Friday April 1
Lenten weekday
I, the Lord, am your God…
If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways…
Psalm 81:11, 14
Have you ever felt ignored? Maybe you
had the answer, but the teacher didn’t call
on you, or Mom was on the phone and
couldn’t listen at that moment.
This psalm says God feels the same way
sometimes. He speaks to us in the Bible
and in Jesus’ life, but we don’t always pay
attention. Here, God is pleading with us,
“Look! I want to bless you and care for you,
but you have to hear my Word.”
For the rest of Lent, try listening to God
more closely: in the readings during Mass,
in your school and family, even silently in
prayer.
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Hosea 14:2-10 • Psalm 81:6-11, 14, 17
Mark 12:28-34
Saturday April 2
St. Francis of Paola
The Pharisee took up his position and spoke
this prayer to himself, “O God, I thank you
that I am not like the rest of humanity…”
Luke 18:11
Imagine someone praying this prayer
today: “Dear Lord, I know you will save me,
because I do what is right—unlike those
other, evil people. Thanks for making me
so special.” How would that
seem?
God wants more than
good behavior in this life.
He wants us to admit our
sins and ask for mercy
instead of bragging. When
we do that, we become
humble like Jesus and place
our trust in the salvation
that comes from only him.
God, teach me to be
humble and selfless.
Hosea 6:1-6 • Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21
Luke 18:9-14
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Sunday
April 3
Fourth Sunday of Lent
We have to do the works of
the one who sent me while it
is day. Night is coming when
no one can work.
John 9:4
I love playing outside—
climbing trees, kicking
balls, building sand (or
dirt) castles. I could stay
out there all day, but once
the sun sets, it’s hard to see
anything.
Jesus knows how quickly
our lives can pass and how
important it is to help those in
need and forgive those who hurt us. That’s
why he warns, “Live for God now. Someday
it will be too late.”
So if you have an idea to serve God or
something to pray about, don’t just think
about it—do it now!
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1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13 • Psalm 23:1-6
Ephesians 5:8-14 • John 9:1-41
Monday April 4
St. Isidore
you will not believe.”
Jesus said to
him, “Unless
you people see
signs and wonders,
John 4:48
No matter how much Jesus talked to
people about God, they always wanted
him do something amazing. Do you think
Jesus ever got tired of that? How about us?
Do we need to see signs and wonders to
believe in Jesus?
C.S. Lewis, a famous Christian writer,
said that when the sun comes up we don’t
just see the sun. We also see everything
else because of the light it gives. In the
same way, we believe in Jesus not just
because he did extraordinary things, but
because he showed us God’s extraordinary
love for all of us.
Jesus, you are the light of the world. I
believe in you!
Isaiah 65:17-21 • Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13
John 4:43-54
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Tuesday April 5
St. Vincent Ferrer
The sick man answered him, “Sir, I
have no one to put me into the pool
when the water is stirred
up…” Jesus said to him,
“Rise, take up your mat,
and walk.” Immediately
the man became well…
John 5:7-9
People gathered by this
pool because they believed
it had special powers. Once in a while,
the water stirred, and sick people rushed
in. They believed the first person into the
water would be healed.
The man in the story never reached the
water first, but he waited by the pool day
after day. He didn’t know what else to do.
Then Jesus came and made him well.
When you don’t know what else to do,
turn to Jesus. He is there to help you too.
Jesus, help me turn to you when I’m not
sure what to do.
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Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12 • Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
John 5:1-16
Wednesday April 6
Lenten weekday
Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.”
Can a mother forget her infant…?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.
Isaiah 49:14-15
Hopefully
the people in
your life are
kind to you,
take care of
you and value
the things that are important to you. Still,
no matter how much they love you, they
are not perfect. They may lose their temper. They may not always listen. They may
be busy with other things when you need
their attention.
God’s love is a lot like theirs, but it’s
even better: it’s perfect.
God, I believe you will never forget me.
Isaiah 49:8-15 • Psalm 145:8-9, 13-14, 17-18
John 5:17-30
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Thursday April 7
St. John Baptist de la Salle
Go down at once to your
people… They have soon
turned aside from the way
I pointed out to them,
making for themselves a
molten calf and worshiping it, sacrificing to
it and crying out, “This is your God…!”
Exodus 32:7-8
Moses and his people saw God do incred-
ible things. They saw God part a river to let
them cross when they were being chased.
They saw God provide food and water
in the desert to keep them alive. But the
people wanted to see God. They wanted
God to be something they could look at
and touch. So they made a cow out of gold
and worshipped it. That was all wrong.
God is a Mystery. That means God is
always more than we can see. God is more
than we can even imagine.
Awesome God, help me to know you better every day.
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Exodus 32:7-14 • Psalm 106:19-23
John 5:31-47
Friday April 8
Lenten weekday
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in
spirit he saves.
Psalm 34:19
Do you ever feel close
to God? Maybe you feel
God is near when
everything is going
great, like when you
open a present or
score a goal. When you’re happy and excited, it feels like God is on your side, paying special attention to you. You might feel
blessed and grateful to God. But God is not
on your side only when things are going
well. God is also with you when everything
seems wrong, when you are sick or lonely
or left out. God is close to you even when
your heart is breaking.
