Day 1: February 18, 2026

“And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you”

We are challenged in the Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday to do right actions, say right words, and pray rightly, but to do so when others cannot see us, hear us, or recognize us. If we do what is right in this way then our intentions rightly match our actions and words.

Ash Wednesday more than perhaps any other day within the Church calendar, we seem to do exactly the opposite of what the Gospel of Matthew says. We attend a church service, receive a clear mark on our forehead, and then go out into the community to show our mark. How do we come to terms with this seeming contradiction of words and actions? I think the answer might be somewhere between our intention and attention for attending the service in the first place.

One of the reasons for the ashes on our forehead is so that we can be a sign and witness to others of God’s love for us. The ashes remind us and others that we are invited to have a relationship with a Living God, and part of that relationship is our eventual physical death so that we can rise to new life in God. Hopefully, when are attend the service and throughout the day when we look in the mirror, we ourselves are reminded of that. But what about others we encounter throughout the day? What do they see when they notice the ashes? I think they see the ashes AND see our actions and hear our words all at the same time. If our actions and words do not match the intended message of those ashes, are we being a witness to others of God’s love?

Of course, we don’t need ashes on our forehead to be a sign of God’s love. We can be a witness to God’s love any day of the year. If our actions and our words come from the right intention rather than from a form of gaining attention—then we are a sign of God’s love in the world and one that others can recognize. The ashes we receive on Ash Wednesday are a good reminder for us that we can be a continual sign of God’s love to others, not just on this particular day, but every day so long as we have right intentions.

– Fr. Christopher Nguyen, SJ

Day 2: February 19, 2026

Day 3: February 20, 2026

Just a few hours ago we laid my mother-in-law to rest. Maria Refugio Lopez Rodriguez was 83 years old and left behind two daughters, a son, and four grandchildren. I waited too long to write this reflection in more ways than one. But better late than never. Maria was a devout woman. A woman of great faith, unwavering hope, and boundless love. A woman who understood what it meant to fast. Whether she knew it or not she fasted just as we are called to do in today’s first reading. As a daughter, spouse, mother, and grandmother she understood the importance of service. The importance of generosity. And the importance of love. She offered her love to all those who she encountered. She offered that love to me. For Maria spoke very little English and I spoke very little Spanish, but somehow we had a bond, a relationship, a respect for one another. We came from different backgrounds and grew up in different cultures. And while we may have seemed worlds apart, we shared a special bond. A bond that was formed out of and by love.
And as I reflected on today’s passages, I have come to understand that fasting is not the giving up of something, but is the giving of something. It is the giving of yourself. It is the giving of your love. For when we love we transform not only ourselves, but the world around us. We transform people and places. We transform hearts, minds, and souls. This is what Maria did and this what we are called to do.
Thank you Maria for being a beacon of faith. A believer in hope. And an instrument of God’s love. You taught me what it means to fast. You taught me what it means to love.

– David Vacchi

Day 4: February 21, 2026

“I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners” (Luke 5:32)

I think of today’s Gospel whenever I begin noticing myself wanting to judge others for their sins. I tell myself I have no right to judge others, instead, I should work on my own sins. Rather than judging, I want to ask myself: How can I love fellow sinners like me and reflect Christ’s love to them? Jesus crucified in the cross, said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Not once in his life did Jesus shame or judge a sinner, even those who crucified him, he lovingly forgave. This is the example of the level of forgiveness and love I want to achieve. Something that has been helping me lately is asking myself “what would Jesus do?” This gives me wisdom to know what to do when I’m uncertain or confused.

Sometimes when I catch myself sin, I believe the lie that I am not worthy of God’s love and I start to stray from God. However, that unworthiness narrative is completely false. It’s merely a lie the enemy plants and wants me to believe. The truth is Jesus died for me knowing that I would mess up and sin again and again. Knowing that I would doubt him, deny him, and put my selfishness, flesh and worldly desires above him. Even then, he loves me and always forgives me when I sincerely repent and seek his forgiveness. That is the beauty of Christ. He is a merciful, loving and all forgiving Lord.
No matter how bad I mess up or how many times I fall, he will always receive me with open arms if I truly seek him and repent from the bottom of my heart. The same way that God forgives me is how I want to forgive others. Just like the prayer in the Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

– Melanie Vasquez

Day 5: February 22, 2026

“If you are the Son of God,” (Matthew 4:3)

For me, the word of the day from today’s gospel would be “if”. In today’s gospel, we hear the word “if” three times, when Satan asks Jesus to prove if indeed he is the son of God. This is a word that pops up daily for many people. It is a word that is conditional, which depends on another person or factor. “If” can also imply wishful thinking in a situation of the past, present, or future. This is a word which can imply a challenge, an expectation, a goal, or even disappointment.

