Day 1: February 18, 2026

“And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you”

We are challenged in the Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday to do right actions, say right words, and pray rightly, but to do so when others cannot see us, hear us, or recognize us. If we do what is right in this way then our intentions rightly match our actions and words.

Ash Wednesday more than perhaps any other day within the Church calendar, we seem to do exactly the opposite of what the Gospel of Matthew says. We attend a church service, receive a clear mark on our forehead, and then go out into the community to show our mark. How do we come to terms with this seeming contradiction of words and actions? I think the answer might be somewhere between our intention and attention for attending the service in the first place.

One of the reasons for the ashes on our forehead is so that we can be a sign and witness to others of God’s love for us. The ashes remind us and others that we are invited to have a relationship with a Living God, and part of that relationship is our eventual physical death so that we can rise to new life in God. Hopefully, when are attend the service and throughout the day when we look in the mirror, we ourselves are reminded of that. But what about others we encounter throughout the day? What do they see when they notice the ashes? I think they see the ashes AND see our actions and hear our words all at the same time. If our actions and words do not match the intended message of those ashes, are we being a witness to others of God’s love?

Of course, we don’t need ashes on our forehead to be a sign of God’s love. We can be a witness to God’s love any day of the year. If our actions and our words come from the right intention rather than from a form of gaining attention—then we are a sign of God’s love in the world and one that others can recognize. The ashes we receive on Ash Wednesday are a good reminder for us that we can be a continual sign of God’s love to others, not just on this particular day, but every day so long as we have right intentions.

– Fr. Christopher Nguyen, SJ

Day 2: February 19, 2026

Day 3: February 20, 2026

Just a few hours ago we laid my mother-in-law to rest. Maria Refugio Lopez Rodriguez was 83 years old and left behind two daughters, a son, and four grandchildren. I waited too long to write this reflection in more ways than one. But better late than never. Maria was a devout woman. A woman of great faith, unwavering hope, and boundless love. A woman who understood what it meant to fast. Whether she knew it or not she fasted just as we are called to do in today’s first reading. As a daughter, spouse, mother, and grandmother she understood the importance of service. The importance of generosity. And the importance of love. She offered her love to all those who she encountered. She offered that love to me. For Maria spoke very little English and I spoke very little Spanish, but somehow we had a bond, a relationship, a respect for one another. We came from different backgrounds and grew up in different cultures. And while we may have seemed worlds apart, we shared a special bond. A bond that was formed out of and by love.
And as I reflected on today’s passages, I have come to understand that fasting is not the giving up of something, but is the giving of something. It is the giving of yourself. It is the giving of your love. For when we love we transform not only ourselves, but the world around us. We transform people and places. We transform hearts, minds, and souls. This is what Maria did and this what we are called to do.
Thank you Maria for being a beacon of faith. A believer in hope. And an instrument of God’s love. You taught me what it means to fast. You taught me what it means to love.

– David Vacchi

Day 4: February 21, 2026

“I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners” (Luke 5:32)

I think of today’s Gospel whenever I begin noticing myself wanting to judge others for their sins. I tell myself I have no right to judge others, instead, I should work on my own sins. Rather than judging, I want to ask myself: How can I love fellow sinners like me and reflect Christ’s love to them? Jesus crucified in the cross, said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Not once in his life did Jesus shame or judge a sinner, even those who crucified him, he lovingly forgave. This is the example of the level of forgiveness and love I want to achieve. Something that has been helping me lately is asking myself “what would Jesus do?” This gives me wisdom to know what to do when I’m uncertain or confused.

Sometimes when I catch myself sin, I believe the lie that I am not worthy of God’s love and I start to stray from God. However, that unworthiness narrative is completely false. It’s merely a lie the enemy plants and wants me to believe. The truth is Jesus died for me knowing that I would mess up and sin again and again. Knowing that I would doubt him, deny him, and put my selfishness, flesh and worldly desires above him. Even then, he loves me and always forgives me when I sincerely repent and seek his forgiveness. That is the beauty of Christ. He is a merciful, loving and all forgiving Lord.
No matter how bad I mess up or how many times I fall, he will always receive me with open arms if I truly seek him and repent from the bottom of my heart. The same way that God forgives me is how I want to forgive others. Just like the prayer in the Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

– Melanie Vasquez

Day 5: February 22, 2026

“If you are the Son of God,” (Matthew 4:3)

For me, the word of the day from today’s gospel would be “if”. In today’s gospel, we hear the word “if” three times, when Satan asks Jesus to prove if indeed he is the son of God. This is a word that pops up daily for many people. It is a word that is conditional, which depends on another person or factor. “If” can also imply wishful thinking in a situation of the past, present, or future. This is a word which can imply a challenge, an expectation, a goal, or even disappointment.

During this stressful time of the academic year, many people including myself might be tempted to ask such questions during difficult situations or when things do not go our way. Some of us might hypothetically ask such questions “If I/you can…”, “If l/you had…”, or “If I/you could….” “If” questions frequently tend to force unrealistic expectations and demands upon us. Ultimately, these unrealistic demands and expectations make us more reliant on ourselves and less so on God in these situations where we need him the most.

Today’s gospel presents a side of Jesus that would be relatable to many of us right now. We encounter a stressed and tired Jesus who comes out of one challenge to face another. Jesus’s replies to each of the devil’s challenges help us realize that it is God who helps us and accompanies us in times of adversity.
God our father, accompany us during our Lenten journey. Help us to trust in you with confidence, that we may overcome our own daily obstacles with your help and guidance. Amen.

– Joseph Vo

Day 6: February 23, 2026

Be Holy in the Ordinary

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18)

When I hear God say, “Be holy, for I… am holy,” I sometimes imagine something distant and almost unreachable. But this passage brings holiness down to earth. It is not about grand gestures. It is about honesty, fairness, patience, and love in everyday life. I realize how often I am tempted to cut corners, hold quiet grudges, or stay silent when something is not right. God’s call to holiness feels less like a spotlight on my failures and more like an invitation to live with integrity in small, hidden moments.

I am especially struck by the line about not standing idly by when my neighbor’s life is at stake. I think about times when I have seen someone struggling and hesitated to step in because it felt uncomfortable. This reading reminds me that loving my neighbor is an active practice. It means choosing courage over convenience and mercy over resentment. During Lent, I feel invited to examine my heart and let go of grudges I carry. Holiness begins when I decide to love, even when it costs me something.

Lord, help me to love my neighbor sincerely and to reflect Your holiness in the way I live each day.

– Jonathan Pham

Day 7: February 24, 2026

“Thus says the Lord: 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…so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” -Isaiah 55:10-11

Today’s reading settled into my heart gently yet with awakening. It reminded me that our words carry weight, though we often speak without thinking. When emotions take over, I sometimes say things that do not reflect who I am or who God calls me to be.

It took hardship for me to understand that tomorrow is never promised. This scripture reminded me that words, like rain, do not simply fall and disappear. They touch something. They nourish or they erode. The conversations we rush, the words we toss carelessly, the moments we assume will come again, none are guaranteed. Eternity, however, is. That truth urges me to speak with intention because we never know which sentence will linger in someone’s heart long after we are gone.

