cross you gave us the ultimate example of love for enemies 13

14 THIS IS MY SON, MY CHOSEN ONE; LISTEN TO HIM! 2 nd Sunday of Lent (March 17) Gen 15:5-18; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28-36 Even though I think I m getting better at this; I sometimes wonder how seriously I should be taking this whole Lenten preparation thing Today being Sunday and the beginning of a new week, it s a good time to be made aware that your Lenten plan is kind of a deal you are making with God A promise Otherwise, there is no real point in even thinking about it, let alone doing anything You are really making a commitment to God In Biblical terms, you have made a covenant There are two covenants in today s Sunday readings In Genesis, God made a covenant with Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation which would inherit the land of Israel St Luke describes the occasion of the Transfiguration, in which Jesus displays the type of life and reward we will inherit with him in heaven It is his promise to us of eternal life St Paul also writes about waiting for this life What a great deal! Lord, help me to change my heart Bring me to your truth and help me to respond to your generous love Let me to be faithful to the covenant between us Give me the confidence to persevere and succeed 14

15 HAIL GLORIOUS ST PATRICK! Monday after 2 nd Sunday of Lent (March 18) Luke 6:36-38 This year, I have not been caught by surprise with all of the St Patrick s Day stuff going on around the school I remember it all from last year, and actually, it is kind of fun I even learned about the legend of him driving out snakes from Ireland! It s all a bit of a change in atmosphere from all of the Lent things going on Yesterday was St Patrick s Day, and because it fell on a Sunday in Lent, liturgically it wasn t celebrated However, it is worth remembering that St Patrick was a missionary in Ireland around the year 432 AD He became famous for establishing Christianity in Ireland One of the doctrines he taught was of the Holy Trinity, using the shamrock to explain as best he could what the Trinity meant You should pray to St Patrick this Lent because as a member of the HCA, you are a young missionary like him Dear St Patrick, in your humility you called yourself a sinner, but you became a most successful missionary and prompted countless pagans to follow Jesus Many of their descendants in turn spread the Good News in numerous foreign lands Through your powerful intercession with God, help me to be an effective missionary within the Holy Childhood Association Amen 15

16 HIS FATHER AND MOTHER MARVELED AT WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT HIM Tuesday after 2 nd Sunday of Lent (March 19) Luke 2:41-51 I learned last year that Joseph was the foster father of Jesus, and what the term foster father was It makes more sense to me now The problem I have with Joseph is that he seems to disappear off the radar early in Jesus life After a few references to him when Jesus was young, you never hear about him again I get Mary s important role, even when Jesus died, but wasn t Joseph just as important? Today is the feast day of St Joseph, husband of Mary, foster father of Jesus Yes, his role was very important, just different to that of Mary Joseph was a member of the Holy Family, an example of family life His role was necessary in God s plan Without him, Jesus could not have been the normal human being he was and could not have grown up to take on His special mission Without acknowledging him, our observance of Lent would be incomplete Great St Joseph, son of David, spouse of Mary undefiled; Guardian of the Holy Family, father of the Holy Child God presented thee with blessings, glorified thy life obscure; Made thee guardian of all virgins, consolation of the poor 16

17 AND HE WILL BE RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY Wednesday after 2 nd Sunday of Lent (March 20) Matt 20:17-28 I ve been so busy this Lent trying to form my plan for what I will be doing, that I haven t really thought too much about why I am actually doing it? Why prepare so much for Easter? What s so special about it? Why don t we do the same stuff before Christmas? Most of my friends hardly care much about Easter and besides being a long weekend, it s not in school holiday time! What s the big deal? St Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19: And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith So there it is No Resurrection: no faith, no Church, no Christianity nothing! In today s reading from Matthew, Jesus predicts his death and resurrection Quite simply, Jesus resurrection was a demonstration of what we can expect: everlasting life with Him in heaven If he had not risen, then neither would we Is that special enough? Lord, let me be inspired by your words and by the actions of your son, Jesus, in his death and resurrection Guide me to make sacrifices this Lent in the spirit of his example and promise to me Help me to believe that you will grant me everlasting life because of the sacrifice Jesus made for me 17

