Lenten Reflections
The Journey to the Easter Triduum
We enter into a week made holy forever by the self surrendering love of Jesus. Let this week be in the background of
our reflections.
These three days draw us into the mystery of our Salvation. Whatever we are doing these days, these prayers and
resources can help us be open to the graces the day offers. We can reflect and mediate on the meaning of the day
ahead. We can realize the depth of the love being offered for us and the power of the gift of life won for us.
Sunday: Jesus tried to prepare the disciples for his Passion and death, but they could not hear what He was saying. He
learned obedience from what He suffered and won victory over sin and death. Perhaps by actions we also cry "Crucify
Him! Crucify Him!". We do not really know what we are doing when we sin. How we are betraying the Friend who loves
us so. How we are betraying our own true selves.
This is why we need to spend some quiet time with Him, letting Him speak to us through his inspired Word.
Prayer: Father, you have withheld nothing from us, but handed over to us even your own Son. Though we have
misused and abused Him, yet let now this sacrifice give us the courage to abandon ourselves to you through Him.
Today make a holy hour with your family to pray for the graces of Holy Week.
Monday: Mary loves Jesus and does not measure her love or wonders what people will think of her expressions of love.
Her eyes are on Jesus. Mary used not only her precious ointment to wash his feet but also gave of her time. Our Lord
wishes for us to come and sit at his feet and give of our time to Him. Will you do it?
Prayer: Father, help me to recognize and accept the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, that I may adore. Let me give you
the gift of my time and sit quietly at your feet.
Today say "I'm sorry" to someone who is alienated from you.
Tuesday: From deep within us the question arises up; Is it I, Lord? We know our weakness. We know our past. Jesus
knew who would betray Him, but with hope and love He still chose Judas. He never gave up on Judas. He does not give
up on us either. All we have to do is ask for his forgiveness.
But all twelve failed Him and ran away. We all fail, but may our weaknesses never turn Jesus away.
In the midst of my sin, I want to turn back to Jesus as Judas could have done. I want to stay with Jesus as Peter wanted
to do. I want the love of John as this kind of love allows us to stay with Jesus even at the cross.
Prayer: Father, the cross of your Son reveals your love for me. May none of my crosses ever compromise my love for
you.
Today do something kind for those in prison.
Wednesday: Jesus sat at the table with his chosen ones and recognized that the brutal event of betrayal would soon
take place. All of us have been betrayed in some way or another. This is a good day to remember that Jesus has
walked before us on the path of being betrayed.
What ever sin one may commit against Jesus, one and only one remedy exists. Turn back toward Jesus, and ask
forgiveness.
Prayer: Father, the passion of your only begotten Son forgives sins and brings new life. Keep my heart turned toward
Jesus, who lives and reigns with you for ever and ever.
Today give alms to a needy person or cause.
Thursday: This day is one of remembrance and gratitude for the wonder of Life-giving Bread. Jesus gives us the
Sacrament of His Body and Blood, He ordains men priests to serve in his name and Person. When we meet Christ int he
sacraments, his love becomes our own.
Today Jesus gives us an example to wash each other's feet as He has washed ours. In this act Jesus shows us how to
forgive and to be merciful towards one another. Do you realize what Christ has done for you?
Prayer: Father, you have given us the sacraments that wash away our sins and make us lovers of the truth. Make me
sorry for my sins to that I may approach worthily the Easter mystery.
Today buy someone a meal or something to drink.
Friday: Jesus hangs on the cross. It is his time of utter desolation and anguish. He longs for strength, comfort and
solace, yet feels none of this. He feels empty and abandoned by the One He always counted on to be there for Him.
On Good Friday, we venerate the cross of Christ with a kiss. This is the Church's way of inviting us to embrace his love
and obedience. She invites us to enter into the mystery that begins when from Christ's wounded side flows blood and
water, the fountain of sacramental life in the church.
Prayer: Father, the death of your Son on a cross redeems the world. Make me a loving and obedient disciple of that
same Son, Jesus Christ who is our exalted Lord.
Today make the stations of the cross. Sit with a cross held in your hands and meditate on his passion.
Saturday: At the tomb, we see the symbol of our own spirit; the parts of ourselves that have died and need to be raised
to life. Like Jesus, we, too, must await new life to happen to us. What must those women have felt when they waited to
anoint his body. Did they remember what Jesus had told them about rising on the third day?
One woman waited quietly, full of faith and hope. Because of this, Saturday has been dedicated to Mary, the holy
Mother of our Savior. For on that first Holy Saturday, the whole faith and hope of the Church resided in Mary's heart.
The Paschal Candle reminds us of the Risen Christ who is within us, illuminating the way.
Prayer: Father, as the storms buffet the house, help us to remember your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is for ever
alive and for ever our foundation.
Today spend thirty minutes in total silence. Be Still and Know That I Am God.
Easter Sunday: Jesus has risen! Alleluia! If we are willing to sit quietly in our faith and hope, we, too, shall hear Him
speak our name with presence and a love that will make us, too, cry out from the depths of our being; He is Alive! He
has defeated the enemy.
The Easter Message is one of hope, a hope this world desperately needs. Allow the Lord to be present in you and bring
the serenity and joy of that Presence into your everyday life.
Make the most of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and receive every time you can. He died so that we might have
life and partake of His Living Body and Blood. Do This In Remembrance of Me! Thank You Jesus.
Prayer: O Lord I Am Not Worthy to Receive You.
