Hear for yourself

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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

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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.

Blessed are we

Laura James
Sermon on the Mount, 2010
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. Original source: Laura James, laurajamesart.com/collections/religious/

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:7-9

The Beatitudes give me guidance as I practice following the Way of Jesus Christ.
• I must learn to be humble, let go of thinking I have all the answers, and stop lying to myself and others.
• I must learn to move from denial through the stages of grief to accept the sorrows and injustices of life.
• I must learn to endure hardship with patience and without resentment.
• I must learn to desire wholeness, oneness with God and all of Creation.
• I must learn to be compassionate and to forgive those who have hurt me.
• I must learn to embody peace, to be a unifying presence in our divided world.
• I must be willing to do God’s will, to love and respect and seek justice for all people everywhere—even when it means insults and persecution, and perhaps even being killed as Jesus was.

Today I will make the Beatitudes my blueprint for living as a follower of Jesus Christ. In a spirit of humility, I will ask the Lord to cleanse and heal me of my mental, emotional, and spiritual wounds. I will pray for the courage to let go of any fear I have of being insulted, ridiculed, or persecuted for responding to the Lord’s command to love my neighbor as myself.

United in love

James Tissot (1836-1902)
The Calling of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew
gouache over graphite on gray wove paper
between 1886 and 1894
Brookline Museum

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:10

The mind and heart and will of God is that we all be unified in and by love, mercy, and peace.

Today I will seek the light of unity rather than the darkness of division in all of my interactions. I will follow the invitation of Jesus to follow him on the path of love, even when others challenge me.

A light for all

Filament of solar material from Sun erupting into space, and that connected with Earth’s magnetic environment

Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:3

Light.
Obedience.
Justice.
Grace.
Peace.
Humility.

This is Jesus, our Lord, our teacher, our mentor, our model.

Here I am, Lord. Holy Spirit, please guide my words, actions, and behaviors that I may fully and completely embody my baptismal promises. May I follow the example of Jesus and humbly do God’s will of love today.

Baptized in peace

Zelenka, Dave. Baptism of Christ
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him. Matthew 3:13-15

Jesus is a humble servant of God who opens his heart and mind to know and follow the will of God. He is God-with-us to bring peace and justice to all people of every nation. He doesn’t self-aggrandize, boast, or seek power. He doesn’t control, bully or coerce anyone. He shows us how to be in the world by loving, forgiving, and paying attention to the needs of all people, especially the poor and vulnerable. With deep compassion, he reaches out to heal the deepest wounds we carry so that we, too, may align our minds, hearts, and wills with God’s.

Today I will listen to the quiet voice of the Lord. I will ask the Holy Spirit to open my mind and heart to receive and embody God’s healing, peace, and love. May my life reflect God’s will to love, be merciful, and live in peace with all people.

Follow the Light

El Greco (1541-1614)
Adoration of the Magi with Camels
oil on panel, ca.1568-69
Mexico City, Museo Soumayo

And behold, the star that [the magi] had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Matthew 2:9-11

In a world fragmented by war, violence, injustice, and greed, Jesus is the universal, guiding light. He shows us the way of peace grounded in compassion, forgiveness, harmony, and generosity. With Jesus to guide us, we learn to love our families more deeply, teach our children to be kind and respectful, honor all people with courtesy and acceptance, donate goods and time to food pantries and homeless shelters, visit the lonely, and support refugees, the vulnerable, the elderly, and those who are ill.

Today I will let my light of goodness and love reveal a glimpse of God-among-us to every person I encounter.