One Walk

When: Friday, February 29, 2008 12:00 AM to Saturday, March 01, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

'you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

Mark 12:30-31

Every man's treasure is that which he desires. If it is based on earthly ambitions, its acquisition makes men not blessed but wretched. But many people use their wealth as a tool of devotion. By distributing what might be superfluous to support the poor, they are amassing imperishable riches.

— Pope St. Leo the Great

Abba, Father, Lord God, thank You for showing me again that You walk with me. O how I pray I would be able to stay in each moment aware of that presence so that I can feel, see and react as Jesus would, according to His Sacred Heart in truth and with love. O that You would continue to bless me and enlarge my territory, keeping me from evil and from causing pain. That You would liken my heart to that of Jesus' and that the Holy Spirit would help me follow Your will. For at the end of each day that is what I hold most dear – did I serve You, did I act in a way that reflected Your presence within me. For after of 40 years of doing it my way, thinking I could judge and listening to the counsel of man and measuring myself against the ways under the sun; I now know just how foolish I have been. So now I truly seek to walk accordingly to the words Jesus spoke in Luke 12:22-32, but need Your constant help to overcome the doubts the walking under the sun creates. Hear this prayer and as the Palmist so often writes delivery me out from under thumb of man and my enemies, place my feet on solid ground and strengthen me for battle so I will never again bring shame to You through my actions. This I ask in the name of the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Hosea 14:2-10<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Hos&ch=14&bv1=2&ev1=10>

2 Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, "Take away all iniquity; accept that which is good and we will render the fruit of our lips. 3 Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses; and we will say no more, `Our God,' to the work of our hands. In thee the orphan finds mercy." 4 I will heal their faithlessness; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. 5 I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, he shall strike root as the poplar; 6 his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. 7 They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom as the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 8 O E'phraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress, from me comes your fruit. 9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

Psalm 81:6-11, 14, 17<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=81&bv1=6&ev1=11&bv2=14&ev2=14&bv3=17&ev3=17>

6 "I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. 7 In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Mer'ibah. [Selah] 8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me! 9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. 10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 "But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would have none of me. 14 I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes.

Mark 12:28-34<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Mark&ch=12&bv1=28&ev1=34>

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" 29 Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." 32 And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he; 33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any question.

Lenten Reflections<http://origin.ewtn.com/faith/lent/>

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter<http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html>

When: Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:00 AM to Friday, February 29, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O men of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be of anxious mind. For all the nations of the world seek these things; and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things shall be yours as well. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:22-32

The more we have denied ourselves during the day, the nearer we are each evening to the heart of our Lord.

— St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

Abba, Father, Lord God, thank You for hearing me, for helping me, but Lord I lack Your wisdom, and I tend to look beyond the moment, and at how the moments tie together – call it worrying about tomorrow, call it questioning the past. Help me Jesus to put Your words into being, feed my spirit so I will have the courage and strengthen to do Your will, and quench my thirst so my our desire will only be fulfilling Your purpose. O Lord how petty I can be, how weak in spirit I am – forgive my lack of discipline. Use this time to help me prepare for the day and eliminate all doubts. O Lord that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory let Your hand guide me and keep me from evil, and from causing any pain. That You would find favor with my love ones, protecting them in all they do and uniting us in Your name. These things I ask and pray in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Jeremiah 7:23-28<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Jer&ch=7&bv1=23&ev1=28>

23 But this command I gave them, `Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.' 24 But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward. 25 From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day; 26 yet they did not listen to me, or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers. 27 "So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 And you shall say to them, `This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.

Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=95&bv1=1&ev1=2&bv2=6&ev2=9>

1 O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would hearken to his voice! 8 Harden not your hearts, as at Mer'ibah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, 9 when your fathers tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.

Luke 11:14-23<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Luke&ch=11&bv1=14&ev1=23>

14 Now he was casting out a demon that was dumb; when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Be-el'zebul, the prince of demons"; 16 while others, to test him, sought from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Be-el'zebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace; 22 but when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoil. 23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

Lenten Reflections<http://origin.ewtn.com/faith/lent/>

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter<http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html>

When: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:00 AM to Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?" The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we stone you but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, `I said, you are gods'? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came (and scripture cannot be broken), do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, `You are blaspheming,' because I said, `I am the Son of God'? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."

