Tagged: message of the day

“I assure you, as often as you did it for one of My least brothers, you did it for Me.” –Matthew 25:40 We are entering into the forty-day Lenten fast. Our fast can affect our interior disposition, directing our heart, mind, body and lives toward God, correcting our appetites and conforming ourselves to God’s will. Part of this renewal is alms-giving. The Lord might be asking us to give to the poor what money and time we save by fasting. For example, if we save three dollars by skipping lunch, we could use that money to help feed or clothe...

Jesus “was tempted by the devil.” –Luke 4:2 Notice how Jesus dispatches the devil and his temptations: Jesus never engages Satan in dialogue. He does not allow evil to converse with Him. Three times, He simply speaks the truth and ends the conversation. Jesus uses Scripture to defeat each temptation. Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” (Lk 4:1). The Holy Spirit fights against the evil spirit (Gal 5:17). Jesus was engaged in prayer and fasting (Lk 4:2), which overcome the devil (Mt 17:21, NAB). Jesus understood that He was God’s beloved Son (Lk 3:22). He knew His Father would...

“They shall call you, ‘Restorer of ruined homesteads.’ ” –Isaiah 58:12 Family life has been in disarray for many years. We like to think that the families of the last generation were better than the families of today. Even if this is true, “better” does not mean “good.” Look at the alcoholism, abuse, and racism which has characterized so many families for many generations. Family life has been and continues to be in ruins. However, the good news for this Lent is: “The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise...

“People do not pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins burst.” –Matthew 9:17 Jesus said that His disciples would have to wait until after His ascension before they fasted (Mt 9:14-15). They had to receive the Holy Spirit before fasting, because Jesus’ kind of fasting is so explosive that it would be destructive unless encased in a life in the Spirit (see Mt 9:17). For example, after Jesus fasted for forty days, He exploded in the power of the Spirit (Lk 4:14) into the three greatest years of ministry in history, culminating in His death, resurrection,...

“I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life.” –Deuteronomy 30:19 For many years, the Lord has challenged us to choose life in the first Bible reading of the Mass for the second day of Lent. In retrospect, we have reason to think we should have taken the Lord’s command more seriously in past Lents. Considering partial birth abortions, euthanasia, sperm and egg banks, experiments in cloning humans, artificial insemination, sterilizations, chemical and surgical abortions, rampant pornography, gang violence, more wars and rapes, starvation, more refugees, torture, more prisons, capital punishment, addictions, the debt...