During this Lenten season this scripture calls me to pause, stand calm and present in faith and allow the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts before they become speech. To allow my words to water rather than wash away.

So I return to this truth: be kind, be respectful, be faithful, be patient, be loving. Let your words water the hearts around you, not wound them. Life is brief, every word matters and what we send out into the world will one day return to us.

Lord fill me with your Holy Spirit and make me an instrument of your peace, allow me to speak with intention and clarity so that wherever I go Your light follows me all the days of my life. Amen.

– Natalia Venegas

Day 8: February 25, 2026

“Out of Love and Gratitude”
“When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.” – Jonah 3:10
I find this line from today’s readings striking because it seems to suggest that God changed his mind! In Lent, a time when we are meant to repent, we are given a passage where God is the one who repents! In my own journey of faith, from youth until early adulthood, I had the naive notion that God was like the repentant God of today’s reading. I thought that my sins were tallied, my faults were obvious, and that my salvation was in the hands of a God who made decisions on a whim. This line stands out to me as a reminder of the idol I used to worship: the false God who threatens us into submission.
I believe that the author of Jonah uses God’s repentance as a literary expression for his own realization of the true God. God doesn’t change, but our perception of him does! This is what I was blessed to experience in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. One of the many graces of that retreat was my realization that God rouses me to drop my disordered attachments, to repent, and to walk with him only through his unconditional love. Through a direct encounter with God in prayer, I began to see that repentance under duress would be a cheap knock off. God doesn’t pressure, threaten, or blackmail us into changing course. Rather, he loves me, labors for me, and lavishly blesses me beyond any sin I could (or did) commit. Gratitude for his love, not fear, leads me to desire to do better and to be more like him. This Lent, let us not fall into the idolatry of worshipping a God who threatens, but worship the true God by living and loving out of gratitude.
What false notions of God do I have? Is my relationship with God driven by love or fear?

– Connor Murphy, nSJ

Day 9: February 26, 2026

The Courage to Ask

“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7

Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, throws herself before the Lord and prays, “Help me, who am alone and have no help but you.” Her prayer is vulnerable, and courageous. She does not pretend strength. She does not hide her fear. She places her life in God’s hands.

During Lent, I am invited to stand beside Esther and recognize the places where I, too, feel alone, anxious, or powerless. There are moments when I carry burdens silently, hesitant to ask for help, even from God. Yet today’s Gospel reassures me that I am not bothering God when I knock. I am not weak when I ask. I am a beloved child turning toward a generous Father.
“Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.” The psalm reminds me that God is attentive. He builds up strength within me. He does not hand me stones when I ask for bread. Instead, He gives what is truly good, sometimes not what I expect, but always what leads to life.

Perhaps this Lenten season is God’s personal invitation to deeper trust: to ask more boldly, to seek more honestly, and to knock more persistently. It is also a call to become an answer to someone else’s prayer, to treat others with the mercy and generosity I hope to receive.

Let us dare to approach God with the confidence of children, trusting that His kindness endures forever.

“O faithful God, when I feel alone or afraid, give me the courage to ask, to seek, and to knock. Create in me a clean heart and deepen my trust in your loving care.”

– Anonymous

Day 10: February 27, 2026

To me, today’s Gospel reading sounds like a call to love. In the Old Testament, the expectation was set by God; “You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.” I can imagine that if I was alive back during that time, I could see myself being comforted by the fact that if I followed these rules, these commandments, I would get a righteous judgement from God. As long as I don’t cross the line of taking someone’s life, or stealing something from another, or bearing false witness against another, whatever it is; as long as I don’t cross the line and break the rule, I’d be okay.

In the New Testament, however, Jesus identifies a coldness in my heart. He tells me ‘No, it is not enough to merely dance the line of right and wrong. If you are angry at a brother; if you call another a fool or forsake their worth’, Jesus says I will be “liable to judgment… answerable to the Sanhedrin… liable to fiery Gehenna”.

Jesus tells me that He is after my heart, not just the outward reflection on my actions. An attitude of “how close can I get or how far can I push the line before crossing it”… that attitude is not one of love and Jesus tells me that I must settle my debts before I stand before Him, else I stand subject to the same judgement. The Lord knows that Sin leads us to death and He wants the exact opposite for us; He wants us to have Life in Him. Life through his love.

Dear Lord, the grace that I ask for this day is for Your love to pour out into my heart that transforms my attitude from its core. Let my attitude foster a love that emulates Yours so that I can extend that love to my brother, let them know how priceless they are, and build them up constantly. I ask this today and as we all continue throughout this Lenten season.

– Paul Saraceno

Day 11: February 28, 2026

“So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

What does it mean to be perfect? When I think of perfection, I imagine having a life well-ordered: being productive, having effective time management, and maintaining a balance in daily activities. There are things in my life that help me order my day- I refer to them as my non-negotiables, some of the foremost being exercise and prayer. However, I often fall short of accomplishing these non-negotiables and I am left wishing that I could have been more effective with my time management.

Now, what does it mean to be perfect in the eyes of God? I remember the first time I read this verse when I was becoming more serious about my faith-and my heart sank. I thought that to live a life of perfection meant living a life without sin, something unattainable no matter how hard I tried. I had waves of success with my non-negotiables, but these were often short-lived. Yet, I now realize perfection is being who I am, and being that well. I learned I did not have to earn God’s love in my attainment of perfection; rather it is in my weakness, uncertainty, and faults that I give Him praise; for it is in these moments I find myself trusting all the more in His love.

Good and Gracious Father, just as you make the sun rise on the good and bad, you demonstrate perfection in your love. Allow us to not get caught up in our shortcomings, but to embrace ourselves as your beloved sons and daughters, fearfully and wonderfully made, already perfect since we are made in your image and likeness. Amen.

– Rollen Ellsworth

Day 12: March 1, 2026

High, Low, and God Moments

When I first arrived at UCSD, one of the first things I registered for at Newman was CLC. Each week, we begin by sharing our weekly “high, low, and God moments”

The Transfiguration of Jesus can be considered one of the “high, God moments” in his life. Just as Jesus affirmed by God the Father as his “beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Luke 17:5), the Transfiguration is a reminder of how life offers me beautiful moments. These beautiful moments serve as a reminder of how I, too, am a beloved child of God.

I have experienced these beautiful “God moments” in prayer, on retreats, on pilgrimages, and even spending time with my loved ones. One example which stands out to me was when I went to World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. It was a beautiful journey where I found many moments of close connection with God.

During Adoration with Pope Francis, I had a particularly powerful moment. I felt Jesus say to me, “Your imperfections and flaws do not take away my love for you.” After many difficulties and challenges during my childhood and high school years, I felt affirmed, accepted and strengthened by God and his love for me.

Another crucial takeaway of World Youth Day was meeting new friends who also shared the same faith. It helped me realize that we were all part of one family in Christ. In many ways, World Youth Day prepared me for the friendships that I have found here at UCSD and Newman.

The theme song of World Youth Day 2023 opens with these lines: “From far and wide to gather in this place, we spread our wings and here we are”. Nearly three years later, these words still resonate with me as I continue my journey at UCSD. Even as I have flown far away from home, I found more “God moments” in moments that I cherish with my friends.