John 10:24-38

It is true that God's power triumphs over everything, but humble and suffering prayer prevails over God Himself.

— St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

Abba, Father, Lord God, find favor with and for me and my love ones, for I am Your willing servant; living faithfully, praying hopefully and interacting lovingly. Not that it is easy, but I know it is what pleases You and as I have learned only in and with You can I find true rest and peace. So for me it has become logical to be obedient and seek Your will; again not that it is easy, but I know that without You I can do nothing and never be anything that would please You. For I have learned that it is my relationship with You through Jesus that pleases You. O Lord God that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me to keep me from evil and from causing pain. For the sake of His sorrowful passion have mercy on me and on the whole world. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Deut&ch=4&bv1=1&ev1=1&bv2=5&ev2=9>

1 "And now, O Israel, give heed to the statutes and the ordinances which I teach you, and do them; that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, gives you. 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land which you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, `Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day? 9 "Only take heed, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children —

Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=147&bv1=12&ev1=13&bv2=15&ev2=16&bv3=19&ev3=20>

12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your sons within you. 15 He sends forth his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. 19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel. 20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!

Matthew 5:17-19<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Matt&ch=5&bv1=17&ev1=19>

17 "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Lenten Reflections<http://origin.ewtn.com/faith/lent/>

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter<http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html>

When: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 12:00 AM to Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven."

Matthew 18:21-22

When death comes, and we stand before God, no king can command Him, no authority can restrain Him, no riches can hire Him to wait past his appointed time even one moment of an hour. Therefore let us speak what we are bound to speak and do the deeds we are called to do. No empty time is allowed to any of us.

— St. Thomas More

Abba, Father, Lord God, grant me favor in all I do, let my actions, words and thoughts serve You first. Give me a discerning mind and liken my heart to that of my Lord Jesus, so that I may walk in love, quick to forgive, never remembering or seeing but the good of all Your creations. For knowing what I know about myself; who I am to think that I could seek or hold back that very thing that I myself ask and pray for in all I do. From this perspective it is so easy to see the needs of others, what is difficult is to walk in the moment with the awareness to put aside my needs and serve the needs of those before me. So I call upon my Lord Jesus to strengthen my faith, renew my hope and fill me with love so that I will not find myself unable to respond in that moment to one who needs that which I also need. For I know that in that moment when I serve the need of another, I meet my need. For this is the secret to my being Your child, and as Your child I must liken my heart to that of Jesus so I will see through His eyes, speak in His image and feel one with Him, as I know He is one with You. This I ask in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Daniel 3:25, 34-43<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Dan&ch=3&bv1=25&ev1=25&bv2=34&ev2=43>

25 In the fire Azariah stood up and prayed aloud: 34 For your name's sake, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant. 35 Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, 36 To whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea. 37 For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. 38 We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no holocaust, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you. 39 But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; 40 As though it were holocausts of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, So let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame. 41 And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you. 42 Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy. 43 Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord:

Psalm 25:4-9<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=25&bv1=4&ev1=9>

4 Make me to know thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I wait all the day long. 6 Be mindful of thy mercy, O LORD, and of thy steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to thy steadfast love remember me, for thy goodness' sake, O LORD! 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Matthew 18:21-35<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Matt&ch=18&bv1=21&ev1=35>

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. 23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; 25 and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27 And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.' 29 So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30 He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; 33 and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

Lenten Reflections<http://origin.ewtn.com/faith/lent/>

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter<http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html>

When: Monday, February 25, 2008 12:00 AM to Tuesday, February 26, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

"Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."

Matthew 3:15

There are two sides to every sin: the turning of the will towards fleeting satisfaction and the turning away from everlasting value. The first can be called lust; the unbridled desire for pleasure. The second is pride; the lack of the submission to God.