During this stressful time of the academic year, many people including myself might be tempted to ask such questions during difficult situations or when things do not go our way. Some of us might hypothetically ask such questions “If I/you can…”, “If l/you had…”, or “If I/you could….” “If” questions frequently tend to force unrealistic expectations and demands upon us. Ultimately, these unrealistic demands and expectations make us more reliant on ourselves and less so on God in these situations where we need him the most.

Today’s gospel presents a side of Jesus that would be relatable to many of us right now. We encounter a stressed and tired Jesus who comes out of one challenge to face another. Jesus’s replies to each of the devil’s challenges help us realize that it is God who helps us and accompanies us in times of adversity.
God our father, accompany us during our Lenten journey. Help us to trust in you with confidence, that we may overcome our own daily obstacles with your help and guidance. Amen.

– Joseph Vo

Day 6: February 23, 2026

Be Holy in the Ordinary

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18)

When I hear God say, “Be holy, for I… am holy,” I sometimes imagine something distant and almost unreachable. But this passage brings holiness down to earth. It is not about grand gestures. It is about honesty, fairness, patience, and love in everyday life. I realize how often I am tempted to cut corners, hold quiet grudges, or stay silent when something is not right. God’s call to holiness feels less like a spotlight on my failures and more like an invitation to live with integrity in small, hidden moments.

I am especially struck by the line about not standing idly by when my neighbor’s life is at stake. I think about times when I have seen someone struggling and hesitated to step in because it felt uncomfortable. This reading reminds me that loving my neighbor is an active practice. It means choosing courage over convenience and mercy over resentment. During Lent, I feel invited to examine my heart and let go of grudges I carry. Holiness begins when I decide to love, even when it costs me something.

Lord, help me to love my neighbor sincerely and to reflect Your holiness in the way I live each day.

– Jonathan Pham

Day 7: February 24, 2026

“Thus says the Lord: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful…so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” -Isaiah 55:10-11

Today’s reading settled into my heart gently yet with awakening. It reminded me that our words carry weight, though we often speak without thinking. When emotions take over, I sometimes say things that do not reflect who I am or who God calls me to be.

It took hardship for me to understand that tomorrow is never promised. This scripture reminded me that words, like rain, do not simply fall and disappear. They touch something. They nourish or they erode. The conversations we rush, the words we toss carelessly, the moments we assume will come again, none are guaranteed. Eternity, however, is. That truth urges me to speak with intention because we never know which sentence will linger in someone’s heart long after we are gone.

During this Lenten season this scripture calls me to pause, stand calm and present in faith and allow the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts before they become speech. To allow my words to water rather than wash away.

So I return to this truth: be kind, be respectful, be faithful, be patient, be loving. Let your words water the hearts around you, not wound them. Life is brief, every word matters and what we send out into the world will one day return to us.

Lord fill me with your Holy Spirit and make me an instrument of your peace, allow me to speak with intention and clarity so that wherever I go Your light follows me all the days of my life. Amen.

– Natalia Venegas

Day 8: February 25, 2026

“Out of Love and Gratitude”
“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.” – Jonah 3:10
I find this line from today’s readings striking because it seems to suggest that God changed his mind! In Lent, a time when we are meant to repent, we are given a passage where God is the one who repents! In my own journey of faith, from youth until early adulthood, I had the naive notion that God was like the repentant God of today’s reading. I thought that my sins were tallied, my faults were obvious, and that my salvation was in the hands of a God who made decisions on a whim. This line stands out to me as a reminder of the idol I used to worship: the false God who threatens us into submission.
I believe that the author of Jonah uses God’s repentance as a literary expression for his own realization of the true God. God doesn’t change, but our perception of him does! This is what I was blessed to experience in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. One of the many graces of that retreat was my realization that God rouses me to drop my disordered attachments, to repent, and to walk with him only through his unconditional love. Through a direct encounter with God in prayer, I began to see that repentance under duress would be a cheap knock off. God doesn’t pressure, threaten, or blackmail us into changing course. Rather, he loves me, labors for me, and lavishly blesses me beyond any sin I could (or did) commit. Gratitude for his love, not fear, leads me to desire to do better and to be more like him. This Lent, let us not fall into the idolatry of worshipping a God who threatens, but worship the true God by living and loving out of gratitude.
What false notions of God do I have? Is my relationship with God driven by love or fear?