“God moments” are meant to be shared with others. Just as Peter exclaims, “Lord, it is good that we are here,” (Matthew 17:4), I am reminded that I share these special moments with others. Likewise, I am reminded of how important the gift of presence is to others.

What are your own “God moments”? And how can you share them with others?

– Joseph Vo

Day 13: March 2, 2026

Lent has always been a time of self-reflection. Focusing on praying more, giving something up, and working on that personal relationship with God. But, maybe it’s a little bit more than that…

When we receive the ashes on our foreheads, we are called to repent and believe in the gospel. And today’s gospel reading teaches us not just about repentance, but how to grow from that repentance. It teaches us to follow Jesus and love like him.

This year, l’ve struggled to selflessly love others as I have done in the past. Being overwhelmed by tasks and expectations, the stress that comes with trying to perform to the best of my ability has affected how I love and care for others, which I am not proud of.

When I am overwhelmed and hurt, it becomes easier to judge than to understand, to withdraw rather than to give, to protect my own peace instead of entering into someone else’s struggle. Stress narrows my vision. It makes my world smaller, centered on my own to-do lists and anxieties.

But Jesus calls me to something bigger. He calls me to a love that stretches beyond convenience.

“Be merciful.” Not when it’s easy. Not when I feel accomplished or rested. But always, just as the Father is merciful to me. God does not give His mercy based on my performance. He does not withhold forgiveness until I have proven myself worthy. He gives generously, abundantly, without keeping score. And I am called to do the same. Not just to myself, but to others.

And so, I am grateful to all those who have supported me on my journey, even at my lowest. Those people are easier to love. But, I am called not only to love the stranger, but to love those where my relationship may be strained or broken in some way. Because everyone, regardless of who they are, is worthy of love.

– Waverley Achacoso

Day 14: March 3, 2026

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” -Matthew 23:12

When I reflect on this verse, I think about the people I look up to most: my Lola and my parents. They have never boasted about their amazing qualities, they are humble. In my Lola’s calm example of praying the rosary everyday, I am inspired to keep up my daily prayers, and in my parents’ quiet perseverance, I am reminded to stay determined. It reminds me to stay determined and grounded in my faith. They never had to tell me how pious or resilient they are, they simply live it out. That is the kind of person I aspire to be.

I really love this Gospel from Matthew because it reminds me of something beautiful I can live by as a Catholic: the virtue of humility. In today’s world, I often see bragging on social media and even in conversations with classmates. But here, Jesus reminds me that there is grace in being humble. A friend once told me that good deeds are between God and me, and that has always stayed with me. I try my best to keep my good deeds private. Doing so creates a deeper intimacy between God and me. Lent reminds me that humility can be a kind of fasting from attention, from praise, and from the desire to be seen.

– Joelle Kaiser

Day 15: March 4, 2026

The Greatness of Encounter

“Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” – Matthew 20:26-28

This is one of my favorite lines in the Gospels even though I rarely live up to its demands. I think this line describes the way we as Christians are supposed to live in this world, namely in a counter-cultural way.
Always seeking to approach reality, tackle issues, and live our faith from below. Christianity is often superficially dubbed counter-cultural because of our moral views on sex, drugs, and rock and roll (i.e. all the polemical issues of our times). But I believe that reducing our faith to these ethical positions doesn’t do justice to the person of Jesus Christ. Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, says “the strategy of Jesus is not centered in taking the right stand on issues, but rather standing in the right place – with the outcast and those relegated to the margins.” To me, this is why Christianity is truly counter-cultural. This is why Jesus asks us to be servants and slaves, because only through humbling ourselves will we be able to stand with those at the margins without thinking we’re saviors.

In my time as a novice, I have felt closest to Jesus in moments of service to others. But not because of the service itself. Helping at a soup kitchen and home for disabled adults wasn’t transformative because of what I was doing. It was life changing because of the people I got to encounter and the stories I got to hear from these interactions. My view of the world and perception of reality didn’t change through argument but rather encounter. Hearing about someone’s struggle with addiction and constant desire to become clean. Witnessing the excitement of a man who got a poncho to protect him from the rain at night. Hearing a crying mother who prays for her undocumented children’s safety when leaving the house. Service facilitates these encounters. And I firmly believe these encounters are the closest I’ve been to greatness. They are the closest l’ve been to God. …

– Connor Murphy, nSJ

Day 16: March 5, 2026

Trusting in God

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. … More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:7-9)

How can one fully trust in another? This scripture reminds me of when I’ve doubted God. Times that trust has been broken, and the feeling of being lost. Even more so, this passage calls to mind everything good that has come forth from trusting in God. Friendships and events I didn’t expect, yet blessings brought into my life. It’s beautiful seeing the life God has planned for me unfold.

Trust is built on understanding. God knows us completely, but do we know Him? During Lent, we can become too focused on the part of “giving something up” that we forget the whole reason for doing so. Getting rid of certain habits or distractions creates space to engage in actions that help us to grow closer to God. Like instead of being occupied by addictions, we get more time to incorporate praying, good deeds, or reading scripture into each day.

Trusting others can be hard. Being one’s authentic and vulnerable self is a risk that people may take advantage of. However, this is not the case with God. We can surrender, show our flaws, and He will be there for us no matter what. In challenging times, it’s easy to stray from God and convince ourselves that we can fix our own problems. Still, we’re only human. So we doubt and question, but we can’t control everything. God has that Almighty power and we get to rely on Him. Always.

It can feel like He is distant when prayers don’t seem to be answered immediately. We always ask from Him, but are we truly listening to His response? He might not be direct, yet He is in the kind words and actions from those we encounter, the complexity of nature around us, and the new paths He encourages us to take. I’ve grown up hearing the phrase “do your best and God will do the rest.” This increasingly resonates as I continue learning to let go and let God do His will.

Dear Lord, please quiet my fears and help me to see You in my everyday life, so that I may have faith in what You have planned for me. “Jesus, King of Mercy, I trust in You.”

– Kiara Avenido

Day 17: March 6, 2026

“When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him.”
-Genesis 37:4

Do I follow the Lord’s commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” as well as I should?
Absolutely not. To love your neighbor perfectly is such an extensive task with so many options that I don’t even realize half of the loving acts I could do.

We see from the first reading that Joseph’s brothers refused to greet him because of their lack of love for him. Every day I see people that I would like to avoid greeting as well. I’m sure we all have these people. Like Joseph’s brothers, we lack love for them. With this realization, the act that comes to follow our Lord’s commandment is to swallow our pride and give a genuine greeting to these people. We overlook the importance of it, but withholding a greeting from someone may be a sign that we have more room to grow in our love for them.

Towards these people, Lord, give us the grace to grow in love, and to take the first step with a simple greeting. Amen

– Zach Lewis

Day 18: March 7, 2026

Coming Home

“I will get up and go to my father and shall say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” – Luke 15:18

On a purely logical level, I understand that God can forgive anything. I understand that no matter how wicked I act, God has the capacity to forgive me. I understand that God knows man’s potential for evil but still chooses to forgive. But that is so very difficult for me to accept.

How is there somebody with such understanding? How is there somebody who accepts being mutilated for a crime He did not commit? How can there be somebody who prays for His murderers? I constantly ask myself these questions but I know the answer. Because He is God. And God is love.

