Naming the Days of Lent

Recently my family and I were wondering why only certain days of Lent have names such as Ash Wednesday or Holy Thursday. We had heard that in the Eastern Churches, Lent begins with a day called Clean Monday. That made us decide to come up with names for every day of Lent (usually based on the Gospel for the day). Having a name for each day gives it a special focus.

Clean Wednesday

Today is a good day to clean your hearts and homes to welcome Jesus. All the disciples wondered whether they could be the betrayer. They all knew their hearts and knew that they had often betrayed Jesus in little ways. If you clean your heart and let Jesus burn away all that is not from him, then he will turn everything even your betrayals into something good.

Rooster Tuesday

The rooster is a sign of dawn and a sign to come out of our sins and darkness. It can also remind us not to rely on our own strength. Peter was sure that he was strong and that he would even give his life for Jesus. When we rely on our own strength, we are sure to fail. But when we rely on Jesus, we can follow him all the way to Heaven.

Oil Monday

The Chrism Mass is often celebrated today or on another day of this week. The oils the Church will use during the year and priests renew their vows to love and serve. In the Gospel, Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with oil as a sign of her love and service. Today is a good day to pray for priests and to renew your commitment to love and serve.

Palm Sunday

This day is already named after the palms that are carried in procession. We start this week with a triumph and we end it with an even greater triumph. The normal activity of the Christian is rejoicing because Jesus has conquered sin and death. Hosanna!

Ephraim Saturday

Perhaps I should have called this Unity Saturday since the readings are all about the mission of Jesus to gather all those who are scattered back into one family. But I chose Ephraim for a particular reason and the name fits well with the idea of unity. Ephraim was the grandson of Jacob and the second son of Joseph. The name Ephraim came to symbolize the northern or lost tribes of Israel. There are many passages in the Old Testament which speak of God yearning for the return of Ephraim. He longs to gather the tribes that had been scattered back to himself. Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 31:20

Consecration Friday

What does it mean that the Father consecrated Jesus? He set him aside for us so that Jesus could dedicate himself totally to our salvation. Since Jesus so dedicated himself totally to your salvation to the point of giving his life for you, today would be a good day for you to consecrate yourself to him.

Existence Thursday

Today Jesus speaks the words, “I am” and he says that if we keep his words, we will never taste death. He is existence and if we remain in him; he will share his existence with us so that we will live forever.

Remain Wednesday

How do we remain in the word of Jesus so that we can be truly free? We want to live in the freedom of Jesus which is the freedom to love at every moment. Let us ask him to give us his Heart so that we will truly be free to love.

Name Tuesday

Why is the name of God “I AM”? He is the only one who is existence. We have existence because he shares his existence with us. He, however, is existence and without him, nothing would exist.

Go Monday

There are many people who go this Monday while Jesus calmly writes on the ground. The scribes and Pharisees go when they become ashamed to stand in the presence of Jesus because of their sins. What about the woman? She stays until she receives the forgiveness of Jesus. Now she can go and live a new life.

Lazarus Sunday

(Because the Gospel of Lazarus could always be chosen on this Sunday, we will remember today as Lazarus Sunday.)

Two weeks before Easter, all the Gospels speak to us of the Resurrection which is our hope. In year A, Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the tomb as a sign of the Resurrection to come. In year B, Jesus says that when he is lifted up, he will draw everyone to himself through the Cross to the Resurrection. Finally, in year C, Jesus stoops down and then raises himself up as he forgives the sinful woman giving her—and all of us—a chance to have New Life.

Separation Saturday

Jesus came to bring all things back into unity. But we can resist this call by stubbornly clinging to what we think we know rather than working together to discover the Truth which is Jesus.

Knowledge Friday

There are different types of knowledge. A person could know many facts about another person without truly knowing them. In today’s Gospel, the people in Jerusalem missed getting to know Jesus because they thought they already knew all about him.

Testify Thursday

Yesterday we thought about our work. Today let’s see if our work gives testimony that we are Christians, that we are members of Christ’s Body. How do Christians work? Always with the goal of building up, of doing good, and of loving God and neighbor as we love ourselves.

Work Wednesday

Jesus says that the only work he does is the work he sees the Father doing. What work does the Father do? He creates, he loves, he forgives, he delights, he does everything that is good. Is your work the work of the Father?

