1.2 Fri 3rd OT (Brigid)
2 Sam 11,1-4.5-10,13-17; Psalm 51; Mark 4,26-34

The Kingdom of God is like this. A man scatters seed on the ground. Mark 4,26

A seed in the ground is miraculously transformed! So too the Word of God and Grace received and kept in our hearts transforms our lives mysteriously and is pleasing to the Lord and gives glory to Him. Thank you, Jesus, for this message of faith and hope!

2,2 Sat The Presentation at the Temple
Mal 3,1-4; Psalm 24; Luke 2,22-40

A light that will bring revelation to the gentiles. Luke 2, 32

Simeon who is one of the humble, faithful Israelites, recognises with joy that Jesus, the Messiah is the "light that will bring revelation to the gentiles": he is not exclusive to his people, but a light to all peoples. Those who love you, Lord Jesus, are not jealous of your gifts: they know that they are for the joy of everyone.

3.2 Sun 4th OT Year A (Blaise)
Zeph 2,3,3,12-13; Psalm 146; 1 Cor 1,26-31 ;Matt 5,1-12

Blessed are those who show mercy; mercy shall be shown to them! Matt 5,7

At times the sins of others cause us suffering and in fact, every sin is a weight for the Church. We can learn mercy from Jesus; he pitied us, prayed for us and suffered for our infirmities. Whoever pardons for his sake, is promised mercy, that mercy of which we are all in great need.

4.2 Mon 4th OT (Corsini)
2Sam 15,13-14,30; 16,5-13; Psalm 4; Mark 5,1-20

Out unclean spirit! Come out of the man! Mark 5,8

Even today the enemy of man, the devil, enslaves people and makes them suffer terribly. But Jesus can free us by means of those whom the Church has charged with this service and thanks to the faith and prayers of all the faithful who, every day, say: "deliver us from evil!"

5.2 Tues 4th OT (Agatha)
2 Sam 18,9-10, 14,24-25, 30-19; Psalm 86; Mark 5,21-43

Do not be afraid! Simply have faith! Mark 5,36

With these words Jesus shows how he appreciates and reinforces our faith. Jesus inspires faith even on the point of death for he is the resurrection and the life! Thank you, Lord, for your love.

6.2 Ash Wednesday
John 2,12-18; Psalm 51; 2 Cor 5,20-6,2; Matt 6,1-6, 16-18

But when you give alms do not let your let hand know… Matt 6,3

Today is the start of lent, a time of conversion to God. Forty days of help for the poor, of prayer and fasting, of a practical approach to Jesus and preparation for our meeting with the risen one. A period of being ready to give time and energy and money to others, though in secrecy, without looking for recognition and with disinterested generosity.

7.2 Thurs
Deut 30,15-20; Psalm 2; Luke 9,22-25

Love the Lord your God! Deut 30,20

God tells us this so that our lives will be happy. In obeying him I have never been disappointed, I have always received peace and joy. Thank you, good Father, for caring about us!

8.2 Friday
Isa 58,1-9; Psalm 51; Matt 9,14-15

..this is the fast I require, to loose the fetters of injustice! Isa 58,6

In fasting we participate physically in the commitment to walk closer to God that we took at the beginning of lent. We also do it as a sign of participation in the passion and death of Jesus! If you have stolen, restore what you took; if you have quarrelled, make up and ask for pardon for any offence.

9.2 Sat
Isa 58,9-14; Psalm 86; Luke 5,27-32

The Lord will be your guide continually! Isa 58,11

We trust that Jesus in his goodness and mercy, will always guide us. He is the good shepherd who came to lead us with love, without violence or expectations and without misleading us. He asks us to sanctify his day and to be honest and generous to others! Then he, himself will be our "delight"!