– Connor Murphy, nSJ

Day 9: February 26, 2026

The Courage to Ask

“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7

Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, throws herself before the Lord and prays, “Help me, who am alone and have no help but you.” Her prayer is vulnerable, and courageous. She does not pretend strength. She does not hide her fear. She places her life in God’s hands.

During Lent, I am invited to stand beside Esther and recognize the places where I, too, feel alone, anxious, or powerless. There are moments when I carry burdens silently, hesitant to ask for help, even from God. Yet today’s Gospel reassures me that I am not bothering God when I knock. I am not weak when I ask. I am a beloved child turning toward a generous Father.
“Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.” The psalm reminds me that God is attentive. He builds up strength within me. He does not hand me stones when I ask for bread. Instead, He gives what is truly good, sometimes not what I expect, but always what leads to life.

Perhaps this Lenten season is God’s personal invitation to deeper trust: to ask more boldly, to seek more honestly, and to knock more persistently. It is also a call to become an answer to someone else’s prayer, to treat others with the mercy and generosity I hope to receive.

Let us dare to approach God with the confidence of children, trusting that His kindness endures forever.

“O faithful God, when I feel alone or afraid, give me the courage to ask, to seek, and to knock. Create in me a clean heart and deepen my trust in your loving care.”

– Anonymous

Day 10: February 27, 2026

To me, today’s Gospel reading sounds like a call to love. In the Old Testament, the expectation was set by God; “You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.” I can imagine that if I was alive back during that time, I could see myself being comforted by the fact that if I followed these rules, these commandments, I would get a righteous judgement from God. As long as I don’t cross the line of taking someone’s life, or stealing something from another, or bearing false witness against another, whatever it is; as long as I don’t cross the line and break the rule, I’d be okay.

In the New Testament, however, Jesus identifies a coldness in my heart. He tells me ‘No, it is not enough to merely dance the line of right and wrong. If you are angry at a brother; if you call another a fool or forsake their worth’, Jesus says I will be “liable to judgment… answerable to the Sanhedrin… liable to fiery Gehenna”.

Jesus tells me that He is after my heart, not just the outward reflection on my actions. An attitude of “how close can I get or how far can I push the line before crossing it”… that attitude is not one of love and Jesus tells me that I must settle my debts before I stand before Him, else I stand subject to the same judgement. The Lord knows that Sin leads us to death and He wants the exact opposite for us; He wants us to have Life in Him. Life through his love.

Dear Lord, the grace that I ask for this day is for Your love to pour out into my heart that transforms my attitude from its core. Let my attitude foster a love that emulates Yours so that I can extend that love to my brother, let them know how priceless they are, and build them up constantly. I ask this today and as we all continue throughout this Lenten season.

– Paul Saraceno

Day 11: February 28, 2026

“So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

What does it mean to be perfect? When I think of perfection, I imagine having a life well-ordered: being productive, having effective time management, and maintaining a balance in daily activities. There are things in my life that help me order my day- I refer to them as my non-negotiables, some of the foremost being exercise and prayer. However, I often fall short of accomplishing these non-negotiables and I am left wishing that I could have been more effective with my time management.

Now, what does it mean to be perfect in the eyes of God? I remember the first time I read this verse when I was becoming more serious about my faith-and my heart sank. I thought that to live a life of perfection meant living a life without sin, something unattainable no matter how hard I tried. I had waves of success with my non-negotiables, but these were often short-lived. Yet, I now realize perfection is being who I am, and being that well. I learned I did not have to earn God’s love in my attainment of perfection; rather it is in my weakness, uncertainty, and faults that I give Him praise; for it is in these moments I find myself trusting all the more in His love.

Good and Gracious Father, just as you make the sun rise on the good and bad, you demonstrate perfection in your love. Allow us to not get caught up in our shortcomings, but to embrace ourselves as your beloved sons and daughters, fearfully and wonderfully made, already perfect since we are made in your image and likeness. Amen.

– Rollen Ellsworth

Day 12: March 1, 2026

High, Low, and God Moments

When I first arrived at UCSD, one of the first things I registered for at Newman was CLC. Each week, we begin by sharing our weekly “high, low, and God moments”

The Transfiguration of Jesus can be considered one of the “high, God moments” in his life. Just as Jesus affirmed by God the Father as his “beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Luke 17:5), the Transfiguration is a reminder of how life offers me beautiful moments. These beautiful moments serve as a reminder of how I, too, am a beloved child of God.

