Category Archives: Matthew

The word is love

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Jean-François Millet (1814-1875)
The Sower
pastel and Conté crayon on beige paper, mounted on wood-pulp board, ca.1865
Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA

Jesus said, “But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Matthew 13:23

The word of God is love. The fruit I bear when I hear and understand God’s word of love feeds the people I encounter with respect, encouragement, kindness, patience, forgiveness, and forbearance. Love allows me to live humbly, share generously, act justly, welcome all people as beloved of God, and play a part in carrying out God’s vision of unity and peace in our world.

Today I will intentionally sow words of love in my thoughts and speech. I will allow my actions to reflect this love as I move through the day.

A yoke of love and peace

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Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797 – 1861)
colour woodcut on Japan paper
Edo, 1847-1850
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Our burdens become lighter when we share them with Jesus and allow him to enlighten us about the source of our struggles and wounds. He opens our minds and hearts to receive and accept the good news that we are on a spiritual journey to deepen our true natures of love and goodness. We grow in likeness to him: merciful, slow to anger, kind, good, compassionate, faithful, humble, and of help to those who are suffering. We learn to carry this yoke of love and peace with grace and ease.

Today I will rest from worry. I will intentionally seek the company of Jesus and share my burdens with him. I will practice his way of peace, kindness, and love with everyone I encounter.

Acts of mercy

Giving Drink to the Thirsty
Master of the Acts of Mercy
oil on fir, between 1460 and 1470
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jesus said to his apostles, “And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42

Acts of kindness, generosity, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, mercy: our true natures of goodness and love are reflected in how we relate to and care for others.

Today I will learn about the Corporal Acts of Mercy and choose one to carry out:
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Visit the prisoners
Bury the dead
Give alms to the poor

More than our physical bodies

Bilal Mirza
House Sparrows in Pakistan, 2008

Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” Matthew 10:28

We are free to follow Jesus, to do God’s will of love and peace, to speak out against injustice, greed, racism, war, and all that discounts the preciousness of human life in every form.

We are more than our physical bodies. We are the light of God’s love in our hurting, fragile world. We are the voice of God’s peace, kindness, and reconciliation. We are the presence of God’s comfort and healing.

By the resurrection of Jesus, we know that life does not end with death. We have nothing to fear by following him on the way of love.

Today I will sit quietly and observe the sensations in my body. Because I can watch moment-to-moment physical changes happen, I will know I am greater than this fragile human body. I will ask the Lord to teach me the truth of who I am.

The authority to heal

Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937)
Disciples Healing the Sick
oil on cardboard, ca.1930
Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. Matthew 10:1

When we examine our lives in the light of God’s love, we become aware of the parts of our beings that have been made unclean by our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds.

When we accept the authority Jesus gives us to cleanse our personal darkness, we find that we become lighter, kinder, more loving, more ready to reconcile with those who have hurt us and those we have hurt, and be at peace. Our personal healing has a tremendous power for good in our suffering world.

Today I will ask the Lord for the faith to accept the authority to cleanse myself of anything that prevents me from loving God, myself, and my neighbor. I will ask the Holy Spirit to guide me as I seek to become an active healer in and for our world.

Joy, hope, and peace

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.

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.