10.2 Sun 1st of Lent Year A
Gen 2,7-9, 3.1-7; Psalm 51; Rom 5,12-19; Matt 4,1-11

You shall do homage to the Lord your God and worship him alone! Matt 4,10

With these words Jesus teaches us to try and put God at the centre of our lives every single day and to refer to him in all our actions. If we do this the angels who served Jesus will serve us too, filling our hearts with consolation and with the Holy Spirit.

11.2 Mon 1st of Lent
Lev 9,1-2,11-18; Psalm 19; Matt 25,31-46

All the nations will be gathered before him. Matt 25,32

The Lord Jesus, for now hidden, but present invisibly in the poor and those afflicted with trials and tribulations, will appear in great power and glory. All will see him, all nations will be gathered before him to be rewarded for their disinterested love.

12.2 Tues 1st Lent (Julian the Hospitaller)
Isa 55,10-11; Psalm 34; Matt 6,7-15

Your Father knows … Matt 6,8

Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray: God is their Father; not a distant "being" who knows nothing of our needs, but one who loves us and knew us even in our mother's womb. Thus we meet him and learn from his wisdom and are ready to do his will! We live as brothers, forgiving each other… He gives us his blessing without the need to ask him!

13.2 Wed 1st Lent (Catherine dei Ricci)
Jonah3,1-10; Psalm 51; Luke 11.29-32

What is here is greater than Solomon. Luke 11,31

Jesus is present in our gatherings, in Christian families, there where two or more are gathered in his name! He can give us far greater wisdom than Solomon! He can convert our hearts with greater ease than Jonah! Let us have greater respect for his presence!

14.2 Thurs 1st Lent (Cyril and Methodius)
Isa 52,7-10; Psalm 96; Mark 16,15-20

The Lord has consoled his people. Isa 52,9

With these words the prophet Isaiah announced in Jerusalem that there will be an end to the time of desolation and sadness. The Temple will be rebuilt and Jahveh will return there to live in splendour. Today we celebrate Europe: let us ask the saints Cyril and Methodius for their intervention, that Christians may be consoled and reinvigorated by the Spirit of God and may find their missionary impulse once again.

15.2 Fri 1st Lent (Sigfrid)
Ezek 18,21-28; Psalm 130; Matt 5,20-25

He has seen his offences and turned his back on them all. Ezek 18,28

God's word to us today is brought to us by the prophet Ezekiel. The Lord desires salvation and joy for everyone! Everyone who behaves wrongly, but then turns his back on his behaviour and obeys Jesus will find salvation and give glory and joy to God and to all who love them!

16.2 Sat 1st Lent (Juliana)
Deut 26,16-19; Psalm 119; Matt 5,43-48

Love your enemies! Matt 5,44

This is what puts out the fire of evil, of hate and violence; this is the flame that feeds hope; this is the Word that Jesus and his martyrs experienced; the path to peace that every Christian is called upon to take!

17.2 Sun 2nd Lent Year A (The Seven Servites)
Gen 12,1-4;Psalm33; 2 Tim 1,8-10; Matt 17,1-9

This is my beloved son! Listen to him! Matt 17,5

With these words the Father presents Jesus to the three amazed apostles. Jesus is revealed as the Son of God. To listen to him is to listen to the Father; to receive him is the greatest act of love towards the Father.

18.2 Mon 2nd Lent (Simeon)
Dan 9,4-10; Psalm 79; Luke 6,36-38

We have not obeyed the Lord our God. Dan 9,10

When do you hear the voice of the Lord? When I read his Word; when I receive instructions from the Church; when I hesitate before giving in to desires of pleasure, vanity, greed …; when I need a moment's attention, forgiveness from someone! Come, Holy Spirit: help me to hear that voice!

19.2 Tues 2nd Lent (Conrad)
Isa 1,10, 16-20; Psalm 50; Matt 23,1-12

The greatest among you must be your servant! Matt 23,11

This is not true only for those who lead in society or in the Church. It is true for me in all my roles and commitments. If I do not carry them out in the spirit of service I will cause harm rather than help!

