Lenten Devotionals 2023
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Lenten Devotionals by the Salesian Missions
This week’s action: Joy is a universal concept—but in this age of suffering, deprivation and loss, feeling joy is not always easy. So many of our loved ones, neighbors and strangers are struggling with challenges we can’t see and may not be aware of. This week, try to ease a burden or bring a smile to someone else’s face. Give a compliment. Send an encouraging card or text. Even the slightest effort can make a lasting, positive difference. What you do does matter; but why you do it matters more. Sunday, March 19 “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth … all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason, it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’” Ephesians 5:8-9,13-14 Monday, March 20 “Blessed are those who dwell in Your house, O Lord; they never cease to praise You.” Psalm 84:4 Tuesday, March 21 “A clean heart create for me, O God … give me back the joy of Your salvation…” Psalm 51:10,12 Wednesday, March 22 “Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, break forth into song, you mountains. For the Lord comforts His people and shows mercy to His afflicted.” Isaiah 49:13 Thursday, March 23 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might have eternal life.” John 3:16 Friday, March 24 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves. Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the Lord delivers him.” Psalm 34:18-19 Saturday, March 25 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name Him Emmanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 
This week’s action: Just as God gave selflessly to us—through the sacrifice of His only Son—we are called to demonstrate our generosity to others. Reflect on this idea and what it means to you. Remember that generosity can take many forms. Make a list of five things you can do to serve others, and try to accomplish each of them sometime this week.Sunday, March 12 “And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5 Monday, March 13 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord … for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption.” Psalm 130:5-7 Tuesday, March 14 “So let our sacrifice be in Your presence today and find favor before You; for those who trust in You cannot be put to shame. And now we follow You with our whole heart…" Daniel 3:40-41 Wednesday, March 15 “However, be on your guard and be very careful not to forget the things your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart as long as you live, but make them known to your children and to your children’s children.” Deuteronomy 4:9 Thursday, March 16 “Come, let’s sing for joy to the Lord, let’s shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let’s come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving, let’s shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments.” Psalm 95:1-2 Friday, March 17 “The scribe said to Him, ‘Well said, Teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than He. And to love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’…” Mark 12:32-34 Saturday, March 18 “He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him. So let’s learn, let’s press on to know the Lord. His appearance is as sure as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, as the spring rain waters the earth.” Hosea 6:2-3
Sunday, March 5 “Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to His own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Timothy 1:8-10 Monday, March 6 “Let the prisoners’ sighing come before You; with Your great power free those doomed to death. Then we, Your people and the sheep of Your pasture, will give thanks to You forever; through all generations we will declare Your praise.” Psalm 79:11,13 Tuesday, March 7 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor…” Isaiah 1:16-17 Wednesday, March 8 “‘I am the Light of the world,’ says the Lord; ‘whoever follows Me will have the Light of life.’” John 8:12 Thursday, March 9 “Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.’” Luke 16:25 Friday, March 10 “Remember the marvels the Lord has done...” Psalm 105:5 Saturday, March 11 “Who is there like You, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of His inheritance; who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, and will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt...” Micah 7:18-19 Sunday, February 26
“Just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act, acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the One, the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:18-19 Monday, February 27 “Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:18 Tuesday, February 28 “For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.” Matthew 6:14-15 Wednesday, March 1 “Have mercy on me, O God, in Your goodness; in the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.” Psalm 51:1-2 Thursday, March 2 “I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your mercy and Your truth; for You have made Your word great according to all Your name.” Psalm 138:2 Friday, March 3 “Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, says the Lord, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit…” Ezekiel 18:31 Saturday, March 4 “…Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
A Prayer for Ash Wednesday Gracious God, today begins a period of inner reflection and examination. The days stretch before me and invite me inward to that silent, holy space that holds Your Spirit. This special time beckons me to see my life through Christ's eyes and the truth and reality of Your love incarnate. Give me the grace to enter the space of these days with anticipation of our meeting. And, when I open my soul to Your presence, let Your loving kindness flow over me and seep into the pockets of my heart. I ask this for the sake of Your love. Amen
Wednesday, February 22 – Ash Wednesday“Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 6:1 Thursday, February 23 “Blessed the person who follows not the counsel of the wicked, nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, but delights in the Law of the Lord, and meditates on His Law day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 Friday, February 24 “Is this not the fast that I choose: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the ropes of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not to break your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will spring up quickly; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’…” Isaiah 58:6-9 Saturday, February 25 “…I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live...” Ezekiel 33:11 -
Our Lenten Journey