Sheep Gate Tuesday

We are the sick laying at the sheep gate. What do we want? Do we want to be healed entirely body, soul, mind, and spirit? Or are we content to keep laying there stuck in our same old ways?

One o’clock Monday

Jesus has entered into our time. That means that he is present at every moment. But we are often not present at every moment in our own lives. If we were, we would meet Jesus constantly. Instead, sometimes we only become present when something amazing happens and we notice that it is one o’clock and Jesus is there.

Rejoice Sunday

Why should we rejoice today? Well, there are many reasons but the Gospels for this Sunday give us three reasons. First, we have spiritual sight which is Faith. With this gift, we can find meaning in our lives. (Year A) Secondly, we have the gift of the love of God. With this gift, we can recognize our value and that of others. (Year B) Finally, we have complete and generous forgiveness of all our sins. With this gift, we can confidently trust in our Father and have the freedom to forgive anyone who has offended us. Rejoice!

Squint Saturday

There is not a commandment against squinting but spiritual squinting is very dangerous. What is it? It is when you take a sideways look at someone and compare yourself to them either by thinking that they are better than you (which expresses itself in envy, jealousy, and despair) or, as in today’s Gospel, by thinking that they are worse than you (expressed by pride, self-satisfaction, and smugness). Both attitudes are damaging so today instead of squinting sideways, look down and see your sins and then look up and see God’s mercy.

Greatest Friday

This may not be the greatest Friday of the year but in a certain sense, it is because we now know what the greatest thing is: Love. If we love God, our neighbors, and ourselves, we will arrive at the Kingdom of God.

Division Thursday

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Jesus wants everything to be in unity. Today we can decide to work with him bringing unity and peace or against him by bringing division and enmity.

Teaching Wednesday

Today our Teacher Jesus teaches us that we should be teachers, too. But it’s very important to know what to teach. We must listen to our Teacher and then teach by our words and our lives.

77 Tuesday

To many of us, numbers are just numbers. We know what we mean when we say seven or 77. But in the Bible, numbers also have meanings. Seven signifies perfection. So if we look at the conversation between Jesus and Peter about forgiveness and translate the numbers that they use, it’s as if Peter said, “How many times do I have to forgive? Perfectly?” And Jesus replied,” Perfectly perfectly perfectly perfectly perfectly perfectly perfectly perfectly perfectly perfectly perfectly!” There is no stinginess in the forgiveness of God and there should be no stinginess in the forgiveness we have for others.

Naaman Monday

Naaman had an idea about what God should do for him and how he should do it. Because of his ideas, he almost did not receive the miraculous healing that God wanted to give him. The villagers also had their ideas about what a prophet of God should be like. Therefore they would not accept Jesus and even tried to kill him. Which of your ideas keep you from receiving what God wants to give you?

Well Sunday

(Because the Gospel of the Woman at the Well could always be chosen on this Sunday, we will remember today as Well Sunday.)

A well is like a human being because there is a mysterious hidden life-giving water in each of us. In some, it is buried very deep but in all of us, it is there waiting until Jesus draws it forth by saying, “Give me a drink.” When we give him a drink by showing him who we are, he gives us a drink in return and fills us so full that we can share this drink with the world.

Prodigal Saturday

Today we can look at two prodigal characters and one who was not. Prodigal can mean either extremely wasteful or extremely generous. The younger son was extremely wasteful and his father was extremely generous. But the older son was neither. Therefore he could not pardon the excessive sin of his brother or understand the excessive mercy of his Father. “He who is forgiven much loves much.” Jesus does not desire us to sin but if we turn to him he will forgive us. What he really doesn’t want is for us to be lukewarm (Revelation 3:16) because then we will neither understand nor desire his forgiveness.

Vineyard Friday

We live in the vineyard of God. He has given us everything that we need in order to produce an abundant harvest of grapes. But the grapes aren’t just for our own use. God is looking for the good fruits of our lives because we are his servants and the servants of everyone in the world.

Noticing Thursday

What was the sin of the rich man? He didn’t hit Lazarus or say mean words to him. He didn’t call the police and ask them to remove Lazarus from his doorstep. He simply did not even notice him. He probably saw him but he did not give him his attention or his love. Today is a good day to truly notice other people in your life. https://5sparrows.com/the-sin-of-not-noticing/

Zebedee Wednesday

Zebedee Wednesday calls on us to make a choice. James and John had been called by Jesus to leave everything and follow him. On that day, they left their possessions, their livelihood, and even their father Zebedee. But today, we will see that they haven’t left their own will, their own desires, their own striving for success. For the Christian, every day needs to be a Zebedee day—a day for listening to what Jesus is calling you to abandon for love of him.