— St. Thomas Aquinas

Abba, Father, Lord God, I feel and realize the value and need for the tradition Church, the sacraments, the teachings and catechism, the organization that serves so many; but I also feel and see the place for the evangelical and inspirational churches with Pastors that spread Your word with emotion, joy and affection. Like Solomon wrote 'for everything there is a season' and I feel the need to focus more on prayer. I ask that You would help me develop my power of prayer; prayer that is confident in faith, full of hope and focused on love. Let my thoughts during the day float up to You as words of the same prayer. Let each day be driven by my faith in Your promise, my hope in Jesus and my love for His passion. Liken my heart to His heart; give me favor to do what You ask and the resources to do it well. Letting all the glory be Yours in Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit that lives and walks within me. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

2 Kings 5:1-15<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=_2Kgs&ch=5&bv1=1&ev1=15>

1 Na'aman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little maid from the land of Israel, and she waited on Na'aman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Sama'ria! He would cure him of his leprosy." 4 So Na'aman went in and told his lord, "Thus and so spoke the maiden from the land of Israel." 5 And the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten festal garments. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, "When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Na'aman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy." 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he rent his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me." 8 But when Eli'sha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you rent your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Na'aman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the door of Eli'sha's house. 10 And Eli'sha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean." 11 But Na'aman was angry, and went away, saying, "Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper. 12 Are not Aba'na and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, "My father, if the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says to you, `Wash, and be clean'?" 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him; and he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant."

Psalms 42:2-3<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=42&bv1=2&ev1=3>; 43:3-4 <http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=43&bv1=3&ev1=4>

2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me continually, "Where is your God?"

3 Oh send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me, let them bring me to thy holy hill and to thy dwelling! 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise thee with the lyre, O God, my God.

Luke 4:24-30<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Luke&ch=4&bv1=24&ev1=30>

24 And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his own country. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Eli'jah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land; 26 and Eli'jah was sent to none of them but only to Zar'ephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Eli'sha; and none of them was cleansed, but only Na'aman the Syrian." 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and put him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. 30 But passing through the midst of them he went away.

Lenten Reflections<http://origin.ewtn.com/faith/lent/>

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter<http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html>

When: Friday, February 22, 2008 12:00 AM to Saturday, February 23, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

… whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Matthew 16:19

A life lived in Christ's Spirit, the Spirit of the Beatitudes, is "blessed", and only the person who becomes a "man or woman of the Beatitudes" can succeed in communicating love and peace to others.

— Pope John Paul II

Abba, Father, Lord God, O that You would bless me indeed; enlarge my territory. That Your hand would be with me, to keep me from evil and from causing pain. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

1 Peter 5:1-4<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=_1Pet&ch=5&bv1=1&ev1=4>

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. 2 Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, 3 not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory.

Psalm 23:1-6<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=23&bv1=1&ev1=6>

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; 2 he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Matthew 16:13-19<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Matt&ch=16&bv1=13&ev1=19>

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Lenten Reflections<http://origin.ewtn.com/faith/lent/>

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter<http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html>

When: Sunday, February 24, 2008 12:00 AM to Monday, February 25, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

"If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, `Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water… Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life… But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth… God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth… I who speak to you am he."

John 4:10,14, 23-24, 26

Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.

— St. Therese of Lisieux

Abba, Father, Lord God, grant me favor O that You would bless me indeed, that You would enlarge my territory. That Your hand would be with me, to keep me from evil and from causing pain. Create in me a clean heart and renewed spirit; that I may walk by faith, live in hope, and be filled with unconditional love for everyone You place in my path. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen

Exodus 17:3-7<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Exod&ch=17&bv1=3&ev1=7>

3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against Moses, and said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?" 4 So Moses cried to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." 5 And the LORD said to Moses, "Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand the rod with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the name of the place Massah and Mer'ibah, because of the faultfinding of the children of Israel, and because they put the LORD to the proof by saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"

Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=95&bv1=1&ev1=2&bv2=6&ev2=9>

1 O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would hearken to his voice! 8 Harden not your hearts, as at Mer'ibah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, 9 when your fathers tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.

Romans 5:1-2, 5-8<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Rom&ch=5&bv1=1&ev1=2&bv2=5&ev2=8>

1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. 6 While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man — though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. 8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

John 4:5-42 <http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=John&ch=4&bv1=5&ev1=42>

5 So he came to a city of Samar'ia, called Sy'char, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 There came a woman of Samar'ia to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 8 For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samar'ia?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, `Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" 13 Jesus said to her, "Every one who drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." 16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." 17 The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, `I have no husband'; 18 for you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband; this you said truly." 19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." 21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things." 26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." 27 Just then his disciples came. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, "What do you wish?" or, "Why are you talking with her?" 28 So the woman left her water jar, and went away into the city, and said to the people, 29 "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?"

Lenten Reflections<http://origin.ewtn.com/faith/lent/>

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter<http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html>