Thursday of the First Week of Lent The first reading for today is taken from the book of Esther. Haman, adviser to King Xerxes of Persia, wanted to have all of the Jews in the empire exterminated in a single day. Esther, a Jew by birth and Queen to Xerxes, is, “seized with mortal anguish.Continue reading “Lent 2023 First Reading”
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Lent 2023 First Reading
Tuesday of the first week of Lent “An invitation to Grace” is the heading in the Study Bible that precedes the verses for today. Isaiah 55: 10-11 says, “Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful,Continue reading “Lent 2023 First Reading”
Lent 2023 First Reading
Monday of the first week of Lent Today’s reading is from Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18. According to the study Bible, this is a continuation of the law given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. If the Israelites keep these external laws, then it would show their, “intimate union with the Lord.” What strikes me todayContinue reading “Lent 2023 First Reading”
Lent 2023 First Reading
Saturday after Ash Wednesday The reading from Isaiah today is a continuation of yesterday’s message. “Thus says the Lord: If you remove oppression, false accusation, and malicious speech; If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become forContinue reading “Lent 2023 First Reading”
Lent 2023 First Reading
Saturday after Ash Wednesday The reading from Isaiah today is a continuation of yesterday’s message. “Thus says the Lord: If you remove oppression, false accusation, and malicious speech; If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become forContinue reading “Lent 2023 First Reading”
Lent 2023 First Reading
Friday after Ash Wednesday Isaiah really packs a punch in the first reading for today. I could spend an entire Lent with his words. He says, “would that today you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high! This…is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs ofContinue reading “Lent 2023 First Reading”
Lent 2023 First Reading
Day 2, Thursday after Ash Wednesday Today’s reading is taken from the book of Deuteronomy. According to the Catholic Study Bible, Moses is speaking to his people on the eve of his death. These are some of his final words. Moses tells the Israelite community they have a choice to make, and that choice willContinue reading “Lent 2023 First Reading”
Advent 2022 Day 22
A palm branch is the picture on the ornament for today. Zimmerman inserts the story of Palm Sunday into her reflection narrative. When I am surrounded by my crèche sets, Christmas lights, and our newly decorated Christmas tree, it is jarring to recall where this story ends up. The little baby, whose birth we areContinue reading “Advent 2022 Day 22”
Advent 2022 Day 21
Today’s ornament is a picture of a fishing lure. Zimmerman uses Luke 5:1-11 to illustrate her reflection. These verses tell the story of the tired fishermen, who had been up through the night, fishing without a catch. Jesus borrows their boat, preaches from it for a while, and then turns to Peter and asks himContinue reading “Advent 2022 Day 21”
Advent 2022 Day 19
An anchor is represented on the ornament for today. Zimmerman uses Romans 8:28, 38-39, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose. … For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither theContinue reading “Advent 2022 Day 19”
The Last Lap (and what comes next) 