Humble Tuesday

We all have many reasons to be humble. We’re human beings. We’re created. We are, in addition, sinners. Any good things that we have are from God and often we fail to use them well or to be grateful for them. Humility means admitting all this and then being admitted into the embrace of the Holy Trinity, our Father, Teacher, and Master.

Measure Monday

What is your measure? Do you use a 1/8 teaspoon or do you use a ten-ton truck? Jesus is generous and he wants to give you eternity. But if your heart and your hands are too small, you won’t be able to receive it.

Transfiguration Sunday

What is the purpose of Lent? Is it to give up pleasures, pray more and give a bit of money to the poor only to return to being the same person you were once Easter arrives? It would be sad if that’s what Lent was. This season of Lent is an amazing call to let yourself be entirely changed, transfigured, transformed… into Jesus.

Perfect Saturday

How is God perfect? He is perfect in love. He is perfect love. In order to be perfect as he is perfect, we have to love to the greatest extent that we can. We can’t just love those who love us and are good to us. We must love and desire the salvation of everyone, even those who wish us harm.

Altar Friday

When we come before God and bring our gifts to the altar, we have to alter our behavior toward our neighbors. Jesus does not want us to come to the altar alone, separated from the others whom he also loves. He wants us to bring ourselves and, through us, the whole world.

Ask Thursday

If you knew someone with incredible wealth and this rich person told you to ask for whatever you needed what would you do? Today Jesus tells us to ask, to ask insistently and persistently for what we need. “Give me a clean heart.” “Help me to love.” “Stay with me.” “Increase my faith.”

Sign Wednesday

Why do we need signs? In our everyday life, signs assure us that we are going the right way. They tell us what to do or not to do. But once you have a perfectly good sign, why would you want another one? If you asked for another one, you would be saying, “This sign isn’t good enough or trustworthy.” Jesus has given us one sign that points us to Heaven: his sacrificial love on the Cross.

Our Father Tuesday

We pray the Our Father often but do we think about its purpose? Why did Jesus give us this prayer? So that we could use it to babble as the pagans do? The Our Father is a key to open our Father’s heart and to reveal our hearts. https://5sparrows.com/our-father-pattern-of-prayer/

Sheep Monday

Why do the sheep enter Eternal Life? They share the same vision with Jesus. When they see something broken, someone hurting, they want to restore, renew, and bring healing. And because Jesus came to live our sorrows with us, when they touch the sorrowing, they touch Jesus.

Angel Sunday

“The angels ministered to him.” Just as Jesus had angels to serve him during his earthly life so do we. Whenever you are tempted to give up, remember the angels urging you to listen to the words of Jesus, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” In other words, turn towards Jesus and live as he did.

Banquet Saturday

This seems like the perfect day to have after Fast Friday. Today Matthew is converted and he and all his friends celebrate by having a banquet with Jesus. When a banquet is mentioned in the Gospels, it is a symbol of Heaven. Even though our goal of Easter might seem far away on this first Saturday of Lent, this Gospel helps us to set our minds on the goal of conversion which is Eternal Life.

Fast Friday

Fast Friday isn’t fast as in quick. In fact, it is actually a long day or anyway a day of longing. When we fast, we realize that we don’t have something that we need for our life. Physically speaking what we don’t have is food. But this physical longing represents a spiritual hunger since we are waiting liturgically for the coming of Easter and ultimately for the final coming of Jesus. Then we will never be separated from him and all our longings will be satisfied.

Profit Thursday

“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

St. Louis de Monfort said that if you think of your life as if it were a business, you would want to make a profit on everything you do. This way you can increase the life of God in your soul and increase the amount of goodness in the world by even the smallest good deed or prayer. We can’t save our lives but instead, we should spend our lives for Jesus and he will be our reward forever and ever.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is an easy one because it already has a name. Why do we start our Lenten journey with ashes? The ashes are the remains of something that was once living, the Palms of Palm Sunday. So they represent our fragile humanity and also the deadness of souls given over to sin.

But they are not only a reminder of death and sin. Our Savior does not want us to fall into gloom and depression. The “dead” ashes are made into the Sign of the Cross which is the sign of love and victory. Jesus can bring all things to life.