18 THE POOR MAN DIED AND WAS CARRIED BY THE ANGELS TO ABRAHAM S SIDE Thursday after 2 nd Sunday of Lent (March 21) Luke 16:19-31 OK, now I understand that the Resurrection of Jesus was very important for us as Catholics But there must be more to Easter than just that After all, Christmas was important as well What if Jesus had never been born? In John 8:58, Jesus said: before Abraham was, I am Since the fall of Adam, God knew that he would send Jesus to save us Christmas was the event that God had always planned It was what Jesus later did in His life that has real meaning for us and our final resurrection with Him Today in Luke s Gospel, Jesus tells the story of the poor man Lazarus who gains more favour than the rich man We are being taught one of the key elements of Lent: share our possessions with the poor and unfortunate For HCA members, this means helping the disadvantaged children of the world Please be with me on this Lenten journey and help me to remember that your example can guide me in the right direction I want to share my advantage with less fortunate children in the world I know that with your help, anything can be done With a grateful heart, I acknowledge your love and example 18

19 THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH, AND MADE HIM SUCCEED IN EVERYTHING HE DID Friday after 2 nd Sunday of Lent (March 22) Matt 21:33-46; Gen 37:4-28 Most people I know get more excited about Christmas than they do about Easter Certainly the stores and atmosphere around the place at Christmas are more intense and fun I get that the real reason that Easter is more important makes sense if I take Jesus seriously At least, I m starting to see that Lent is a pretty significant time While you are thinking about Lent and its importance to Catholics, time is moving on, and Lent is already two weeks old You should be looking at the things we have discussed in your plan and practising them as best you can Today s reading from Genesis is the famous story about Joseph, his multi-coloured coat, and the relationship between himself and his brothers One element of Lent is about how we get on with people and our ability to reconcile with each other Lord Jesus, please accept my small acts of sacrifice today As I journey through Lent, let me remember the life you have prepared for me and let me be filled with thanks to you Help me to reconcile with all of my friends and family during this time 19

20 HE WAS LOST, BUT NOW HE HAS BEEN FOUND Saturday after 2 nd Sunday of Lent (March 23) Luke 15:11-32 Something happened in school yesterday It was a squabble between a couple of kids, and was settled by one of the teachers While I was watching it all, I heard the teacher say something my mother used to say: Forgive and forget In all the discussion about Lent so far, there s a word that hasn t been mentioned too often: forgive! Now that I understand Lent more, it seems to me that this word should be mentioned frequently You are really showing signs of better understanding what Lent and the Easter season is all about Yes, forgiveness is very important, possibly THE most significant aspect of your plan and preparation Everything else leads to it: love, fairness, reconciliation, covenant, repentance Everything! Today s story from St Luke about the lost son is perhaps the most well known Gospel story, and the most meaningful It goes beyond Forgive and forget Lord, you showed us the ultimate example of forgiveness while suffering on the Cross When I look at this unselfish act of love, it is very difficult to excuse myself from any act of forgiveness toward anyone Help me to increase my resolve to forgive as I progress through this season of Lent 20

21 THE ONE WHO IS CALLED I AM HAS SENT ME TO YOU! 3 rd Sunday of Lent (March 24) Ex 3:1-15; Lk 13:1-9 Sunday again! Sometimes the time goes fast Maybe too fast Do you feel that you haven t really gotten a start to Lent? Like every event or occasion, it can be over before you know it It can be useful to pause once in a while, and remember just what is happening and why we are doing it What is your real motivation for taking Lent 2018 seriously? We have a powerful example of motivation in today s reading from Exodus In this story, Moses receives his commission to free the Israelites through God s message in the burning bush What a dramatic way for this to happen! How could Moses refuse when receiving his inspiration in this manner? Did he have reservations? Of course, just as you do when working your way through your Lenten plan However, you can use the inspiration of Moses to strengthen your resolve Loving Father, your mercy and love give me confidence Let me receive motivation to pursue my Lenten promises from the example of Moses Thank you for the invitation to share, fast and forgive so that you can form a new heart within me Your powerful compassion for my weaknesses leads me to ask for mercy and await with great hope the Easter joy you share with us 21

22 I AM THE LORD S SERVANT; MAY IT HAPPEN TO ME AS YOU HAVE SAID Monday after 3 rd Sunday of Lent (March 25) Is 7:10-14; Lk 1:26-38 Time again to pause for a minute from our normal Lenten thoughts because of the special day it is We have already mentioned how important Mary is to the entire Easter season Now, we are reminded again Today we recall a very special feast day in our Church: The Annunciation On this day, we remember when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and asked her to become the Mother of God We know that despite all of the difficulties that would mean for Mary, she said "yes", without hesitation Her determination and resolution should be inspiration for us to persist and be faithful with our Lenten resolutions My soul magnifies the Lord And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; Because He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name; And His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him He has shown might with His arm, He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and has exalted the lowly He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His Mercy Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever 22

