LENTEN VIDEOS
LENTEN REFLECTION - WEEK 6
Genesis 2:15 – 17
The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.
The LORD God gave the man this order: You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die.
Reflection:
Often, we fall into temptation which take us away from God in the form of Sin, just like with Adam and Eve eating from the tree of knowledge which God had commanded them not to eat.
These moments give us an opportunity to examine our relationship with God. We have a loving connection with God, however every time we sin, that bond can be strained or broken. God remains present and always forgives us our sins.
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Let us put into practice:
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Take a moment and ask yourself, how is my relationship with God? Do you feel like you have a deep relationship with Him? Do you recognize the times that you sin against God?
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Also ask yourself, how is my relationship with people such as your family, friends, co-workers, classmates, strangers, homeless people? Are you quick to criticize and judge others or are you supportive and encouraging to everyone around you?
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Take this opportunity to invest in new relationships with one another.
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Prayer:
Lord, give me the strength to resist temptations that pull me away from you.
Help me with ability to be loving and compassionate to people around and avoid the temptation of being judgmental.
Guide me on the journey that leads me to you.
Amen.
LENTEN REFLECTION - WEEK 5
Psalm 139: 1-12
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Lord, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
You sift through my travels and my rest;
with all my ways you are familiar.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
Lord, you know it all.
Behind and before you encircle me
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
far too lofty for me to reach.
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Where can I go from your spirit?
From your presence, where can I flee?
If I ascend to the heavens, you are there;
If I lie down in Sheol, there you are.
If I take the wings of dawn
and dwell beyond the sea,
Even there your hand guides me,
Your right hands holds me fast.
If I say, "Surely darkness shall hide me
and night shall be my light"
Darkness is not dark for you,
and night shines as the day.
Darkness and light are but one.
Reflection:
Let us reflect that God the Father in Heaven loves us with a profound and perfect love. It is a love deeper than anything else we could ever experience in life. He loves us so much that he gave us the gift of His Son Jesus, who meant everything to the Father and the gift of the Son to us means that the Father gives us everything.
Our response to such a gift is faith. Faith and the belief in the transforming power of accepting the Son into our lives and see this gift as a gift that gives us all we need.
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Let us put into practice:
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Reflect on all your blessings and thank God for His love.
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Whenever you have an encounter with someone this week:
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Remember that God loves them too.
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Share your gift of love with them.
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Trust that they will share their gift of love with you.
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Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I thank You for the perfect gift of Christ Jesus Your Son.
By giving Jesus to us, You give us Your very Heart and Soul.
May I be open to You more fully and to the perfect gift of Jesus in my life.
I believe in You, my God. Please increase my faith and love.
Jesus, I trust in You. Amen
LENTEN REFLECTION - WEEK 4
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
Reflection:
Let us reflect that God the Father in Heaven loves us with a profound and perfect love. It is a love deeper than anything else we could ever experience in life. He loves us so much that he gave us the gift of His Son Jesus, who meant everything to the Father and the gift of the Son to us means that the Father gives us everything.
Our response to such a gift is faith. Faith and the belief in the transforming power of accepting the Son into our lives and see this gift as a gift that gives us all we need.
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Let us put into practice:
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Reflect on all your blessings and thank God for His love.
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Whenever you have an encounter with someone this week:
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Remember that God loves them too.
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Share your gift of love with them.
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Trust that they will share their gift of love with you.
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Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I thank You for the perfect gift of Christ Jesus Your Son.
By giving Jesus to us, You give us Your very Heart and Soul.
May I be open to You more fully and to the perfect gift of Jesus in my life.
I believe in You, my God. Please increase my faith and love.
Jesus, I trust in You. Amen
LENTEN REFLECTION - WEEK 3
Mark 8:34
He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Reflection:
A Cross we all bear this Lent is the Pandemic. In addition, we all have our own personal crosses that we bear in our lives. Now more than ever before, we must turn to Jesus in prayer so that we may bear our crosses with quiet bravery and an abundance of love in our hearts, just like our Lord Jesus.
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Let’s focus on the things we do have and be thankful for them...
There are two things I would like to share with you that I have learned about prayer. The first is: I learned to not so much pray for specific things to happen at specific times, but rather to pray that I be open to and have the courage to carry out God’s will for me. The second thing I like to do now when I am praying is to thank Jesus for dying on the
Cross for our sins.
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Let us put into practice:
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Praying to be receptive to God’s will for us and for the strength and courage to live our lives according to that will.
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I will take the time to thank Jesus for dying on the Cross for my sins.
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I will establish a prayer routine and allow for quiet time so that I may hear God’s message for me more clearly. I will listen to that positive voice in my head and realize that is Jesus speaking to me.
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Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you so much for loving us so much that you died on the Cross for our sins.
This Lent help me to go out into the world bearing my cross with an abundance of love in my heart toward all
whom I come across.
Help me to draw people to You with my words and actions.
May I be receptive to, and have the courage to, live my life according to God’s will.
We offer these prayers of hope, love and thanks to you, Jesus, in hopes of gaining a deeper connection to You this Lent.
Amen
LENTEN REFLECTION - WEEK 2
Mark 9:2-3
Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Reflection:
Jesus chose to provide a small glimpse of his greatness and glory to 3 of his apostles. That image must have stayed with them and helped them in times they were tempted, got discouraged or despaired.
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Following the teachings of Jesus is not an easy road. I question myself, have I loved my enemies, do I pick up my cross and follow Him daily?
He can give us a glimpse of His glory, but only when we open up our minds, hearts and souls to Him.
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Let us put into practice:
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Reflect, today, this week upon Jesus as He is now - fully radiating His glory in Heaven
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Recall that image whenever you find yourself tempted in life toward despair or doubt, or when you sense that Jesus simply wants too much of you.
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Remind yourself of Who Jesus truly is. Try to imagine what these Apostles saw and experienced. Allow their experience to become yours also
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Make the choice, daily, to follow our Lord wherever He leads.
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Prayer:
My transfigured Lord, you are truly glorious in a way that is beyond my comprehension.
Your glory and splendor are beyond what my imagination can ever comprehend.
Help me to always keep the eyes of my heart upon You and to allow the image of Your Transfiguration to strengthen me when I’m tempted to despair.
I love You, my Lord, and place all my hope in You.
Jesus, I trust in You!
Amen.
LENTEN REFLECTION - WEEK 1
Isaiah 40:31
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar on eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.
Reflection:
We are God's chosen people and so must not be discouraged. We have to place our hope in God and not rely on our inner strength and human resources.
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Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our strength but the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. So let us try to put aside our rational thinking and trust in God.
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Let us put into practice:
During this week, let us try:
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To recite this short prayer as many times as possible: Jesus, I place my trust in thee.
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To sacrifice a meal for all those who are struggling.
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To help others feel the mighty hands of God in their lives.
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Prayer:
Almighty and loving Father, I know that I am weak, and your strength is sufficient for me.
Lord, help me to place my trust in you and rise above all my difficulties.
You are the only source of my strength and my only means of courage.
Grant me, I pray, the grace to feel your presence at all times
That I may run with patient endurance the race that is set before me.
I make this prayer in your mighty name.
Amen.