While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

—Matthew 26:26–30

Jesus and his disciples celebrated the Passover on Thursday evening of what we now know as Holy Week. At this meal, Jesus washed their feet and then instituted the Eucharist by sharing with them bread and wine, saying “this is my body” and “this is my blood.” He unites service and sacrament, both of which are key to our ongoing conversion to become disciples, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus.

Today, give thanks for the gift of the Eucharist. Ask Jesus to lead you toward a deeper experience of his love when you receive him in the sacrament and in serving others.

 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.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Pass- over?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”’” The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.

—Matthew 26:17–19

Every year, the Jews celebrate the Passover as a memorial of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. As a faithful Jew, Jesus celebrates the Passover, but he has another intention as well. He is also preparing himself for sacrifice. Through his Passion and Death, Jesus becomes the Lamb of God, who frees all people from the captivity of sin. Jesus provides himself as the sacrifice for our sins. Like the disciples, we have preparation to do, making our hearts and souls ready to receive him.

Today, ask the Spirit to show you what you can do today to prepare for Jesus’ Passover and sacrifice on the Cross.

 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.

Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those engaged in selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And he said to them, “It is written: ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of thieves.”

—Matthew 21:12–13

In the days leading up to his crucifixion, Jesus openly taught in Jerusalem, which led to confrontations with the religious authorities. For Jewish people the Temple was sacred, where God himself dwelt. It was meant to be a place for prayer and religious offerings, but instead it became a place for religious leaders to control people and steal from them in the name of God. Jesus boldly and publicly denounces this abuse of authority, as he drives out the money changers from the Temple.

Through Baptism, each of us have become the place where God dwells, so we are in a sense new temples. Corruption in our hearts and souls not only hurts us but also defiles a sacred dwelling of the Lord.

Today, ask the Holy Spirit to clear away the dishonesty and hypocrisy in your own heart. Trust that a place for Christ to dwell will be prepared within you.

 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 when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of costly perfumed oil, and poured it on his head while he was reclining at table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and said, “Why this waste? It could have been sold for much, and the money given to the poor.”

Since Jesus knew this, he said to them, “Why do you make trouble for the woman? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you; but you will not always have me. In pour- ing this perfumed oil upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be spoken of, in memory of her.”

—Matthew 26:6–13

In this passage, Jesus allows an unnamed woman to anoint him with oil, which was traditionally done for priests, prophets, and kings, as well as the dead before burial. Jesus accepts this anointing because he is our priest, prophet, and king, who gave up his life to save us.

The Chrism Mass is celebrated in Catholic cathedrals throughout the world this week. During that celebration the holy oils used in Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick are blessed. Through these and all sacraments we participate in the identity and ministry of Jesus as priest, prophet, and king

Today, pray for all who lead and minister to others in the name of Christ, that they may find joy and strength to persevere in the face of challenges.

 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 they drew near Jerusalem and came to Beth- phage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The master has need of them.’ Then he will send them at once.” . . . The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.”

And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

—Matthew 21:1–3, 8–11

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem begins Holy Week, the days leading up to our commemoration of his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Jesus enters the city with throngs of supporters, but he will die with only a few by his side. Most will deny him, betray him, walk away from him, or call for his crucifix- ion because he does not come to overthrow the political power of Rome, as they expected of the Messiah. But those who stay with him are richly rewarded, for they witness the Resurrection.

Pray as the crowd chanted: “Hosanna, to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” Invite Jesus into your heart to save you from sin and death.

 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 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.