23 NO, NOT SEVEN TIMES, BUT SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN Tuesday after 3 rd Sunday of Lent (March 26) Matthew 18:21-35 Sometimes, I think that Jesus said some weird things Why did he talk in riddles to people who clearly couldn t understand the message? Why didn t he just say what he meant? I think that it would have been easier for people to follow and accept him Why not just say forgive always instead of seventy times seven? Jesus spoke often in the Gospels about love, reconciliation and forgiveness His teachings were pretty radical for the times and mentioned so often that they had to be important However, we have to be careful not to judge how things were said by our standards, customs and methods because we think we know better Maybe seventy times seven is actually quite shocking to hear It is graphic and confronting, and actually makes the issue of forgiveness stand out People would certainly have taken notice, just as we do, even if for different reasons Is there any doubt that forgiving is an important part of Lenten observance? Lord, I thank you for this reminder of your love and your call that we be more patient and forgiving of others Here in the middle of Lent, I turn to you to beg for your help Please let me learn the difficult lessons from your Gospel 23

24 WHOEVER OBEYS THE LAW WILL BE GREAT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN Wednesday after 3 rd Sunday of Lent (March 27) Matthew 5:17-19 Of course, I understand the importance of forgiveness in Jesus messages Sometimes it s just confusing to hear him speak the way he does But, just when I say that, I see an example of him speaking very clearly about obeying the commandments Sometimes, I wish he would have spoken like that all the time Then it would all be easy! Remember, sacrifice is part of our Lenten journey Sacrifice involves working through difficulty Should everything be so easy for us? Even interpreting Jesus teachings is not always easy You are right, however In St Matthew s reading today, Jesus is very clear about our duty to obey: no need to wonder about what he means this time Obedience is central to our Lenten preparation! Lord, guide me to make sacrifices this Lent in the spirit of selfdenial, obedience and with greater attention to you and to those around me Help me to accept the challenges sacrifice offers me and believe that you will grant me this because of the sacrifice Jesus made for me 24

25 ANYONE WHO IS NOT FOR ME IS AGAINST ME Thursday after 3 rd Sunday of Lent (March 28) Jer 7:23-28; Lk 11:14-23 You know, it s definitely not easy to be totally obedient all the time, even in Lent Sometimes it s not exactly clear whether or not I am being obedient or not After all, what I see as being right may not be exactly what my parents or teachers think Isn t there room for some disagreement about right and wrong? That s why I like it when Jesus is clear when he teachers us: no room for mistakes Guess what? Jesus and the writers of the Gospels aren t the only ones to talk about obedience In today s readings, even the prophet Jeremiah gets into it When he speaks to the Israelites about obedience, he is anticipating Jesus and his message to us Of course, there is room for discussion about right and wrong However, if done with a close ear to what Jesus is saying, it is hard to go wrong Lord, I m not always eager to do your will I d often much rather what I want rather than be obedient to you Please be with me on this Lenten journey and help me to remember that your own spirit can guide me in the right direction With a grateful heart, I acknowledge your love and know that without you, my Lenten journey will be more difficult 25

26 AT THE CROSS HER STATION KEEPING Friday after 3 rd Sunday of Lent (March 29) Mark 12:28-34 It s Friday again and I actually feel that the time is going quite quickly now I think that my plan for Lent is really quite good this year, and I am gaining an appreciation for what it is all about And why! I still can t wait for Easter, but I think I am waiting a little more patiently However, I feel that there is something missing right now Wonder what it is? Why not go to the Stations of the Cross this evening? Friday is the day when Stations of the Cross are special They are prayerful reconstructions of the road Jesus took to Calvary on Good Friday Most of you have experienced them in the past They are especially relevant during Lent All Catholic churches have artistic representations of the Stations mounted somewhere on the interior walls Do you know where they are in your Church? Did you know that the HCA has missionary Stations of the Cross? Download them from the HCA site, and use them in your home, school or parish Lord, help me to see your love in the passion, death and resurrection of your son Help me to observe Lent in a way that allows me to celebrate that love Let me journey through your passion by making these Stations of the Cross as I prepare in these weeks of Lent Let me feel both deep sorrow for my sins and your undying love for me 26