I have experienced these beautiful “God moments” in prayer, on retreats, on pilgrimages, and even spending time with my loved ones. One example which stands out to me was when I went to World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. It was a beautiful journey where I found many moments of close connection with God.

During Adoration with Pope Francis, I had a particularly powerful moment. I felt Jesus say to me, “Your imperfections and flaws do not take away my love for you.” After many difficulties and challenges during my childhood and high school years, I felt affirmed, accepted and strengthened by God and his love for me.

Another crucial takeaway of World Youth Day was meeting new friends who also shared the same faith. It helped me realize that we were all part of one family in Christ. In many ways, World Youth Day prepared me for the friendships that I have found here at UCSD and Newman.

The theme song of World Youth Day 2023 opens with these lines: “From far and wide to gather in this place, we spread our wings and here we are”. Nearly three years later, these words still resonate with me as I continue my journey at UCSD. Even as I have flown far away from home, I found more “God moments” in moments that I cherish with my friends.

“God moments” are meant to be shared with others. Just as Peter exclaims, “Lord, it is good that we are here,” (Matthew 17:4), I am reminded that I share these special moments with others. Likewise, I am reminded of how important the gift of presence is to others.

What are your own “God moments”? And how can you share them with others?

– Joseph Vo

Day 13: March 2, 2026

Lent has always been a time of self-reflection. Focusing on praying more, giving something up, and working on that personal relationship with God. But, maybe it’s a little bit more than that…

When we receive the ashes on our foreheads, we are called to repent and believe in the gospel. And today’s gospel reading teaches us not just about repentance, but how to grow from that repentance. It teaches us to follow Jesus and love like him.

This year, l’ve struggled to selflessly love others as I have done in the past. Being overwhelmed by tasks and expectations, the stress that comes with trying to perform to the best of my ability has affected how I love and care for others, which I am not proud of.

When I am overwhelmed and hurt, it becomes easier to judge than to understand, to withdraw rather than to give, to protect my own peace instead of entering into someone else’s struggle. Stress narrows my vision. It makes my world smaller, centered on my own to-do lists and anxieties.

But Jesus calls me to something bigger. He calls me to a love that stretches beyond convenience.

“Be merciful.” Not when it’s easy. Not when I feel accomplished or rested. But always, just as the Father is merciful to me. God does not give His mercy based on my performance. He does not withhold forgiveness until I have proven myself worthy. He gives generously, abundantly, without keeping score. And I am called to do the same. Not just to myself, but to others.

And so, I am grateful to all those who have supported me on my journey, even at my lowest. Those people are easier to love. But, I am called not only to love the stranger, but to love those where my relationship may be strained or broken in some way. Because everyone, regardless of who they are, is worthy of love.

– Waverley Achacoso

Day 14: March 3, 2026

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” -Matthew 23:12

When I reflect on this verse, I think about the people I look up to most: my Lola and my parents. They have never boasted about their amazing qualities, they are humble. In my Lola’s calm example of praying the rosary everyday, I am inspired to keep up my daily prayers, and in my parents’ quiet perseverance, I am reminded to stay determined. It reminds me to stay determined and grounded in my faith. They never had to tell me how pious or resilient they are, they simply live it out. That is the kind of person I aspire to be.

I really love this Gospel from Matthew because it reminds me of something beautiful I can live by as a Catholic: the virtue of humility. In today’s world, I often see bragging on social media and even in conversations with classmates. But here, Jesus reminds me that there is grace in being humble. A friend once told me that good deeds are between God and me, and that has always stayed with me. I try my best to keep my good deeds private. Doing so creates a deeper intimacy between God and me. Lent reminds me that humility can be a kind of fasting from attention, from praise, and from the desire to be seen.

– Joelle Kaiser

Day 15: March 4, 2026

The Greatness of Encounter

“Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” – Matthew 20:26-28

This is one of my favorite lines in the Gospels even though I rarely live up to its demands. I think this line describes the way we as Christians are supposed to live in this world, namely in a counter-cultural way.
Always seeking to approach reality, tackle issues, and live our faith from below. Christianity is often superficially dubbed counter-cultural because of our moral views on sex, drugs, and rock and roll (i.e. all the polemical issues of our times). But I believe that reducing our faith to these ethical positions doesn’t do justice to the person of Jesus Christ. Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, says “the strategy of Jesus is not centered in taking the right stand on issues, but rather standing in the right place – with the outcast and those relegated to the margins.” To me, this is why Christianity is truly counter-cultural. This is why Jesus asks us to be servants and slaves, because only through humbling ourselves will we be able to stand with those at the margins without thinking we’re saviors.