20.2 Wed 2nd Lent (Eleutherius)
Jer 18,18-20; Psalm 31; Matt 20,17-28

Is good to be repaid with evil? Jer 18,20

Our acts of love are not always reciprocated, as in the case of Jeremiah: we can learn from him to turn to the Lord in moments of bitterness and disappointment: we can place all our efforts, all our lives in his hands and they will become precious.

21.2 Thurs 2nd Lent (Peter Damian)
Jer 17,5-10; Psalm 2; Luke 16,19-31

Blessed is anyone who trusts in the Lord! Jer 17,7

To have faith in the Lord does not always come spontaneously; we instinctively try to find safety through our own devices. We must "train" ourselves. We can trust him in simple situations: experiencing that he is truly close to us and guides all for our benefit will help us to be serene and strong, humble before his Word and helpful to others!

22.2 Fri 2nd Lent The Holy See of St Peter, the Apostle
1 Peter 5,1-4; Psalm 23; Matt 16,13-19

Who do you say I am? Matt 16,15

Let us kneel before the Father on hearing this question; he reveals to us his Son! We will be blessed for seeing part of the divinity of Jesus, a few rays of his eternal splendour!

23.2 Sat 2nd Lent (Polycarp)
Mal 7,14-15,19-20; Psalm 103; Luke 15,1-3, 11-32

My boy, you are always with me. Luke 15,31

This is what the father of the prodigal son says to his elder son, whose envy and jealousy of his brother are unjustified! God loves us all personally and exclusively. Can we likewise love others?

24.2 Sun 3rd Lent Year A (Ethelbert)
Exod 17,3-7; Psalm 94; Rom 5,1-2.5-8; John 4,5-42

For me it is meat and drink to do the will of he who sent me. John 4,34

Jesus always did his Father's will with love: this was his strength! I also know when I willingly do God's will; I feel calm and full of vigour. Thank you, Lord, for your example; do with me what you will!

25.2 Mon 3rd Lent (Walburga)
2 Kings 5,1-15; Psalm 41-42; Luke 4,24-30

Wash and be clean! 2 Kings 5,13

We know how difficult it was for Naaman, the leper, to obey the prophet Elisha: he wanted to follow his own reasoning. Like Naaman we let us trust the saints and during this Lent be washed in the blood of Christ's passion and through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, be healed.

26.2 Tues 3rd Lent (Porphyry)
Dan 3,25,24-43; Psalm 24; Matt 18,21-35

Save us with your miracles. Dan 3,43

In the city of Babylon some Hebrews decided to worship their God, the God of Israel, not the god imposed by King Nebuchadnezzar. Trusting that God would save them with his miracles, they added "we know that you are the only and glorious God on this earth" (Dan 3,45). When we listen with faith, the Lord will help us too, in our difficulties!

27.2 Wed 3rd Lent (Possenti)
Deut 4,1.5-9; Psalm 148; Matt 5,17-19

I did not come to abolish, but to complete. Matt 5,17

The Hebrews did not fully understand the Word of God: sin and egoism make it difficult of twist the meaning.
The only person to truly understand the Word of the Father is Jesus, the Son who loves men and women with the same love as God!

28.2 Thurs 3rd Lent (Hilarus)
Jer 7,23-28; Psalm 94; Luke 11,14-23

It is by the finger of God that I drive out the demons. Luke 11,20

Jesus said: "if it is by the finger of God that I drive out the demons, then the kingdom of God has already come upon you." You spent your life healing those who were in the power of the devil and now you live in your Church and continue to free those who are trapped by means of your members who are part of you as branches of the same vine.

29.2 Fri 3rd Lent
Hos 14,2-9; Psalm 81; Mark 12,28-34

The Lord's ways are straight. Hos 14,9

The prophet Hosea exhorts us to turn to the Lord our God and to deepen our relationship of trust and obedience to him. We can trust him because his will, his desires for us, his ways are straight. He heals the lives of those who turn to him so that they bloom like a lily, he fills them with fruits.

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