Wounded but whole

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Guercino (1591-1666)
Doubting Thomas
oil on canvas, 1621
Residenzgalerie Salzburg

Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” John 20:26-27

The wounds we have experienced—wounds of betrayal, wounds of injustice, wounds of physical, sexual, mental, emotional, or spiritual abuse—are nothing to be ashamed of. They can transform us into new beings of compassion, patience, kindness, humility, faith, and hope. Our wounds do not define us; our identity is, always has been, and always will be beloved of God.

Today I will gently examine the wounds I bear and open my heart to believe in and know God’s everlasting love and healing. I will ask Jesus to show me how to transform the pain I have experienced into a deeper understanding of others’ suffering.

Joy, hope, and peace

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Frank Wesley (1923-2002)
Altar of God – John 20:1-18

Jesus met Mary Magdalene and the other Mary on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Matthew 28:9-10

Jesus meets us where we are—in every moment, in all circumstances—and reminds us not to be afraid. He is with us now and always, sustaining us, guiding us, accompanying us on the path of love. There is nothing to fear.

Today I will put my fears into God’s care and live in the joy, hope, and peace of the Resurrection.

Thy will, not mine

Adriaan de Weerdt (ca. 1510 – ca. 1590)
oil and tempera on panel
first half 16th century
National Museum in Warsaw

Jesus advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

At times God’s will that we love God, ourselves, and our neighbor leads us into challenging, lonely, or frightening situations. The example of Jesus shows us we can trust that God sustains us no matter what we face—and that following the Way of Love is the path to deep spiritual healing.

Today I will empty myself and open my mind and heart to know and carry out God’s will.

Untie the bonds of fear

James Tissot (1836-1902)
La résurrection de Lazare
gouache over graphite on gray wove paper
between 1896 and 1904
Brooklyn Museum

So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” John 11:44

The Spirit of God dwells in us to guide us on the way to life and freedom. The way is mercy, humility, trust in God’s will, and faith in the power of love and compassion. We have the power within us to choose life and be freed from all that hinders us from claiming our birthright as beloved children of God.

Today I will ask the Spirit of God in me to remove the stones that close me off from love. I will ask the Spirit to help me untie the bonds of fear, indifference, and low self-esteem that prevent me from revealing my true nature of love and goodness in the world.

Love with the eyes and heart of God

Jesus cures the man born blind
John 9:1-41

But the LORD said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

With God as our shepherd, the light of Jesus to illuminate our way, and the Spirit of God to fill us with faith, we have all we need to bring the light of kindness, compassion, reconciliation, and hope to everyone we encounter. We are blessed to participate in carrying out God’s vision of a world where love dissolves the darkness of greed, power struggles, poverty, trauma, grief, and loneliness.

Today I will ask for the grace to see as God sees. I will ask Jesus to heal anything and everything that prevents me from seeing and treating all people as precious, beloved children of God. I will ask the Spirit of God to help me shine the light of love everywhere I may be.

Hear for yourself

Frank Wesley (1923-2022)
Woman at the Well

When the Samaritans came to [Jesus], they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”
John 4:40-42

Jesus is always in our midst, calling us to open our ears and minds and hearts to hear his voice. We need to listen as he humbly submits to the will of God. We need to listen as he teaches us to forgive those who hurt us, to feed those who are hungry, to welcome those who are lost, lonely, afraid, and far from home. We need to let go of any hardness of heart, any rigid judgments, and any fears that prevent us from internalizing Jesus’s words of mercy, reconciliation, and peace.

Today I will read the Word of God and hear for myself the teaching of Jesus. I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me align my mind, heart, and will with those of Jesus. I will take action in one small, concrete way to show I have heard the Lord’s call to love my neighbor.

Listen to Jesus

Unknown artist
The Saviour’s Transfiguration
Icon, ca.1403
Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery

[A] bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” Matthew 17:5

Of all the voices demanding my attention, I need to listen for the voice of Jesus, the voice of kindness, healing, hope, mercy, justice, and nonviolence—and align my attitudes, behaviors, words, and actions with his command to love.

Today I will listen to the voice of Jesus and find ways to help those who are hungry, homeless, ill, and treated with inhumanity and injustice. I will bear hardship if necessary in order to follow where the Lord’s voice leads me.

Going God’s Way

Attributed to Jan Mostaert (circa 1475–1555/1556)
The Temptation in the Wilderness
Oil on panel

The tempter approached and said to [Jesus],
“If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” Matthew 4:3

There are so many people and voices that try to influence me. Some are attractive but seductive. They tempt me to reject my true nature of goodness and love.

I am learning to compare what I hear and see with what Jesus teaches me, and to choose the way of the Lord: to follow God’s will of love and compassion, to find concrete ways to support the hungry, the lonely, the homeless, and those who are being treated inhumanely—and to eliminate indifference, harmful speech, and injustice in my interactions with others.

Today I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me resist the temptation to go my own way. I will ask for the grace to align my mind, heart, and will with God’s, that I may be a kind, merciful, welcoming, and generous presence to all people.

Words of love

Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568 – 1625)
The Sermon on the Mount
oil on copper, 1598
Getty Center

Jesus said to his disciples: “But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:24

Pope Leo’s Lenten 2026 message encourages us to listen more deeply to the Word of God and to fast from using hurtful words.

With dedicated mindfulness and a desire to do God’s will, I can learn to monitor my words. I can choose words that are life-giving and reflect wisdom, peace, kindness, reconciliation, hope for unity and mercy—and shine the light of love and goodness in our troubled world.

Today I will ask the Spirit to help me scrutinize how I communicate with myself and others. I will commit to a new habit of fasting from using written or spoken words that discount, disparage, discourage, or denigrate anyone.

Healed by the light

John August Swanson (1938-2021)
Festival of Lights
Serigraph, 2000
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56546 [retrieved February 8, 2026]. Original source: Estate of John August Swanson, johnaugustswanson.com

Thus says the LORD:
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed.
Isaiah 58:7-8

This week I have heard from a number of people about the anxiety they carry. These dark times of racist acts, violence, malicious speech, inhumane practices, greed, and injustice place a heavy burden on us.

Scripture tells us we have the power to lighten the burden and bring light to this dark time with simple acts of kindness: giving food to the hungry, offering protection to the oppressed and homeless, clothing all people with the dignity that is their birthright, and taking responsibility for ourselves and our families.

Today I will demonstrate the power of the Spirit within me by shining the light of respect, peace, humility, kindness, generosity, and mercy on the people I encounter and in the situations I find myself.