Just as nature has seasons and athletes have training cycles, Lent is our "spiritual training season" — a season to refocus and reset our hearts and minds on God. It gives us an opportunity to share and renew our faith with those around us through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
 
Readings at this Mass: Dt 26:4–10 | Rom 10:8–13 | Lk 4:1–13

Our speech can act like a sieve that can filter out the bad and negative words a person can deliver to yield the beautiful and good characteristics about this person. In other words, when we listen to our own words/speech, we can filter out the ugly/unneeded husks to reveal the inner soul which should display what is a resemblance of the image and likeness of God.
 
Readings at this Mass: Sir 27:4–7 | 1 Cor 15:54–58 | Lk 6:39–45

What we say about Jesus matters because in the end, who Jesus is determines whether we’re able to really know God or only know about God. For the Arians and the Gnostics, knowing God was impossible; God was too far beyond us, inaccessible to mere mortals. For our Christian ancestors, knowing God was the very essence of faith, and the key was the direct, personal encounter with Jesus. In Jesus, God Himself entered our reality and sought us out — so, to know Jesus was (and is) to know God.
 
Readings at this Mass: 1 Sam 26:2, 7–9, 12–13, 22–23  |  1 Cor 15:45–49  |  Lk 6:27–38

Gnostic thinking can creep into all of us, but the answer is simple — trust Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He sanctified both body and soul, and when we sin, our salvation isn't dependent upon some hidden, secret knowledge. We have something far greater — the Sacraments, where God's grace makes us new.
 
Readings at this Mass: Jer 17:5–8  |  1 Cor 15:12, 16–20  |  Lk 6:17, 20–26

This covenantal way of being requires us to see salvation as more than just reaching the end goal, heaven, but as new way of being, in which we see Christ in ourselves and in others. This week, in everything that you do and in every interaction that you have with others, see if you can identify whether it is transactional or covenantal. If it is transactional, ask God to help you transform your mind and move toward seeing Christ in you and in others.
 
Readings at this Mass: Is 6:1–2a, 3–8 | 1 Cor 15:1–11 | Lk 5:1–11

The wholeness, the peace, the fullness of life for which we all long only comes from being connected to God. Communion with Jesus is the key to our salvation; He unites in Himself both humanity and divinity. The more deeply we enter into relationship with Him, the more He can draw us into the Father’s embrace. 
 
Readings at this Mass: Mal 3:1–4 | Heb 2:14–18 | Lk 2:22–40

It's easy to praise God when things are good and going our way. I want to encourage you to also do it when things are hard. Don't forget that the Lord can take anything  and use it for good. And when we turn to our loving God, He will help guide us and give us strength to endure.
 
Readings at this Mass: Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 | 1 Cor 12:12-30 | Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Jesus wants to to make things better for us, to bless you and me in abundance, but we must invite Him in to do so. How short sighted are we to only ask for his help when we are desperate and not to invite him in all things! Whatever you are willing to bring to Him, however unimportant or mundane, He will transform. So make a “new year resolution” to bring Jesus into it, whatever you do in your daily lives.
 
Readings at this Mass: Is 62:1–5 | 1 Cor 12:4–11 | Jn 2:1–11