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

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>

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