Psalm 18

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

I love you, O Lord, my strength,

O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

My God, my rock of refuge,

my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!

Praised be the Lord, I exclaim,

and I am safe from my enemies.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

The breakers of death surged round about me, the destroying floods overwhelmed me;

The cords of the nether world enmeshed me, the snares of death overtook me.

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice.

This reflection from Messages of Trust for Lent, originally published by Ave Maria Press, was reprinted with permission of the authors, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran. For more parish resources, visit https://www.rebuiltparish.com/.

Responsorial psalms are excerpted from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Other scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

—John 11:41–44

Once the stone is rolled away, Jesus gets to work. First, he thanks God the Father. Jesus attributes every success to his ever-loving, ever-listening Father. While God has heard his plea, his act of raising Lazarus back to earthly life confirms the even greater truth that God will one day raise to eternal life all who believe and trust in him.

Every disciple is called to share with others the new life they have received by believing in Jesus— not because they could die tomorrow but because we want to offer them new life in Christ.

Spend time in prayer today thanking and praising God for a recent success or accomplishment, and acknowledging your dependence on his power and timing.

 This reflection from Messages of Trust for Lent, originally published by Ave Maria Press, was reprinted with permission of the authors, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran. For more parish resources, visit https://www.rebuiltparish.com/.

Responsorial psalms are excerpted from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Other scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”

—John 11:38–40

Mary and Martha must have been confused, hurt, and likely angry that Jesus didn’t come sooner to save Lazarus. Why was he avoiding the fact that Lazarus had died? Jesus wants to present a new reality, one in which he will raise Lazarus from the dead, with the help of other people. Jesus could have done all the work himself, but he didn’t. Instead, Jesus told his followers to “take away the stone” because he wants each of us to take an active part in his ministry.

The Lord of the universe can work miracles through our cooperation. After we make way for God by removing the barriers, the obstacles, the stones, then God can get to work. As these barriers are removed, we are more prepared to believe in and see the glory of God.

Is there an area of your life where you could use a miracle? Where do you need God’s intervention? Place this before God. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see and remove even the smallest barrier so that God can act on your behalf.

 This reflection from Messages of Trust for Lent, originally published by Ave Maria Press, was reprinted with permission of the authors, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran. For more parish resources, visit https://www.rebuiltparish.com/.

Responsorial psalms are excerpted from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Other scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Betha- ny was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

—John 11:17–21

By the time Jesus arrives at the home of his friends, Lazarus has died. His sisters mourn and many of the Jewish people nearby have come to comfort them. Martha goes out to meet Jesus, but Mary does not. Perhaps she is too disappointed, or maybe she is angry or simply too confused. Mar- tha, on the other hand, shares what’s on her heart: Jesus could have kept her brother from dying. Why did he wait?

When we experience pain and suffering, Martha’s thought is often our thought: God could have prevented this. If God is all powerful, he could have done something. This perception is both true and untrue. God works in our lives but often in ways we are not looking for. God cannot both bless us with free will and always take the hard parts of life away. We must trust in God’s judgment and timing.

Are you mad or disappointed with God for not intervening in some particularly difficult circumstance of your life or the life of someone you love? Follow Martha’s example, and confess this to him.

 This reflection from Messages of Trust for Lent, originally published by Ave Maria Press, was reprinted with permission of the authors, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran. For more parish resources, visit https://www.rebuiltparish.com/.

Responsorial psalms are excerpted from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Other scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to him, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

—John 11:1–4

In this passage from John’s gospel, Jesus gets news that his dear friend, Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, is ill and near death. Jesus knows that what unfolds next will not end with the death of his friend but rather will greatly bless Lazarus, Martha, and Mary and bring glory to God. However, it seems that only Jesus sees this.

When we experience illness or suffer in another way, we cannot see the whole picture, but God does. His sovereignty and ability to bring good from evil is beyond our capacity to understand, yet we can be confident that God acts on our behalf always and in all things. Through his saving power God will be glorified, and more people will come to know him.

Today, pray to trust God in times of pain and suffering. Pray to trust in God’s timing.