God, I know you love me all the time. Be
with me today.
Wisdom 2:1, 12-22 • Psalm 34:17-21, 23
John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
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Saturday April 9
Lenten weekday
The Messiah will
not come from
Galilee, will he?
Does not scripture say that
the Messiah will be of David’s
family and come from Bethlehem…?
John 7:41-42
This crowd was fighting over nothing.
Jesus came from Galilee, but he also was
born in Bethlehem. Everyone thought they
had all the facts on the Messiah, but Jesus
said and did all sorts of surprising things.
We can get to know Jesus by listening to his words and living in the Christian
community. But even then, we must admit
we don’t know everything and try to understand the Church teachings and experiences of others that confuse us.
Jesus, Messiah, Son of David, show me
who you are.
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Jeremiah 11:18-20 • Psalm 7:2-3, 9-12
John 7:40-53
Sunday
April 10
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will
live, and everyone who lives and believes in
me will never die. Do you believe this?
John 11:25-26
What does it mean to “live” and “die” in
Christ? Lazarus died, but Jesus returned
him to live on earth. We believe he also
received eternal life in heaven.
Jesus often uses these
words to speak of dying
to sin. We may still live on
earth and need God’s mercy, but if we carry the cross
of obedience, our personal
sins may truly die—cease
to exist and never return.
If you are tempted to
sin this week, consider it a
life-or-death decision.
Ezekiel 37:12-14 • Psalm 130:1-8
Romans 8:8-11 • John 11:1-45
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Monday April 11
St. Stanislaus
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side…
Psalm 23:4
A lot of good things
happen to us, but
sometimes scary
things happen too.
There’s that tough
test that might trip
you up. There’s the
school team that
might think you
can’t measure up. Someone you
like may not like you. These worries are
some of the dark valleys we all go through.
The good news is that you don’t go
through them alone. God walks with you.
He gives you courage so you can make the
best of it when things get tough.
Lord, may I find courage in knowing that
you never forget me.
Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 • Psalm 23:1-6
John 8:1-11
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Tuesday April 12
Lenten weekday
The one who sent me is with me. He has not
left me alone, because
I always do what is
pleasing to him.
John 8:29
Life wouldn’t be
much fun without
friends. Friends
enjoy doing things
together. They share
a lot of the same ideas.
This helps us to see how Jesus felt
about his Father, the One who sent him.
Jesus and his Father thought alike. They
had the same values, and they loved one
another deeply. The Father was always
with Jesus, because they shared the same
life.
Jesus, may I make your values my own.
Help me to believe that you are always within
me. Increase my faith in your love.
Numbers 21:4-9 • Psalm 102:2-3, 16-21
John 8:21-30
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Wednesday April 13
St. Martin I
Blessed are you, O Lord…of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all
forever.
Daniel 3:52
A man lost his
job and could
find no work. He
could hardly feed
his family and
was about to lose
his home. When
the people in his parish heard this, they
helped him until he got another job. Overwhelmed, he praised them for their goodness. We praise God for his goodness to us.
We praise him for the sun, the rain and the
plants that give us food. We praise him for
our families and friends. We praise him for
his wonderful love.
Lord, may I remember to praise you every
day for your goodness to me.
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Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 • Daniel 3:52-56
John 8:31-42
Thursday April 14
Lenten weekday
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has
wrought*,
…and the judgments he has uttered…
Psalm 105:5
God created our earth with all its beauty.
His Creation is one of his wonderful deeds.
Then the Son of God became man and
shared in our life. Another wonderful deed! Then Jesus gave us his
presence in the Eucharist. Yet
another wonderful deed—and
it doesn’t stop there!
God hears our prayers,
and he guides us when
we need help. There is
no end to the wonderful deeds God does
each day.
Lord, may I remember how blessed I am. May I give you thanks
every day for all the marvelous things you do.
*wrought (rawt): worked or done for a purpose
Genesis 17:3-9 • Psalm 105:4-9
John 8:51-59
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Friday April 15
Lenten weekday
I love you, O Lord, my strength,
O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my
deliverer.
Psalm 18:2-3
It’s easy to love the Lord when we see how
much he loves us. We love him for giving us
life. We love him for being with us when we
feel lost and alone. We love him for giving
us trees, flowers and stars. And we love him
for giving us eyes and ears to see and hear
what he has made.
Lord, thank you for these
gifts that bring me joy.
May I recognize all
your gifts of love each
day and give you
my love in
return.
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Jeremiah 20:10-13 • Psalm 18:2-7
John 10:31-42
Saturday April 16
Lenten weekday
You know nothing,
nor do you consider that
it is better for you that one
man should die instead of
the people, so that the whole
nation may not perish.
John 11:49-50
The high priest used
his words as an excuse
to kill Jesus. If every sinner paid the price for his or her evil deeds,
there would be many in jail, and the world
would be lonelier.
But did Jesus really have to die? Here’s
what I know: Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection were a part of God’s plan. Even
though Jesus didn’t deserve to suffer, he
agreed to willingly, and his sacrifice gave
us all a second chance.
Jesus, I praise your gift of mercy.
Ezekiel 37:21-28 • Jeremiah 31:10-13
John 11:45-56
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