27 ALL WHO HUMBLE THEMSELVES WILL BE MADE GREAT Saturday after 3 rd Sunday of Lent (March 30) Luke 18:9-14 The Stations were interesting last night I liked the procession around the Church and the feeling that we were really walking with Jesus on his journey through Jerusalem I think I ll try to do it again next Friday Now, it s Saturday, and I feel that there might be something special to do today as well Is there? Well, there could be, depending on how old you are and what sacraments you have received Today s reading from St Luke tells the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector This story highlights humility, sincerity and repentance You can experience these in the sacrament of Reconciliation, often celebrated on Saturdays in many parishes If you have received your First Reconciliation, Lent is the perfect time to experience it again Loving God, sometimes my heart turns in every direction except towards you Please help me to turn my heart toward you in humility and repentance, to gaze upon you in trust and to seek reconciliation with you with all of my heart Soften my hardened heart so that I might love others as a way to glorify and worship you 27

28 ON BEHALF OF CRIST, BE RECONCILED TO GOD 4 th Sunday of Lent (March 31) 2Cor 5:17-21; Lk 15:11-32 The fourth Sunday in Lent! Only the fourth? Yes, but I must confess that even though I have made a plan and have really tried to understand what this Lent stuff is all about, the time does seem to be dragging a bit By the fourth Sunday in Lent, many children begin to feel that Easter will never arrive, and become tempted to forget about their resolutions After all, six weeks is a long time You might be asking yourself if it is all worth it just let the Easter bunny come! I need to know if this is all worth it Jesus knows that maintaining focus during the long period of Lent is difficult That is why he inspires the Church to establish reminders at Mass Today s reading from St Luke is the same as on March 23: the Prodigal Son It has such a powerful message of forgiveness that it can t help but bring us back to our Lenten resolve Also, St Paul very simply but directly reminds us about reconciliation How can you not be reminded of your plan? Loving Creator, even though often time seems to drag on slowly, I do feel the pace quicken, the day drawing nearer I am filled with joy as I move toward Easter and the promised reconciliation with you Teach me to learn the lesson of forgiveness as shown in today s Gospel I await the new life with eagerness, faith, patience and a deep gratitude 28

29 I CREATE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH Monday after 4 th Sunday of Lent (April 1) Isaiah 65:17-21; John 4:43-54 Now that I am feeling a bit of motivation after yesterday s readings at Mass, I think I am ready to move on with my plan for Lent I think, though, that I am ready to learn some new things about it all Maybe not new things, but new ways of looking at them Today, I am interested in the whole idea of new life that seems to be part of the Easter season What a great day to reflect on the idea of new life! Today, St John tells the story of how an important official s son at Capernaum was healed by Jesus New life! Isaiah speaks of the creation of a new heaven, new earth and a new Jerusalem New life! This all foretells of our new life with Jesus made possible by his resurrection on Easter Lord, You offer me new life through your Son and through the gift of your sacraments While I see it all around me, I don't always recognize the new life you offer me Help me to grow this Lent in an awareness of the gift of new life that you offer me 29

30 WHEREVER THE RIVER GOES EVERYTHING WILL LIVE Tuesday after 4 th Sunday of Lent (April 2) Ezekiel 47:1-12; John 5:1-16 I ve often heard that the Bible contains many symbols that are supposed to mean something to us I suppose they are meant to make the message more meaningful Sometimes, however, I think they just confuse me more than help Are there symbols connected to new life that are there to make it easier for me? Today s readings highlight one of the most powerful images of life that we have: water John relates the story of the invalid waiting for the healing waters of the pool He was healed by Jesus The passage in Ezekiel dramatically relates the life giving properties of water Water is an important symbol of our Baptism and a central image in Easter celebrations Help me to see how your saving grace and your loving touch pour over me like water In my life fill me with joyful praise of the salvation you have sent to me Help me to aspire to the new life that the waters of Baptism will demonstrate this coming Easter season 30