 This reflection from Messages of Trust for Lent, originally published by Ave Maria Press, was reprinted with permission of the authors, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran. For more parish resources, visit https://www.rebuiltparish.com/.

Responsorial psalms are excerpted from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Other scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to him, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

—John 11:1–4

In this passage from John’s gospel, Jesus gets news that his dear friend, Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, is ill and near death. Jesus knows that what unfolds next will not end with the death of his friend but rather will greatly bless Lazarus, Martha, and Mary and bring glory to God. However, it seems that only Jesus sees this.

When we experience illness or suffer in another way, we cannot see the whole picture, but God does. His sovereignty and ability to bring good from evil is beyond our capacity to understand, yet we can be confident that God acts on our behalf always and in all things. Through his saving power God will be glorified, and more people will come to know him.

Today, pray to trust God in times of pain and suffering. Pray to trust in God’s timing.

 This reflection from Messages of Trust for Lent, originally published by Ave Maria Press, was reprinted with permission of the authors, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran. For more parish resources, visit https://www.rebuiltparish.com/.

Responsorial psalms are excerpted from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Other scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

During this fifth week of Lent we will contemplate the mystery of God’s timing. We’ve all experienced the often frustrating reality that God’s timing isn’t always our timing. In fact, at times it can seem that God’s time is never what we’d like it to be. We often become frustrated that God doesn’t step in and act when we think he ought to do so.

In this Sunday’s gospel reading, Jesus goes to his friends Mary and Martha, who are mourning the death of their brother Lazarus. The women wonder why Jesus didn’t come sooner, since they believe that he could have prevented the death of Lazarus. While they think Jesus is too late to do anything, his timing works a much greater miracle than they ever expected.

Today, ask God for the patience to accept the events and circumstances of life in God’s time, not yours.

 This reflection from Messages of Trust for Lent, originally published by Ave Maria Press, was reprinted with permission of the authors, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran. For more parish resources, visit https://www.rebuiltparish.com/.

Responsorial psalms are excerpted from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Other scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Psalm 7

O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge;

save me from all my pursuers and rescue me, Lest I become like the lion’s prey,

to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me.

O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

Do me justice, O Lord, because I am just,

and because of the innocence that is mine. Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,

but sustain the just,

O searcher of heart and soul, O just God.

O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

A shield before me is God,

who saves the upright of heart; A just judge is God,

a God who punishes day by day.

O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge.

This reflection from Messages of Trust for Lent, originally published by Ave Maria Press, was reprinted with permission of the authors, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran. For more parish resources, visit https://www.rebuiltparish.com/.

Responsorial psalms are excerpted from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Other scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.”

—John 9:40–41

The Pharisees are surprised to consider that they themselves might have sin in their hearts because they have been so scrupulous in following the religious laws of the day. So, too, we should not assume that our hearts are pure. Rather, we should make a habit of evaluating our own thoughts and actions before God in prayer so that we do not develop self-righteous or self-aggrandizing habits.

Today, spend time examining your conscience, letting Jesus come into your heart and revealing the ways you still need to see your sin and his mercy.

 This reflection from Messages of Trust for Lent, originally published by Ave Maria Press, was reprinted with permission of the authors, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran. For more parish resources, visit https://www.rebuiltparish.com/.

Responsorial psalms are excerpted from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Other scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”

—John 9:35–39

The blind man, although treated unjustly by the religious authorities, develops a personal relation- ship with Christ. Even though God allows imperfect and unjust people to wield earthly authority, Jesus reveals the heavenly meaning of power, as he makes himself available to all, especially those who are mistreated or suffer injustice.

God allows injustice because experiencing the weakness of this earthly kingdom often drives us to his heavenly kingdom. No matter what injustice you or your loved ones have experienced because of the misuse of earthly authority, Jesus stands ready to comfort you and reveal himself to you more completely.

Today, pray for those who are your “enemies,” people who have caused you stress or aggravation.

 This reflection from Messages of Trust for Lent, originally published by Ave Maria Press, was reprinted with permission of the authors, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran. For more parish resources, visit https://www.rebuiltparish.com/.

Responsorial psalms are excerpted from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Other scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC, and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.