In my time as a novice, I have felt closest to Jesus in moments of service to others. But not because of the service itself. Helping at a soup kitchen and home for disabled adults wasn’t transformative because of what I was doing. It was life changing because of the people I got to encounter and the stories I got to hear from these interactions. My view of the world and perception of reality didn’t change through argument but rather encounter. Hearing about someone’s struggle with addiction and constant desire to become clean. Witnessing the excitement of a man who got a poncho to protect him from the rain at night. Hearing a crying mother who prays for her undocumented children’s safety when leaving the house. Service facilitates these encounters. And I firmly believe these encounters are the closest I’ve been to greatness. They are the closest l’ve been to God. …

– Connor Murphy, nSJ

Day 16: March 5, 2026

Trusting in God

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. … More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:7-9)

How can one fully trust in another? This scripture reminds me of when I’ve doubted God. Times that trust has been broken, and the feeling of being lost. Even more so, this passage calls to mind everything good that has come forth from trusting in God. Friendships and events I didn’t expect, yet blessings brought into my life. It’s beautiful seeing the life God has planned for me unfold.

Trust is built on understanding. God knows us completely, but do we know Him? During Lent, we can become too focused on the part of “giving something up” that we forget the whole reason for doing so. Getting rid of certain habits or distractions creates space to engage in actions that help us to grow closer to God. Like instead of being occupied by addictions, we get more time to incorporate praying, good deeds, or reading scripture into each day.

Trusting others can be hard. Being one’s authentic and vulnerable self is a risk that people may take advantage of. However, this is not the case with God. We can surrender, show our flaws, and He will be there for us no matter what. In challenging times, it’s easy to stray from God and convince ourselves that we can fix our own problems. Still, we’re only human. So we doubt and question, but we can’t control everything. God has that Almighty power and we get to rely on Him. Always.

It can feel like He is distant when prayers don’t seem to be answered immediately. We always ask from Him, but are we truly listening to His response? He might not be direct, yet He is in the kind words and actions from those we encounter, the complexity of nature around us, and the new paths He encourages us to take. I’ve grown up hearing the phrase “do your best and God will do the rest.” This increasingly resonates as I continue learning to let go and let God do His will.

Dear Lord, please quiet my fears and help me to see You in my everyday life, so that I may have faith in what You have planned for me. “Jesus, King of Mercy, I trust in You.”

– Kiara Avenido

Day 17: March 6, 2026

“When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him.”
-Genesis 37:4

Do I follow the Lord’s commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” as well as I should?
Absolutely not. To love your neighbor perfectly is such an extensive task with so many options that I don’t even realize half of the loving acts I could do.

We see from the first reading that Joseph’s brothers refused to greet him because of their lack of love for him. Every day I see people that I would like to avoid greeting as well. I’m sure we all have these people. Like Joseph’s brothers, we lack love for them. With this realization, the act that comes to follow our Lord’s commandment is to swallow our pride and give a genuine greeting to these people. We overlook the importance of it, but withholding a greeting from someone may be a sign that we have more room to grow in our love for them.

Towards these people, Lord, give us the grace to grow in love, and to take the first step with a simple greeting. Amen

– Zach Lewis

Day 18: March 7, 2026

Coming Home

“I will get up and go to my father and shall say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” – Luke 15:18

On a purely logical level, I understand that God can forgive anything. I understand that no matter how wicked I act, God has the capacity to forgive me. I understand that God knows man’s potential for evil but still chooses to forgive. But that is so very difficult for me to accept.

How is there somebody with such understanding? How is there somebody who accepts being mutilated for a crime He did not commit? How can there be somebody who prays for His murderers? I constantly ask myself these questions but I know the answer. Because He is God. And God is love.

Every time I sin, I feel like I place a wound upon Christ. It was me who made an innocent man suffer. And I do it again and again.

But he still loves me. He loves a world that did not love him. And in His greatest act of love, he died for all of us so that we may live beyond this life.

I can’t understand the mind of God. I will never understand such unconditional love. But it makes me so glad that I receive it. If I had nothing, I would have still have that, which, I suppose, is everything.

So, in this life I’ll try my best to please God. I want to reflect His love to those around me. I want to answer his call and follow his commandments. I want to get as close as possible to His example.

But, of course, I will fall short. I will mess up. However, in His mercy, He will welcome us home each and every time.

“O my God,
I am heartily sorry for having offended you,
and I detest all my sins because of your just punishments,
but most of all because they offend you, my God,
who are all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace,
to sin no more
and to avoid the near occasions of sin.
Amen.”

– David Patrick Roxas