31 HE HAS GIVEN HIM AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE JUDGEMENT Wednesday after 4 th Sunday of Lent (April 3) Isaiah 49:8-15; John 5:16-30 Sometimes, when Jesus uses symbols and parables that confused the people and that I find difficult to understand, I wonder if Jesus was really going about things the right way Sometimes, I want to be reassured that what he taught was all it has been cracked up to be Am I wrong to be thinking this, especially in Lent when Easter is close? Jesus expects you to have your doubts That means that you are spending time thinking about Lent It is only through thinking and working things out that we come to a strong appreciation of our faith We can be reassured by John s reading today, where Jesus says that his authority comes directly from God the Father Jesus acts on behalf of the Father He is doing God s will Isaiah s reading assures us that God will not leave us alone in our journey So, continue to reflect, and know that God is with you Loving and merciful God, I am so aware of my doubts and weaknesses However, as painfully aware of my faults as I am, let me also remember your tender love and your promise not to abandon me I come before you to look into your eyes and see your forgiving love Help me to be reassured by your promise to be with me and guide me 31

32 I HAVE COME IN MY FATHER S NAME Thursday after 4 th Sunday of Lent (April 4) John 5:31-47 What a roller coaster! The week started on a low, as I thought about how long Lent still had to go Then I got enthused about the idea of new life! Then I worried about the use of weird symbols and language used by Jesus I then got reassured because of Jesus authority from God But today, some school mates made fun of me for being so serious about my Lenten resolutions Now I don t know: doesn t seem to me that I can win! Someone must be reading your mind! Guess what St John includes in his gospel today? Jesus speaks more about the fact that he was sent by the Father, and that his authority comes directly from God It s almost as if he is repeating himself over and over again so that people like us can be constantly reassured Despite our weaknesses and doubts, he assures us that he is with us Does this help? Merciful Father, I hope that the tiny sacrifices I make this Lent can help me to overcome my doubts and lack of resolve Help me to admit my faults and persevere throughout the remainder of Lent Let me be reconciled to you in this sacred journey toward Easter 32

33 CARRYING HIS OWN CROSS, HE WENT OUT OF THE CITY TO THE PLACE OF SKULL Friday after 4 th Sunday of Lent (April 5) - John 7:25-30 I really feel a bit anxious and uneasy today, after an up and down week You know, I really enjoyed being at the Stations of the Cross last Friday, so I might go again this evening Even though the story of Jesus passion is sad, I really felt quite peaceful during the Stations, and I think I need to go again Maybe this will allow me to appreciate Jesus authority from God John continues this theme of authority in today s reading As mentioned last Friday, the HCA has produced Mission Stations of the Cross There are two versions, one for youth and one for children While the Stations in which you participate at your Parish Church will likely be somewhat different, it can be useful for you to download the Mission Stations from the web site and go through them by yourself or with a group In the prayers, there are references to the goals of the HCA to pray for all children in the world who are in need Maybe you can even persuade your local parish to use the HCA version Wouldn t that be exciting!? Loving God, I come before you humbled and sad in the face of my own repeated failings I hold out my hands before your journey of suffering as a petitioner would, asking for mercy Thank you for the love you showed during your ordeal Help me to follow more closely in the path you have set for me, the path of your Son 33

34 BLESS ME FATHER FOR I HAVE SINNED Saturday after the 4 th Sunday of Lent (April 6) John 7:40-53 Once again, I enjoyed the Stations of the Cross last evening It was very soothing and because of the procession, it seemed that there was always something happening The priest spoke a bit at the end about Confessions on Saturday, and the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Lent Maybe I ll go today As you know, the most significant way to strengthen or restore your relationship with God is through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) If you have made your First Holy Communion, then you have probably also made your First Reconciliation Lent is a good time to go to this sacrament as often as you can Most parishes have it scheduled sometime on Saturdays and perhaps at other times Often, there are special Reconciliation times in Lent Why not check it out? Lord, renew me: bring me to new life through the Sacrament of Reconciliation Make me feel whole again Help me to see your love in the passion, death and resurrection of your son and not be afraid to admit my failings Help me to observe Lent in the spirit of reconciliation and love 34