Every time I sin, I feel like I place a wound upon Christ. It was me who made an innocent man suffer. And I do it again and again.

But he still loves me. He loves a world that did not love him. And in His greatest act of love, he died for all of us so that we may live beyond this life.

I can’t understand the mind of God. I will never understand such unconditional love. But it makes me so glad that I receive it. If I had nothing, I would have still have that, which, I suppose, is everything.

So, in this life I’ll try my best to please God. I want to reflect His love to those around me. I want to answer his call and follow his commandments. I want to get as close as possible to His example.

But, of course, I will fall short. I will mess up. However, in His mercy, He will welcome us home each and every time.

“O my God,
I am heartily sorry for having offended you,
and I detest all my sins because of your just punishments,
but most of all because they offend you, my God,
who are all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace,
to sin no more
and to avoid the near occasions of sin.
Amen.”

– David Patrick Roxas

Day 19: March 8, 2026

Thirsting for God

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14

While reading this passage, my heart resonated with the Samaritan woman’s plea: “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” (John 4:15) I find that when praying alone, the silence strips away the layers of noise drowning out that uncomfortable cry for happiness- a deep thirst for something outside of myself. And no matter how many times I draw from the well of earthly satisfaction- friendships, academics, comfort- I find my bucket empty at the end of the day.

Notice how Jesus does not condemn the woman for drawing water from the well. He even asks to partake of it. I came to see that there is real enjoyment to be found in my earthly blessings, and that God wants me to enjoy them. But if I expect to be filled by them, I can expect to be disappointed. The void in my heart stands as proof I was made to partake in something higher, far beyond what the world can offer. By drinking the last drop of earthly agony in His Passion, Jesus opened the floodgates of Heaven for us, that we may drink deeply of eternal bliss with Him forever in Heaven.

Sweet Jesus, I am empty, but You are fullness itself. Fill my emptiness with You! Let me be as your little cup, spilling the love I have received into the hearts of those around me. Amen 🤍

– Alana Merritt

Day 20: March 9, 2026

“But Naaman went away angry, saying, ‘I thought that he would surely come out and stand there to invoke the LORD his God, and would move his hand over the spot, and thus cure the leprosy.
Are not the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?’”(2 Kings 5:11-12)

As I looked at the first reading today, I realized that l’ve said these words and felt these feelings towards God before (not in this context, but you know what I mean). I remember times I would pray for something specific and then God would answer my prayer with something I didn’t necessarily ask for. I would look at it and think “This isn’t what I asked for. I don’t think I want this.” Despite Naaman’s hesitation, he did what Elisha asked him to do and was cured of leprosy. He saw it all the way through and in that, God was able to bless Him. Despite my confusion, oftentimes what God gave me instead ended up being pretty useful and even better than what I asked for in the first place.

Sometimes, we have things we want the Lord to be attentive to and/or things we want God to give us. And sometimes, God doesn’t respond to our prayers in the way we want or expect Him to. That can discourage us. But I learned that God gives us what we need, not always what we want. He knows what is best for me because He created me. He knows my past, present, and future and He knows my tendencies better than I know them for myself. Therefore, I want to always be grateful to God when He does or doesn’t provide in ways I expect because I know He sees the bigger picture and loves me deeply.

Lord, help us to trust in Your plan, for You know what is best for us.

– Faith Nibbe

Day 21: March 10, 2026

Finding the Altar Within

“But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received.”

I often find myself waiting for the “perfect” conditions to feel connected to my purpose or to God. I tell myself I’ll be more present once my to-do list is cleared, or I’ll be more generous once I have more security. But Azariah’s prayer hits me deeply because he is praying from the middle of a fire, in a time when his people have lost everything-their temple, their leaders, and their outward rituals. He doesn’t wait for the flames to die down to offer something meaningful.

This passage reminds me that when I feel “brought low” or stripped of my usual comforts, I haven’t lost my ability to worship or be heard. My “sacrifice” isn’t a grand gesture or a public success; it is simply the honesty of my own heart when I am vulnerable. I realize that even when I have nothing physical to offer, a humble spirit is enough. God isn’t looking for the “fat lambs” of my achievements; He is looking for me to follow unreservedly right where I am, even in the heat of the moment.

Lord, when I feel I have nothing left to give, help me remember that a humble heart is the only gift you’ve ever truly wanted. Amen.

– Jonathan Pham

Day 22: March 11, 2026

The Source of Our Fulfillment

“I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)

All of us know that this line from today’s readings has to do with the law. Jesus tells us that his mission isn’t some divine regime change where the old rules no longer apply. Yet it seems to me that this statement of Jesus can be applied outside of the law as well. In my view, this represents Jesus’ fundamental attitude towards me and all of us on our paths to holiness. In our pursuit of God it is easy to yield to the voice of the enemy, the evil spirit, who subtly corrupts our vision of God and ourselves. On countless occasions the thought that being holy means being someone else has strained my relationship with God. For example, look at Mother Teresa! At St. Francis of Assisi! They lived such heroic lives of faithfulness, service, and virtue! So that means I need to live like they did, right? Well, in good Jesuit fashion, I’ve come to believe that the answer is yes and no.

Yes, because the saints give us models of holiness that show us holiness is really possible. We can ask for their intercession and relate to them because they experienced similar struggles to us. No, because you and I are not Mother Teresa. We are not St. Francis of Assisi either. And thank God for that! Jesus wants us in our uniqueness. God already has a Mother Teresa and a St. Francis, so why would he want copies of the originals? Today’s Gospel reminds us that Jesus calls us as we are. This includes our quirks, our sense of humor, and our faults and struggles too. He wants the authentic version of ourselves hidden by masks and acts. I love this quote because it reminds me that Jesus doesn’t want to abolish me or my personality. Rather, his call and my response will bring me and my personality to fulfillment. It is an under celebrated blessing that we are most ourselves when we follow God. So, let’s rejoice in that fact! Let’s follow Jesus as we are. Let’s trust that being his disciple won’t abolish us, but fulfill us!

How does God meet me in my uniqueness and quirks? How can my individual qualities serve
God? Where in my relationship with God am I trying to be someone else?

-Connor Murphy nSJ

Day 23: March 12, 2026

True Freedom

“Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper.” Jeremiah 7:23

When I was early in my walk with God, I used to think that all of His commands and rules were limits to my joy rather than the foundations of it. I first encountered God most deeply when I truly acknowledged for the first time that I am full of sin, and even though I desire to do good, I rarely ever do. I was in high school during this time, and I felt a pull from God to read the Bible every day before school, even if it was only fifteen minutes. The first chapters that I read during this time were from the books of Romans and Proverbs, two books that instruct you how to live a faithful Christian life. I made it my goal at the time to try to live according to what the Scriptures taught me so that I no longer had to carry the heavy burden of being a disappointment to God, as well as to those around me.

Even though I still struggled with sin, as I always will, this was the first time I had ever experienced true freedom. The world tells us that freedom is following the desires of our hearts. But as today’s passage points out, God’s people had frequently “walked in the hardness of their evil hearts” and therefore “turned their backs, not their faces, to [Him].” So even if the world tells us to follow our hearts, I now know that true freedom is found in loving Christ and accepting His love, especially through following His commandments.

“Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous; Teach me to serve thee as thou deservest; To give and not to count the cost, To fight and not to seek for rest, To labour and not to seek reward, Save that of knowing that I do thy will.” -Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

– Serena Oliveira

Day 24: March 13, 2026

Love Your Neighbor

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31)

This Gospel reminds us, as God’s children, to love one another. This applies not only to our families, friends, and those we hold close to us, but to all people, and this extends to even our enemies. Loving our enemies may seem like a difficult concept to live out–I often think that myself. It’s a common shortcoming, especially within our generation, to judge others who are different from us or hold grudges against those who have hurt us. However, what good comes out of that? It only makes us feel worse and pushes us away from the Lord. I try to remind myself to pray for that person rather than thinking or speaking badly about them. Maybe a prayer is what’s truly needed to lessen these feelings of resentment, and that alone is already an act of love. This strengthens our relationship not only with the people around us, but also with God.

Loving my neighbor does not necessarily mean I need to do a huge gesture. Something as simple as approaching and greeting someone can brighten their day. Loving one another may seem like an easy task, but we don’t realize how often and how easily we fall short of it. Choosing to love one another helps us grow closer to God and ultimately guides us toward His kingdom.

Lord, help us to be more mindful and loving toward one another, even those we may find it more difficult to love. Amen.

– Barbara Baal

Day 25: March 14, 2026

For His Glory, not mine

“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 —greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’” -Luke 18:11-13

In this passage, I feel that Jesus calls us to recognize our moments of self-righteousness and grow in humility. There are times when I catch myself reflecting more of the Pharisee’s attitude from today’s Gospel, but God is pleased with those that carry humility even if they are the “least accomplished” in comparison to others.

In discovering myself and my capabilities while in college, I have felt so blessed by God to be able to experience lots of self-improvement. In these past two years, I have been the most intentional with my efforts in strengthening my relationship with the Lord, growing in kindness, and improving my ability to connect with others compared to earlier in my life. I experienced great momentum especially last year, and I became very satisfied with the fruits that I witnessed. I would find myself being grateful to God for growing me in a particular way, whether it was spiritually, academically, mentally, socially, or physically. But I often got caught up on the fact that I was becoming a version of myself that I was more satisfied with without asking myself “How can I use what I just gained to bring glory to God?”

This passage reminds me of a reel that I came across this past quarter, where it spoke on how when it comes to self-improvement, we might be missing that we’re meant to grow in certain ways in order to build and serve God’s Kingdom better rather than simply experience our own success or fulfillment. Simply put, everything we do should be for His Glory, not ours.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the graces that You pour out into our daily lives. We are thankful for the moments where you humble us and do work in us to become better. …

– Janisse Calunsag

Day 26: March 15, 2026

“I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.

In today’s Gospel we hear the story of Jesus and the blind man. Jesus tells his disciples that the man’s blindness is not a result of sin, but rather so the works of God can be shown through him. Once healed, the man’s neighbors can not believe he is the same person. As I grow in my relationship with Jesus I am able to recognize more of my blessings. I think that many of us can understand the healing grace of faith. Like the man in the Gospel, the works and light of God do not only change us, but also make us unrecognizable. As students we come to Newman from all walks of life, but we all share in our universal desire for Christ. As followers of Jesus we best understand when we admit that we do not have all the answers. When we surrender ourselves to God, he blesses us with the ability to see.

Dear God, allow us to follow you faithfully and give us the strength to put aside the pride that prevents us from seeing you fully. Amen.

– Megan Johnson

Day 27: March 16, 2026

Believe and go

“The royal official said to him, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You may go; your son will live.’ The man believed what Jesus said to him and left” (John 4:49-50).

In the Gospel, the man presented his request to Jesus in true faith. He trusted Jesus’ word, and responded obediently, heading back towards home. In this, he showed his surrender to the will of Christ.

In my life, I notice that after taking my needs to God in prayer, I sometimes struggle to “believe and go”, as the man did. In matters of personal struggle, I ask God for help, but then I don’t respond as I should: I either cling tightly to my own plan, or on the contrary, after asking for his help, I fail to take action that would allow him to work through me to answer my prayer.

It stood out to me how after the man asked Jesus to heal his son, he did not stick around to worry or doubt. Instead, after he asked, he left to go home as he was prompted, led by his trust that Jesus would be faithful to his word. This Gospel reading reminds me that receiving healing in my life is enabled by my surrender to God’s will, and how Jesus uses our belief and cooperation to pour out his grace. From this, I gather that taking my needs to God in true faith requires my active participation in him carrying out his plan for my life. The way I respond after I pray should invite him to do his work. And it starts with my surrender to his will.

Dear Lord, help me to be like the man who believed you would provide for him in the request he entrusted to you. Teach me the ways you are calling me to prepare my heart to allow the work you want to do in my life. Give me your grace to pray with surrender, so that I, too, may believe and go forth in obedience to you. Amen.

– Naomi Ortega

Day 28: March 17, 2026

The Wonderful Stream.

“Wherever the river flows,
every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live,
and there shall be abundant fish,
for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.”

When I first read this passage, I struggled to understand what it really entailed. Ezekiel prophesied a river by the temple and trudged in it through the guidance of an angel. But why was this river so important? Why did they need to stress “river” so much? Then it hit me—healing water.

No one is perfect and is bound to make mistakes. Yet we want to be perfect, we set ourselves on high
pedestals and standards. And the moment we fail to meet these expectations, we fall hard. I, myself, feel
that way very often. I feel like I’m not fulfilling my duties here on earth to the fullest. Often clouded with
the mindset of, “I don’t deserve my blessings” or “I’m not worthy of good things.” And these feelings
come with a price, as it drives me away from my faith. Overthinking about how I don’t deserve God’s
love, and I have to do so much to even be worthy of stepping a foot into his paradise.

But there’s a solution to this. Every time you step into church, the first thing you would look for is holy
water, a reminder of baptism. Holy water is used as a reminder of returning to God’s grace and mercy.
And that is the one and only answer, return to God’s embrace. Especially during adoration and mass,
when I put myself in the presence of God, my mind is at ease. His grace alone is enough to take my mind
off these thoughts and remind me that I am worthy of his love. And sometimes the simplest moments like
this make me ever wonder why I ever doubted this love. Honestly, there’s no perfect answer to it, the fact
that I run to the Father is enough. That’s the beauty of God’s love, his love is like a river, a source of to a
dead sea.

Heavenly Father, teach me to embrace your healing waters. Teach me to accept your presence in my life.
Allow me to let your abundance of love flow throughout my life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

– Maryjune Concepcion

Day 29: March 18, 2026

Leave the Tomb

“…the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out.” (John 5:28-29)

This image of the tomb is always powerful to me. It speaks to me about the reality of our bodily death, but also the ways I can “entomb” myself daily. I firmly believe that in the midst of life I can easily dig myself into a rabbit hole (or a tomb) where the Lord’s voice is tuned out. As a novice, the practice of giving up my smart phone for a year and a half felt like coming out of a tomb of sorts. Notifications, pings, texts, emails, and posts that inundated me for years suddenly came to a screeching halt. In the silence and peace of being disconnected from the digital world, I suddenly felt the voice of God was more clearly speaking to me.

