Tuesday 14th March

No room for hate

Fannie Lou Hamer died this day in 1977. But she nearly died in 1963, in a Mississippi jail cell—so badly beaten, as a civil rights advocate, that her cell mate didn’t think she’d survive the night. But Hamer asked her to join in singing the hymn “Walk With Me, Lord” and lived to see another day. In fact Hamer lived to testify, on television, before the 1964 Democratic National Convention. A tireless campaigner for women’s voting rights, she was also inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Follow Hamer’s lead in fostering forgiveness: “I feel sorry for anybody that could let hate wrap them up. Ain’t no such thing as I can hate anybody and hope to see God’s face.”

Today's readings: Daniel 3:25, 34-43; Matthew 18:21-35 (238).

Wednesday 15th March

Printing the truth is worth the struggle

On this week in 1827, Freedom’s Journal began publication as the first AfricanAmerican newspaper in history. Founded by Protestant minister John Wilk and leading free black men in New York City, the paper would set off a revolution in U.S. media, resulting in similar papers being established nationwide, forming the black press. Daniel Rudd founded the first black Catholic newspaper in 1885, and the explosion in African-American conversions to Catholicism in the 20th century can be attributed in large part to these newspapers advertising better conditions in the northern United States (where Catholic parishes and schools happened to be plentiful). The black press continues today in many American cities and represents one of the nation’s original justice-focused professional institutions. Consider supporting a local—or national—black news outlet today.

Today's readings: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9; Matthew 5:17-19 (239).

Thursday 16th March

Let God carry it

The comedy-drama The Banshees of Inisherin features a man gloomy about his eventual death going to Confession over a period of weeks. Each time, the priest asks, “And how is the despair?” implying despair itself might be seen as a sin— rather tough but also tender in the way the priest wants to understand the whole man. The church upholds hope as a virtue and warns against despair because it can leave no room for God’s grace. That said, our faith leaders have long shown compassion for the complexities of depression in its many forms. Whatever your emotional state, consider turning today’s burdens over to God.

Today's readings: Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23 (240).

Friday 17th March

As luck would have it 

The Lord expects great things from us: namely, to love God with our whole heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Are humans really capable of such love? Irish writer Oscar Wilde had his doubts: “I sometimes think that God in creating man somewhat overestimated his ability.” We human beings do tend to make a mess of things when left to our own devices, but luckily for us, we have a loving God who sent Jesus to show us the way to love, and the Holy Spirit to keep us on the path of love. In honor of Saint Patrick, remember to draw on the Trinity as you continually recalibrate your trajectory toward love.

Today's readings: Hosea 14:2-10; Mark 12:28-34 (241).

Saturday 18th March

The fragrance of forgiveness

Cyril, a fourth-century bishop of Jerusalem and a doctor of the church, was instrumental in forming the church’s doctrinal understanding of the Holy Spirit. He wrote, "The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance. He is not felt as a burden for God is light . . . The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen and to console.” The formula for absolution in the sacrament of Reconciliation identifies the Holy Spirit as sent “for the forgiveness of sins.” Celebrate the sacrament at your church this afternoon.

Today's readings: Hosea 6:1-6; Luke 18:9-14 (242). “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”