35 WHICHEVER ONE OF YOU HAS COMMITTED NO SIN MAY THROW THE FIRST STONE 5th Sunday of Lent (April 7) - Phil 3:8-14; John 8:1-11 Well, I went to Confession yesterday I was so scared, but Father was really nice and very helpful I felt great afterwards! It was easy!! Fifth Sunday of Lent already? I can t believe that after last week, time has gone so quickly I must admit that paying a bit more attention to some of the special things about Lent, like the Stations and Reconciliation, have made the time go faster Maybe one of the reasons that you feel a bit more positive about your Lenten experience is that your understanding of it all is improving That means your faith is being strengthened St Paul writes about the importance of Faith in today s reading Also, John tells the story about Jesus forgiving the adulterous woman, surely one of the most dramatic events of forgiveness and faith in the Bible My loving Lord, help me to be inspired by Jesus' love and guided by his examples of forgiveness Allow my faith in you to grow to give me support in this journey Show me how to continue to travel through the remaining weeks of Lent in a positive way 35

36 WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE Monday after 5th Sunday of Lent (April 8) John 8:12-20 Now that Lent is into the last couple of weeks, maybe I can think of some other things that I can do, perhaps something different At Reconciliation on Saturday, Father suggested that I try to go to Mass during the week as well as on Sunday Daily Mass?? What about school? Sleep? Sports? Jobs? How could I fit it all in? Going to Mass during the week is always an excellent way to prepare during Lent Chances are you would be the only young person there! You could be a shining example to everyone! Today, Jesus speaks about how he is the Light of the World! You could also be a light Check out the daily Mass times in your parish: maybe there is a time when you could attend Lord, I know that you are the Light of the World, the source of all that is good and graced in my life Help me to share in that light and to be part of that light in my daily life You know what I need to prepare for your resurrection Help me to show others the way as well 36

37 I DO NOTHING BUT SPEAK JUST AS THE FATHER TAUGHT ME Tuesday after 5th Sunday of Lent (April 9) John 8:21-30 OK, going to Mass during the week could happen sometimes Another thing I keep hearing about is giving to the poor There are campaigns for: Share Life, St Vincent de Paul, the Food Bank, the Red Cross, tsunami relief, and on and on I suppose I should get involved in one of these as a Lenten sacrifice But where do I start? As has been mentioned before, almsgiving is certainly one of the key activities during Lent All of the above mentioned campaigns have merit and would welcome your support However, don t forget your missionary responsibilities as well Helping your school raise money for children in missionary countries through donations to the HCA would be an excellent project Today, Jesus reminds us that he came from the Father and he is always partial to help for children Lord, guide my heart back to you through trying my best to help those who are in genuine need Help me to think beyond my own wants and to do my best to support children around the world Thank you for the many blessings in my life 37

38 IF YOU ABIDE IN MY WORD YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH Wednesday after 5th Sunday of Lent (April 10) John 8:31-42 Of course, the thing that you hear the most about Lent is giving stuff up For most of my friends, that s the only thing they know They don t even take it seriously, and just make jokes about it, as if it s not even true Is it true? The things I have been thinking about this Lent allow me to think it is At least I hope so, or else everything I have been doing will be a waste of time Just think about the words of Jesus in today s reading from John s Gospel Faith in Jesus means that we believe in the truth of his words This truth is what will lead us to everlasting life with him He shows us this life and truth daily, but especially on Easter So giving things up is an element of the truth Loving Creator, I trust that your words are the everlasting truth to which I aspire Hear my prayers which are offered with such trust in the truth you offer Help me to stick to my Lenten plan, which includes giving up things I want, during this time of preparation 38

39 BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM Thursday after 5th Sunday of Lent (April 11) John 8:51-59 "So, I believe that giving things up is a true sacrifice in preparation for Easter But people just laugh and make jokes about what to give up, like: give up school, give up homework, give up work How can that mean anything? I think they should give up what is difficult, like video games, phones and sweet food and desserts Today s reading from Genesis brings us back to the covenant between Abraham and God God promised that Abraham would be the father of a great nation Your Lenten preparations, including giving up what is difficult, lead you closer to the covenant that he made with us through Jesus, who always was That promise means eternal life, which Jesus reveals on Easter Maybe your example will change some people s minds Lord, I believe that Jesus always was and will lead me to eternal life, just as he promised So, I want to be faithful to you in my life, but so often I fail Free me from my many sins and help me to be faithful to my Lenten promises so that you will guide me to the life I will share with you 39