Leaving the tomb of the digital world allowed me to see the ways I buried or entombed other aspects of my life. Erasing these distractions allowed for what really mattered to rise to the surface. It allowed for unacknowledged grudges to surface, for doubts and fears to arise, and for disagreements to be pondered. Sometimes, leaving the tomb requires us to fight or wrestle with our demons, the dark spirit, and the distractions we’ve grown comfortable with. But once we put in the work, sit in God’s presence, and sit with ourselves, the stone seems to roll away. And once I discovered the freedom of letting in God and choosing not to bury or ignore things, I began to experience new life. So, if this is new life, I can’t wait to see what new life awaits us when we literally leave the tomb.

What ways do I “entomb” myself? What in my life serves as an obstacle or barrier to God? How is God inviting me to leave the “tomb”?

– Connor Murphy, nSJ

Day 30: March 19, 2026

Saint Joseph: The Humble Will Be Exalted

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. (Matthew 1:20-24)

In today’s gospel, we contemplate the role of the Holy Family in Lent. Jesus took forty days in the desert to prepare for his public ministry, those three years away from home. We can only imagine how much he missed his Blessed Mother, and how much she missed her son. Did it bring back memories of those three long, anxious days in Jerusalem where she and Joseph could not find Jesus? Yet Mary saw Joseph’s trust in God.

It’s not explicitly said in the gospels that Joseph was not around after Jesus became an adult. But some spiritual writers say that Joseph passed away before Jesus left to the desert, where he went not only to be tested, but to grieve his father. This grief would lead to a wooden cross. He knew the wood and nails so well from Joseph’s workshop. Jesus learned to be the son of his earthly father, and humbled himself again as the obedient son of God the Father.

Then the Wedding at Cana. Jesus and Mary were so spiritually and emotionally invested in the wedding. Mary’s gentle urging to Jesus, “They have no more wine”, is not a complaint, but an act of surrender to the will of her son. She does this every day!
Did Cana remind Mary of her own wedding with Joseph? When she was pregnant with Jesus, and the whole town spread false rumors about their marriage. That was the same day Joseph took Mary and Jesus into his heart, in his home, and did so for the rest of his life.

It was Joseph and Mary who walked through the first desert with Jesus in Egypt. Refugees with all of heaven behind them. They did not need to know the plan; then there would be no need for surrender, for holiness. Thank God we do not know the plan for our lives. …

– Julieta Bustillo

Day 31: March 20, 2026

In today’s readings, Jesus is portrayed as a well-known individual who deviates from people’s expectations. He proclaims Himself as the child of the Lord which is confusing and unlikely at the time. Because He goes against the norm, people are eager to test His words by putting Him to death…

Just like the wicked in the first reading, I too have had my own set of expectations. With the tangible reality around me, it is easy to tell myself that “this is how it’s supposed to be”. Before I know it, the expectations that I have are coming from a place of doubt. Saying something like “this is how it will turn out” can also mean “I doubt the alternative will happen.” Sometimes it is easier to believe certain things because they seem the most probable. However, the first reading (Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22) teaches that what’s hard, what’s different or impossible, may actually be what God wants for us.

As I reflect on my relationship with Jesus, I am challenged to question my trust in Him. When have I allowed God to help me through my hardships? When did I close the door on Him because of my expectations? Through this, I am overcome with gratitude — I realize that despite how many times I have shied away from Him, He remains close and endlessly loving. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:17-18) Jesus is always at arms length ready to be with me, to listen, guide, and uplift me. He is there when it is easy. And He is there when it is difficult.

For the remainder of Lent and onwards, I am called to place my trust in Jesus especially when expectations cloud my decisions.

– Shierica Veloria

Day 32: March 21, 2026

Live and Act in Christ

“So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him (Jesus)? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?’”(John 7:47-51)

In this passage, the crowd and the Pharisees argue over Jesus’ identity. Some argue that He is a prophet. Others argue that He is the Messiah. However, the Pharisees reject Jesus’ identity, stating that the Messiah must come from Jerusalem and not from Galilee.

However, Nicodemus insists that Jesus must be given a fair hearing.

There were times in my life when I felt like my relationship with Jesus might cause derision or judgment. “What do other people think when I make the Sign of the Cross before a meal?” or “How do people view these ashes on my forehead?”. Nicodemus, whose relationship with Jesus was complex, might have felt the same way. As a Pharisee, Nicodemus may have felt pressured to believe in a certain agenda against Jesus, but within his heart, he knew that his relationship with Christ was very real. Nicodemus believed in the truth of the Gospel: that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Sometimes, I feel like Nicodemus, knowing that my relationship with Christ is the truth yet conflicted with the seeming secularization of the world. Although at times I may feel like a lone voice among my peers, I know that Christ lives in me and I can live out and act the Gospel to make Christ known.

“Lord, help me to be more like Nicodemus. Give me an open mind and an open heart to hear You in my busy life. Grant me the bravery to live and act in Your name. Amen.”

– Thomson Tang

Day 33: March 22, 2026

“I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall
know that I am the LORD. I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.”

We are told that God will raise us on the last day, and in doing so, we will be saved. From a
young age, I have believed this to be a fact, as something inevitable. However, is that truly what
belief in the Lord’s promise is?

There have been many times when I’ve faced the loss of a loved one, felt hurt by others, or
made mistakes. In times when it felt like too much, I thought it was easier to replace it with
emptiness because I knew that when I woke up the next day, I’d forget, and time would move
on. In some ways, I thought that was what it meant to believe in the last day. However, in doing
so, I would keep wandering and wouldn’t realize just how far away I’ve walked from God. I need
to do more than just accept things for the way they are, believing they cannot change. Just
because we know that a better day will come doesn’t mean the pain should disappear. Believing
in God and his miracles does not mean we should give up and wait. To live with the Holy Spirit
is to respond now because of what has happened, and we should let our experience be felt in
the same way Jesus wept for Lazarus. I sometimes believe that the Son of God is far beyond
me, but in fact, he meets us in our humanity. He prays for and mourns his friend because he
loves him. Like us, Jesus puts his faith in God despite what he has lost. Regardless of the ability
to perform miracles, Jesus shows us that we cannot forget to feel in the moment, express our
love even in grief, and believe with action.

So when I think of what it means to believe in the promise of the last day, I know now it’s not
about waiting until it comes. I am reminded by Jesus’s example time and time again that to
believe is to persevere through doubt and to have hope that things can change. I may stumble
and get hurt, and healing can take time, but it’s ok to let it. God, I pray that I am not only able to
accept my past, but also learn to trust that you will guide my way.

– Jeffrey Hata

Day 34: March 23, 2026

Mercy Over Judgement

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
— John 8:7

In today’s Gospel, the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery before Jesus
and expect Him to condemn her. Instead, Jesus responds in a way that reveals both truth and
mercy. Rather than joining the crowd in judgment, He invites them to reflect on their own sin.
One by one, they leave, realizing that none of them are without fault.

