The Catholic Message Board

Friday, February 13

1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19
When we welcome the Lord into our lives, group life will evolve, and sometimes some of these groups will move on to other things. If these groups remain with the Lord, evangelization will continue.

Mark 7:31-37
Jesus said, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”). His ears opened, and he spoke plainly.

The more we welcome the Lord into our hearts, the more we hear the Lord, and the more we teach love, peace, and joy.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Saturday, February 14

1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34
“This people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord in Jerusalem.”

After the Ark was in Jerusalem, the people lived regularly with the Lord.

Mark 8:1-10
“They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over—seven baskets.”

For us, we have the grace to regroup, but also to receive the Eucharist, God himself who nourishes us.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Monday, February 16

James 1:1-11
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God.”

Let us ask God for wisdom even if we think we are wise. Let us remain with God, as Jesus did.

Marc 8:11-13
“Why does this generation seek a sign?”

We do not need signs. Let us receive God’s grace in this moment. We discover it through the joy of the child within us.

Tuesday, February 17

James 1:12-18
No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God.”

Often, people say this in veiled terms. Let us discern the times when we blame God for evil.

Then, let us thank Him for His love within us, which protects us from temptation.

Mark 8:14-21
“Guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”

Let us be careful not to be taken in by selfishness and pride, even if it seems like strength to others.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Wednesday, February 18

Joel 2:12-18
“Rend your hearts not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God.”

Let us allow the Lord to open our hearts with His love; it is so much sweeter. Returning to the Lord, allowing Him to be with us, is a daily practice; letting Him love us.

2 Corinthians 5:20–6:2
“Be reconciled to God.”

Let us allow the Lord to love us right now.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
“Your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

God offers us His love, His joy, and His peace right now.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Thursday, February 19

Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Moses said to the people, “I have today set before you life and good, death and evil.”

Which do we choose? The joy of the child is within us. This joy is God.

Luke 9:22-25
“Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Letting go of what is useless from the past and entrusting the worries of the future to the Lord is to live. Let us live in the joy of God.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Friday, February 20

Isaiah 58:1-9a
God said, “Is not this the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly?”

This means all chains.

A truly effective method is to reveal the joy of God in people’s hearts. Chains loosen with the joy within us and within others.

Matthew 9:14-15
This text should be read in its entirety.

Being separated from God, we fast to turn away from evil and return to God. We rejoice in God.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Saturday, February 21

Isaiah 58:9b-14
The Lord says, “Remove the yoke from among you, the accusing finger, and malicious speech.”

Let us change our words from negative to positive, let us entrust to God what we believe to be wrong in others, and the burden on us and on others will disappear.

Luke 5:27-32
“Jesus said to Levi, ‘Follow me.’ Leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.”

Now, Jesus invites us to enter his mission of love for humanity. I receive God’s love, joy, and peace at this moment.

Thank you, Lord, for the surge of love within me.

Sunday, February 22

Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7a
“The Lord God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

Life within us is from God, along with joy, peace, and love.

Romans 5:12-19
The idea of disobedience is linked to being separated from God’s love.

Jesus came to bind us to God’s love. Let us allow God to love us.

Mark 4:1-11
The fasting suggested by the Church is 40 days.
We could fast every day of the year instead and...
Change negative statements into positive ones.
Entrust our own and others’ discomfort and suffering to the Lord.
Recognize the joy of a child, the joy of God within us.

Allowing God to love us.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Monday, February 23

Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
The Lord said, “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.”

Let us discover God’s holiness within us. Then, everything else is an invitation to keep ourselves away from evil. Let’s remain in the joy of God.

Matthew 25:31-46
When the Lord mentions doing something in his name, he is primarily inviting us to begin with his love, his joy, and his peace. God gives us peace; it is right and just to remain in peace so that it may spread throughout humanity.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Tuesday, February 24

Isaiah 55:10-11
"My word shall do what pleases me."

God's "word" is his love.

Matthew 6:7-15
Prayer is about being united to God and entrusting to him all the evil and unease we see in ourselves and in others.

Being just with others, and justice returns to us. It's very simple.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Wednesday, February 25

Jonah 3:1-10
“When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.”

It is the people’s own evil ways that bring about their own punishment. Here, people do not realize that the evil they do is also the evil they do to themselves.

Luke 11:29-32
Many people seek God when God is already with them.

What God created is good. Let us welcome the grace of God that is within us.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Thursday, February 26

Esther 4:17
Esther turns to the Lord for help.
How wonderful it would be if we invited people to let themselves be loved by God. The joy in these people would help improve the lives of humanity.

Matthew 7:7-12
Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

And what does God truly give us? Love, joy, and peace—100%. Let us receive it every second.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Friday, February 27

Ezekiel 18:21-28
“They save their lives; since they turned away from all the sins they committed.”

Once again, God invites us to draw near to him and, in doing so, turn away from evil.

Let us listen to the joy of the child within us; let us listen to God.

Matthew 5:20-26
Reconciliation is another invitation to live in God’s peace, peace within us and among all people.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Saturday, February 28

Deuteronomy 26:16-19
"Observe them with your whole heart and with your whole being."

Practicing the Lord's decrees begins with allowing oneself to be loved by God. Then, realizing that God is Love for humanity and revealing Him to them.

Matthew 5:43-48
"If you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that?"

Let us reveal to each person the joy that is in their heart. Let us then allow each person to discover the presence of God within them. The message can spread quickly, one person at a time.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Sunday, March 1

Genesis 12:1-4a
“Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.”

Today, it’s simpler. We can detach ourselves from the people we know while remaining connected to them and follow the mission the Lord offers us.

2 Timothy 1:8b-10
God calls us and enlightens us

God is the light that illuminates the path. Let us remain with the Lord as he is with us.

Matthew 17:1-9
“His face shone like the sun.”

The Transfiguration is a clear sign of the Resurrection. While Jesus speaks with Elijah and Moses, the Apostles hear them.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Monday, March 2

Daniel 9:4-10
“We have sinned, been wicked and done evil.”

It is good to acknowledge this. Let us also make peace with our memory, which belongs to the past and transmits to us what we transmit to it.

Luke 6:36-38
“Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

We can recognize our limitations, surrender everything to God, and maintain peace within ourselves and with one another.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Tuesday, March 3

Isaiah 1:10, 16-20
“Hear to the word of the Lord. Listen to the instruction of our God.”

“Hear to the word of the Lord. Listen to the instruction of our God.” And what is His primary teaching? To know that God loves us. Everything stems from this.

Matthew 23:1-12
“They preach but they do not practice.”

Indeed, it is impossible to create love and transmit it to people. Only God creates and transmits His love in all the hearts of humanity.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Wednesday, March 4

Jeremiah 18:18-20
“Come, let’s devise a plot against Jeremiah.”

It’s so easy to attack someone instead of truly listening to him and finding ways to grow together in faith.

Matthew 20:17-28
“Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”

The Kingdom of God is His Love. In Love, we don’t call this a place, but a state. And Love is 100%. Let us enter the Heart of God immediately, in the present moment.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.

Thursday, March 5

Jeremiah 17:5-10
The person who listens to the Lord is wise.

But the person who follows what leads away from God's love distances themselves from God, from themselves, and from others.

Luke 16:19-31
Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to remind us to be ourselves.

Hence, also the need to listen to people and to be with them.

Biblical texts: NAB-RE
Normand Thomas.