40 I HAVE SHOWN YOU MANY GOOD WORKS FROM THE FATHER Friday after 5th Sunday of Lent (April 12) John 10:31-42 Well, it s Friday again Time just keeps whizzing by Think I ll go to the Stations again, because guess what?? Father has said that he will use the Mission Stations of the Cross tonight! Isn t that great? Not only that, but I will be part of the procession that walks from station to station around the church I m so excited!! The Stations of the Cross originated when processions were held to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in 335 AD The rituals evolved and developed in subsequent years Around 1742, all churches were urged to have Stations mounted inside the buildings Have you seen yours? A good activity is to visit other churches and compare their stations with yours By praying the Stations of the Cross, you are communicating with God the Father, through whom Jesus worked Lord, you are most forgiving and again you always welcome me back into your loving arms Grant me the strength to continue my journey through Lent, just as you carried out your journey as shown in these Stations of the Cross 40

41 SO FROM THAT DAY ON THEY MADE PLANS TO PUT HIM TO DEATH Saturday after 5th Sunday of Lent (April 13) John 11:45-57 I was really thrilled with the Stations last night It was actually fun! I was quite proud of how I was able to participate, and I think it really helped me appreciate the sacrifice that Jesus made for us I m so keyed up I think I ll go to confession again today Besides, I keep hearing about the coming of Holy Week, starting tomorrow I d better do some research about what it is all about Portions of St John s Gospel have been read each day for the past few weeks They describe many scenes where Jesus speaks about his role, the covenant between God and man and his relationship with the Father It also describes how his actions make him an enemy of the Jewish authorities This series of readings leads us to the events of Holy Week, which begins tomorrow Are you really ready? Lord, as we approach the events of Holy Week and your passion, grant me freedom from the heavy burdens of sin that weigh me down and keep me so far from you Give me the strength that you demonstrated during this time to continue my Lenten journey with determination and resolve 41

42 BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD PALM SUNDAY (April 14) Lk 19:28-40; Phil2:6-11; Lk 22:14-23:49 I can t wait to go to Mass today I did do some research last night and found out some interesting things about Holy Week It starts today, PALM SUNDAY Of course, I knew about most of it already, but I didn t really understand everything as well as now I want to see the procession, get the palms, sing the special hymns and listen to the Gospel readings Should be great! Today is actually the 6th Sunday of Lent, and Easter is only one week away! But it is PALM SUNDAY Today, we celebrate Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem, ultimately to suffer and die for us That is why the day is also called Passion Sunday It is a day to renew our resolutions for the week to come Make sure that you receive your palms and participate in the procession, just as Jesus did Lord, help me to really believe in your truth Strengthen my life by the example of Jesus on this path Help me to be with Jesus in this Holy Week as he demonstrates again his total love for me He died so that I would no longer be separated from you Help me to feel how close you are and to live this final week of Lent in your love We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you; Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world! 42

43 THROUGH YOU I WILL BRING LIGHT TO THE NATIONS Monday of Holy Week (April 15) Is 42:1-7; Jhn 12:1-11 Believe me, I was not disappointed by the Palm Sunday celebrations at our church yesterday The procession was cool, the music great, the church packed I loved the smell of the incense around the whole church I really sensed how important Holy Week was going to be I need to put my palms in an important place in our house As you know, yesterday, Palm Sunday, was the beginning of the most dramatic and important week in our Catholic Church HOLY WEEK Today, Isaiah predicts the role Jesus will play in our salvation John relates how Jesus was anointed by Mary Magdalene in the presence of Lazarus, who had been risen from the dead The story puts into perspective everything about what Jesus has been teaching and where he is going God of love, my prayer is simple: your son, Jesus, suffered and died for me I know only that I cannot have real strength unless I rely on you I cannot feel protected from my many weaknesses until I turn to you for forgiveness and your unalterable love Help me to share this strength, protection and love with others We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you; Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world! 43

44 BY THIS ALL PEOPLE WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLE Tuesday of Holy Week (April 16) John 13:21-38 Today, I read the liturgical readings because I couldn t get to Mass The gospel of John is so sad! It talks about Jesus coming betrayal by Judas It also relates how Jesus will be leaving his friends, and that they cannot yet follow Isaiah writes about Jesus as servant This is also sad, because we know where his service leads: to Calvary This puts a bit of a damper on the happy feelings I have about anticipating Easter Holt Week was certainly a mixture for the Apostles as well There was a combination of happy events and celebrations mixed with the uncertainty and sorrow they felt about what was coming Your Lenten journey is sometimes like theirs Lord, how do I "celebrate" the passion and death of Jesus? I often want to look the other way and not watch, not stay with Jesus in his suffering Give me the strength to see his love with honesty and compassion and to feel deeply your own forgiveness and mercy for me We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you; Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world! 44