This passage reminds me of how easy it is to notice the mistakes of others before recognizing
my own. It can feel natural to form opinions about people quickly or assume the worst about
someone’s actions. Looking back, I can see there have been moments when I formed
judgments about others without fully understanding their situation or taking time to reflect on my
own faults.

What stands out to me in this Gospel is how Jesus shifts the attention away from the woman
and back onto the hearts of those accusing her. His words force the crowd to pause and reflect
on themselves rather than continue condemning someone else. It reminds me that before
focusing on the failures of others, I should first ask where I need growth and humility in my own
life.

Lent invites us to turn inward in this way. Instead of placing ourselves above others, we are
reminded that we all depend on God’s mercy. Jesus does not deny that the woman has sinned,
but He meets her with compassion and allows her to begin again. That same mercy is
something each of us needs.

Lord, help me to see others with the same mercy that You show me. Teach me to be slower to
judge and more willing to forgive, remembering that we are all in need of Your grace. Amen.

– Gennesis Parra

Day 35: March 24, 2026

Counting my Blessings

“But with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert,where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!’”

As I was reading this First Reading, I realized how easily I fall into the same trap that the Israelites did— recognizing hardship and feeling that it is a curse, instead of seeing what good can come out of it. The most relevant example I can think of is exam season. When faced with the stress of meeting expectations and the desire to see an A at the end of it all, it is easy to forget all the blessings. I am so lucky to have the opportunity and resources to be getting an education and achieve my goals, not to mention the support that surrounds me that I find in my family, friends, and mentors.

This ingratitude piles on and begins to hurt us. Luckily, the Lord gave us a bronze seraph to look to for healing and motivation that is Jesus. When it feels like the odds are against me, Jesus is there to serve as a reminder that doing hard things is a blessing, and that I am not alone through it all.

Lord, help us to look to You when faced with challenges, so that we may be reminded of the blessings You provide. Amen

– Grayce Coletta

Day 36: March 25, 2026

Pondering Our Troubles

“But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” (Luke 1:29)

Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord and we recall the ways in which God’s plan of salvation was revealed to Mary and she courageously cooperated. Today, it is Mary’s first reaction to the message of the angel that stands out to me. We tend to think that Mary’s yes, her fiat, was immediate. But Mary shows how she is like us in many ways, hearing the desire of the Lord and becoming troubled by what this call would entail. What is amazing though is that Mary didn’t stop at being troubled. She took the time to ponder the message and the ways in which her heart reacted to this message.

Mary’s example reminds us today of the importance of taking time to pause and reflect. When we feel that God is calling us to respond to his invitations, to do a good deed, to smile at a neighbor, to pray for our enemies, and more, it is okay to be troubled. God always calls us out of ourselves and that ought to leave us partially uncomfortable. But Mary demonstrates that if we sit in the discomfort and ponder the invitation of the Lord, we will be reminded of his faithfulness and goodness. We remember the name Emmanuel, that God is with us, that we aren’t alone in living our call as disciples. And with God, we know we will be sustained in our journey and calling. So, let’s not forget to ponder the ways God has been faithful to us. Let our remembrance of his goodness propel us forward in faith.

How has God blessed me in my life? Does God’s invitation ever trouble me? If God has been good to me in the past, what can I expect in the present and future?

– Connor Murphy, nSJ

Day 37: March 26, 2026

Trusting His Word

“Whoever keeps my word will never see death.” (John 8:51)

In today’s gospel, Jesus is speaking to the Jewish leaders who are questioning Him and challenging His authority. When He says, “whoever keeps my word will never see death,” they immediately push back arguing that even Abraham and the prophets died. They take His words literally, making me realize how confusing it must have sounded to them. They don’t understand what He means, which leads them to doubt Him even more. And when reflecting on this, I realized I tend to respond to God in a similar way.

When things don’t start making sense to me, I often end up relying on my own understanding and question rather than trust.
When reading this verse, it reminds me that Jesus is pointing to something greater than just my daily worries. When I’m stressed about school, post graduate plans, my future, things I just can’t control, I end up focusing only on what’s right in front of me. There have been too many times where following His word, like being patient or having trust in His timing, ended up being difficult. I can become defensive or avoid His word altogether. But looking back now, those are often the moments where I’ve grown the most. It’s shown me that His promises aren’t always immediate, but instead lasting. We are all called to trust Him even when we don’t fully understand what His plans are.

Lord, help me trust in Your word, especially when I don’t understand. Teach me to rely on You instead of my own understanding, and give me the patience to follow You faithfully. Amen.

– Rodrigo Hernandez

Day 38: March 27, 2026

“In my distress I called upon the Lord and cried out to my God; from his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.”

Sometimes I feel so lonely when I’m going through hardships, and I often wonder why God has allowed such things to happen to me. It can be hard for me to pray when I’m filled with such sorrow, pain, and even anger. There are many times when I ask myself, “why is God putting me through this?”

Then I remember a quote by Saint Augustine, “God had one son of earth without sin, but never one without suffering.”

Jesus experienced the most pain when he suffered on the cross. He also felt so much agony in the garden that his sweat became blood. Our God is not adverse to difficulties. That’s how I know he hears me in distress, because he knows what it feels like.

Even before his death, Christ Jesus called upon his heavenly Father, and I know when I call upon God, he will hear me.

Lord Jesus, I ask that with every distress we experience, we fall to our knees in prayer and choose to endure the pain with you. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

– Sophia Smith

Day 39: March 28, 2026

Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Chief priests and the Pharisees said, “What are we going to do? If we leave him alone all will believe in him, and the Romans will come to take away, both our land and our nation.”

What stood out to me the most was the difference of those who chose to begin to believe in Jesus and the those who went to the Pharisees. There seemed to be an existing fear that if many believe in Jesus it could lead to consequences, such as losing their land and nation. This fear likely existed not only for the Pharisees, but among those who chose to believe and not believe.

This made me reflect on my own fears and doubts. I feel like Jesus is reminding me that to feel fear is natural, but it is not about whether I feel fear or not, but about what I choose to do with that fear that matters the most.

I can either let fear take over and try to control everything, like the response we see from the Pharisees and those who went to the Pharisees, or I can bring my fears to Jesus and trust him to take care of them.

Dear Jesus, when I am faced with doubts and fear remind me that you are there and I can lay everything at your feet. Help me not not let fear take over, but to put my trust in you. Amen.

– Ruby Munoz

Day 40: March 29, 2026

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

As a child growing up, I mostly went to Mass in Vietnamese with my family. Each year on either Palm Sunday or Good Friday, I would hear a song by Vietnamese liturgical composer Father Nguyen Duy. A line in the first verse of this song would be roughly translated as, “Father, how can you forget me? Father, why do you turn your face away, heartless as you watch me suffer, allowing my enemies to mock me?”

As I look back on my own life, these exact words from this song popped up in my own moments of prayer. I faced many difficulties during my childhood and adolescence. Finding it difficult to fit in as I am on the Autism Spectrum, I faced bullying and many challenges in school. These experiences often left me feeling less than and inferior to others. I even found it difficult to fit in with my friends at Church and get along with my family. I have moved on from the pain of this. However, unique challenges have emerged in the recent winter quarter in the form of an existential crisis. As I have been deeply worried with what will become of me, I felt that I had lost control of what would become of me.