The Journey to the Easter Triduum
We enter into a week made holy forever by the self surrendering love of Jesus. Let this week be in the background of
our reflections.
These three days draw us into the mystery of our Salvation. Whatever we are doing these days, these prayers and
resources can help us be open to the graces the day offers. We can reflect and mediate on the meaning of the day
ahead. We can realize the depth of the love being offered for us and the power of the gift of life won for us.
Sunday: Jesus tried to prepare the disciples for his Passion and death, but they could not hear what He was saying. He
learned obedience from what He suffered and won victory over sin and death. Perhaps by actions we also cry "Crucify
Him! Crucify Him!". We do not really know what we are doing when we sin. How we are betraying the Friend who loves
us so. How we are betraying our own true selves.
This is why we need to spend some quiet time with Him, letting Him speak to us through his inspired Word.
Prayer: Father, you have withheld nothing from us, but handed over to us even your own Son. Though we have
misused and abused Him, yet let now this sacrifice give us the courage to abandon ourselves to you through Him.
Today make a holy hour with your family to pray for the graces of Holy Week.
Monday: Mary loves Jesus and does not measure her love or wonders what people will think of her expressions of love.
Her eyes are on Jesus. Mary used not only her precious ointment to wash his feet but also gave of her time. Our Lord
wishes for us to come and sit at his feet and give of our time to Him. Will you do it?
Prayer: Father, help me to recognize and accept the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, that I may adore. Let me give you
the gift of my time and sit quietly at your feet.
Today say "I'm sorry" to someone who is alienated from you.
Tuesday: From deep within us the question arises up; Is it I, Lord? We know our weakness. We know our past. Jesus
knew who would betray Him, but with hope and love He still chose Judas. He never gave up on Judas. He does not give
up on us either. All we have to do is ask for his forgiveness.
But all twelve failed Him and ran away. We all fail, but may our weaknesses never turn Jesus away.
In the midst of my sin, I want to turn back to Jesus as Judas could have done. I want to stay with Jesus as Peter wanted
to do. I want the love of John as this kind of love allows us to stay with Jesus even at the cross.
Prayer: Father, the cross of your Son reveals your love for me. May none of my crosses ever compromise my love for
you.
Today do something kind for those in prison.
Wednesday: Jesus sat at the table with his chosen ones and recognized that the brutal event of betrayal would soon
take place. All of us have been betrayed in some way or another. This is a good day to remember that Jesus has
walked before us on the path of being betrayed.
What ever sin one may commit against Jesus, one and only one remedy exists. Turn back toward Jesus, and ask
forgiveness.
Prayer: Father, the passion of your only begotten Son forgives sins and brings new life. Keep my heart turned toward
Jesus, who lives and reigns with you for ever and ever.
Today give alms to a needy person or cause.
Thursday: This day is one of remembrance and gratitude for the wonder of Life-giving Bread. Jesus gives us the
Sacrament of His Body and Blood, He ordains men priests to serve in his name and Person. When we meet Christ int he
sacraments, his love becomes our own.
Today Jesus gives us an example to wash each other's feet as He has washed ours. In this act Jesus shows us how to
forgive and to be merciful towards one another. Do you realize what Christ has done for you?
Prayer: Father, you have given us the sacraments that wash away our sins and make us lovers of the truth. Make me
sorry for my sins to that I may approach worthily the Easter mystery.
Today buy someone a meal or something to drink.
Friday: Jesus hangs on the cross. It is his time of utter desolation and anguish. He longs for strength, comfort and
solace, yet feels none of this. He feels empty and abandoned by the One He always counted on to be there for Him.
On Good Friday, we venerate the cross of Christ with a kiss. This is the Church's way of inviting us to embrace his love
and obedience. She invites us to enter into the mystery that begins when from Christ's wounded side flows blood and
water, the fountain of sacramental life in the church.
Prayer: Father, the death of your Son on a cross redeems the world. Make me a loving and obedient disciple of that
same Son, Jesus Christ who is our exalted Lord.
Today make the stations of the cross. Sit with a cross held in your hands and meditate on his passion.
Saturday: At the tomb, we see the symbol of our own spirit; the parts of ourselves that have died and need to be raised
to life. Like Jesus, we, too, must await new life to happen to us. What must those women have felt when they waited to
anoint his body. Did they remember what Jesus had told them about rising on the third day?
One woman waited quietly, full of faith and hope. Because of this, Saturday has been dedicated to Mary, the holy
Mother of our Savior. For on that first Holy Saturday, the whole faith and hope of the Church resided in Mary's heart.
The Paschal Candle reminds us of the Risen Christ who is within us, illuminating the way.
Prayer: Father, as the storms buffet the house, help us to remember your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is for ever
alive and for ever our foundation.
Today spend thirty minutes in total silence. Be Still and Know That I Am God.
Easter Sunday: Jesus has risen! Alleluia! If we are willing to sit quietly in our faith and hope, we, too, shall hear Him
speak our name with presence and a love that will make us, too, cry out from the depths of our being; He is Alive! He
has defeated the enemy.
The Easter Message is one of hope, a hope this world desperately needs. Allow the Lord to be present in you and bring
the serenity and joy of that Presence into your everyday life.
Make the most of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and receive every time you can. He died so that we might have
life and partake of His Living Body and Blood. Do This In Remembrance of Me! Thank You Jesus.
Prayer: O Lord I Am Not Worthy to Receive You.
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