45 TAKE, EAT; THIS IS MY BODY Wednesday of Holy Week (April 17) John 13:21-38 We are doing all kinds of Easter things at school these days Makes the days fun We also went to the gym for a drama about the Stations of the Cross, which I really enjoyed Some classes took on roles and acted out each of the 14 Stations This is an anxious week, as we await the important events that will shortly occur The church tries to even out the days, and thus the Gospel reading today includes the institution of the Eucharist, one of the most significant miracles ever performed by Jesus Your job is to remember that despite the fact that lots of fun commercial things are happening, Lent is entering a very serious period Lord, you invite me to share in the glory of the resurrection Please stay with me these last few days of Lent as I struggle to maintain my resolve to prepare for your coming Help me to be humble and accepting like your son, Jesus I want to turn to you with the same trust he had in your love We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you; Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world! 45

46 I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE, THAT YOU ALSO SHOULD DO: HOLY THURSDAY (April 18) 1Cor 11:23-26; John 13:1-15 Once again, I can t wait to go to the special Mass of the Lord s Supper tonight In our family, we always celebrate special occasions with a meal: things like birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Sacraments, Anniversaries Tonight is a special event HOLY THURSDAY - so I am anxious to see it and take part It s good that you are so enthusiastic about going to Mass this evening Today is the anniversary of the celebration of the First Eucharist! The first Mass! If you are accustomed to celebrating special events, how can you not go? At the Last Supper, Jesus gave us an example of service by washing his disciples feet and he changed the bread and wine into his body and blood and instructed us to continue to do this in His memory What an event! Lord, you gather me in this upper room with your son, to be fed by your love At that supper, Jesus told us to "love one another" and I know that is the heart of his gift, his sacrifice for me I ask that I might find the meaning for my own life in that Eucharist Guide me to the fullness of your love and life We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you; Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world! 46

47 IT IS FINISHED - GOOD FRIDAY (April 19) John 18:1-19:42 Guess what part of the Holy Thursday Mass I liked the best? Washing the feet? Nope! The Gospel story of all the events? Nope! I liked the procession after where Jesus was taken to a special tabernacle that was decorated with special flowers I really got the feeling that something special and extraordinary happened in Jesus life Well, even more special events are commemorated today GOOD FRIDAY If you were moved by the Mass of the Lord s Supper, you should be even more affected by the Liturgy of the Lord s passion today It s not a Mass, even though Communion is distributed It is a more somber commemoration of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us Enjoy, and be moved! At the Cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you; Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world! 47

48 FOR YOU WILL NOT LET YOUR HOLY ONE SEE CORRUPTION: HOLY SATURDAY (April 20) Psalm 16:8-11; Acts 2:24-32 The liturgy yesterday was incredible In the past, I thought it was boring, but not this time! The story of the passion was done very dramatically by the readers I didn t even have to read it to understand! The procession of the Cross was very effective, and I don t remember ever adoring it before It makes me anxious to see what happens at the Vigil tonight In Acts, Peter makes several references to Psalm 16 by King David In these references, David makes direct prophesies about Jesus resurrection Today is a day of waiting Just as the Israelites waited for many years, we wait in silence and mourning for Jesus resurrection The climax of our 40 days of waiting is tonight, at the EASTER VIGIL God raised him up, losing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it For David says concerning him, I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore, my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope For you will not abandon my soul to hades, or let your holy one see corruption We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you; Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world! 48

49 THE SON OF MAN MUST THREE DAYS LATER RISE TO LIFE! ALLELUIA EASTER SUNDAY (April 21) Lk 24:1-12; John 20:1-18; Col 3:1-4 Wow! What a great Easter Vigil celebration And it didn t really take all that long! I won t make you guess my favourite part this time: it was the blessing and lighting of the new fire What a scene watching the fire spread around the dark church I also enjoyed watching the RCIA candidates get baptized and confirmed! Now the Easter bunny!! Today we celebrate Jesus' resurrection from the dead It is the most important day in the year for Catholics By rising from the dead, Jesus has shown us what he has in store for us We will also rise to share in his eternal life and glory! Congratulations on making it through Lent! You did it! You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne on the right-hand side of God Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory! HE IS RISEN! A L L E L U I A! 49

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