This verse conveys a deeper, psychological understanding of when Jesus cried out and asked God the Father, “why have you forsaken me?” Indeed, I cannot imagine how difficult it was for him to bear the heavy weight of enduring the Passion all by himself. Yet, all the pain that I have gone through pales in comparison with what Jesus had to endure.

Reflecting on Jesus’s cry of abandonment has reminded me that God has not been indifferent to the pain I have gone through. The Jesus who cried to God the Father is the same merciful Jesus who reached out to those on the margins like the Samaritan woman and the lepers. This is also the same Christ who wept for his friend Lazarus and invited a tax collector to be his disciple and friend. I am reminded that I do not suffer and face my challenges alone. Rather, Jesus suffers alongside me and in each person carrying their own suffering and wounds.

– Joseph Vo

Day 41: March 30, 2026

Love and Devotion

“So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’’(John 12: 7-8)

In today’s Gospel, Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus’ feet with costly perfumed oil, and dries them with her own hair. On the other hand, Judas Iscariot was displeased, saying that the oil should have been sold to give to the poor. Not because he cared about the poor, but because he used to steal from the money bag.

To me, today’s Gospel feels like a call to stop and reflect on my behavior as a disciple. I felt incredibly moved by Mary’s devotion. As a girl, I always wondered “why her hair?” We are taught to take care of it, wash it, comb it, and it becomes an important part of who we are. For Mary to use it as a cloth really opened my eyes to her love for Jesus. To put vanity aside and choose surrender, humility, and to thank God with everything I have and everything 1 am.

When I was a kid, it was easy to think of Judas as “the bad one”, and obviously, I was “nothing like him”. Now that I’m older, thinking about him is always a wake-up call. If he knew Jesus personally, was chosen as one of his apostles, was trusted to keep the money bag, and despite all of this was only concerned about his greed, his self-serving interests.How can I be sure that I will never be like him? Why would I be exempt from failing? I am not.

Seeing the contrast between these two disciples, I really hope I am “nothing like him”, but I know I still fail. I see Mary’s devotion as a role model. The way I can think to not be like Judas is through humility.
Jesus saw how Mary didn’t keep the expensive perfumed oil for herself. We have a lot of opportunities to serve others, but the opportunity to serve Jesus directly like that was limited, and she understood it.

Lord, please forgive me for the times I have failed you. You are my light and my salvation. Please help me keep a humble heart and to serve you my whole life with all I have and all I am. Amen.

– Selene Marmolejo

Day 42: March 31, 2026

“Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times” John 13:37

When reading this Gospel passage, I felt both convicted and comforted. Like Peter, I often find myself promising God that I will stay faithful no matter what. In moments of prayer or reflection it feels easy to say that I will always stand by my faith. But when fear, stress, or pressures show up, it becomes a lot harder to live out that promise. Sometimes I stay quiet when I should speak up, or I let other priorities take over. Peter’s story reminds me that even people who truly love Jesus can still fall short.

I also see this in my everyday life in small ways. There are times when I want to make God a priority, but I let other things get in the way. During busy weeks, prayer can start to feel like just another thing on my to-do list, and it becomes easier to push it aside. When I’m stressed about school, exams, or deadlines, I sometimes focus so much on getting everything done that I forget to slow down and make space for God. Even little things, like choosing sleep over morning prayer or letting distractions fill my time, can slowly pull my attention away from Him. These moments may seem small, but they remind me a lot of Peter’s situation. He truly believed he would never deny Jesus, yet when the pressure and fear of the moment came, he denied Jesus not only once, but three times!

What gives me hope in this passage is what it shows about Jesus’ unconditional love. Even though Jesus knows Peter will deny Him, He does not reject him or push him away. Jesus understands Peter’s weakness before it even happens. That reminds me that God already knows my struggles and my failures, yet He still loves me and continually invites me to keep following Him. My mistakes don’t surprise Him, and they do not take away His mercy.

Like Peter, I am learning that failing does not mean my relationship with God is over. Instead, these moments of failure can help me grow in humility and trust. God sees my heart even when my actions don’t perfectly reflect it. He understands the pressure, stress, and distractions of my everyday life, and He still calls me back every time.

– Kaitlyn Lots

Day 43: April 1, 2026

Surely it is Not I, Lord?

“Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, ‘Surely it is not I, Lord?’” (Matthew 26:22)

At first glance, the readings approaching Easter seem to show the mission of Jesus and his disciples beginning to crumble and fall apart. Once the disciples hear from the Lord that one of them will betray Jesus, their humanity takes hold and their focus shifts from the Passover feast to pointing the finger. Outside of accusation, most of them seem to be concerned with clearing their own names and making sure they’re not at fault. “Surely it is not I, Lord?”. Even in these incredibly sacred moments which we venerate and recall throughout Holy Week, the disciples are squabbling and distracted despite having front row seats.

In reflecting on these disciples I can’t help but think of the Church and all of us who strive to be disciples of Jesus today. You’d think after 2,000 years we followers of Jesus would finally get our act together, but here we are still squabbling amongst each other and pointing the finger. This Church which Jesus established contains a multitude of sinners (you and I included) with different cultures, identities, faith journeys, factions, and ideologies. It is so easy to fall into the temptation of thinking MY understanding of God, MY vision of the Church, MY way of worshipping is correct. Those who agree with me have it right and those who think differently are the problem. Whether we prefer Gregorian chant or guitar songs from the ‘70s, TLM or novus ordo, standing or kneeling, receiving on the tongue or in the hand, we are all members of the same church and disciples of the same Lord. I think our invitation today is to take a step back from the noise of arguments in our Church and our communities, online and in-person, and to not miss Jesus right in front of us. Rather than thinking who the problem is (Surely it is not I, Lord?), let us shift our focus to the drama of salvation right in front of us. We all have front row seats to the show, let’s silence our cell phones, hold our bickering, and especially this Holy Week, simply be with Jesus and one another. …

– Connor Murphy, nSJ

Day 44: April 2, 2026

The Washing of the Disciples’ Feet

“If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (John 13:14-15)

Growing up, I enjoyed the Holy Thursday mass because it meant I got to see people get
their feet washed! But I’ve always been too shy to take part in this act myself. Maybe it’s because I once saw a podiatrist, and after taking one look at my bare feet, she said with a chuckle, “You play soccer, don’t you?” Yes, I’ve played soccer. I also put my feet in raw dirt while working with my tortoise. And at the tidepools, where there’s rocks and edges, I never wear shoes. So, my feet have wracked up some battle scars. I wonder what Jesus would think if he were to take a look at my feet.

I find it fascinating that in the presence of his disciples, he takes on a reversal of roles by
bearing a task that is usually reserved for servants and even washes Judas’ feet while knowing that he would betray him. For Holy Thursday, I am drawn to two aspects of the washing of the disciples’ feet: the act of the washer to provide a service with compassion and humility, but also that of the one being washed to expose vulnerability. I ask God to show me how I can best serve those around me and to become better at identifying who I can be vulnerable to. How can we as Catholics follow Jesus’ example from Holy Thursday by applying his compassion to the world around us?

– Brisa Blomquist