HOPE40 - Day 21 - Love is Everything

Katie Donahue
Mar 26
6 min read

Week 4: HOPE IN ACTION

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"The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” ~Mark 12:29-31

Jesus makes it clear: love is the foundation of everything. True hope is rooted in love. As we have been reflecting on all week, hope is not passive, it requires action, and the greatest action you can take is to love God and others with your whole being. Loving God is not just about words or emotions but about making Him your first priority in every decision, thought, action and habit. When you place Him at the center, everything else falls into its rightful place.

Loving your neighbor means choosing selflessness even when it’s inconvenient, even when it costs you something. It means offering forgiveness, being present for those in need, and acting with hope rather than reacting with frustration or despair. Every small act of love you take is an act of hope, a declaration that God is at work even when you cannot yet see the full picture.

Hope in Action

Prioritize time with God: Before pouring out love to others, you must first be filled. Make prayer, Scripture, and silence with the Lord a daily habit so He can pour into you.
Love with intentionality: Whether with family, coworkers, or strangers, take time to truly see others and serve them with kindness.
Act in hope, not fear: Let love, not worry or frustration, guide your responses. Hope is lived out through trust in God’s goodness.

Let Us Pray

Heavenly Father, You alone are worthy of all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Teach me to love You fully, to seek You first, and to trust that everything else will follow. Give me the grace to love those around me with patience and generosity, reflecting Your mercy. May my actions today be a witness of hope, drawing others closer to You. Amen

HOPE For Your Health: Full Commitment

Friday Intermittent Fasting Challenge: Up to 24 Hours

As we journey deeper into Lent, Friday’s challenge is to extend your fast up to 24 hours...from dinner on Thursday to dinner on Friday. 15 hours is the minimum and any time you can add in addition is an opportunity to not only strengthen your physical discipline but to also unite your sacrifice with Christ’s journey to Calvary.

The Benefits of Extending the Fast

Deeper Spiritual Focus: Fasting clears distractions and creates space for deeper prayer and awareness of God’s presence.
Physical Renewal: A longer fast allows the body to reset, promoting cellular repair, reducing inflammation, and improving metabolic health.
Increased Self-Mastery: The discipline of denying yourself builds resilience, patience, and trust in God’s providence.

Uniting Sacrifice with Christ

On this Lenten Friday, as you fast, remember Christ’s walk to the Cross. Each hunger pang is an opportunity to pray, to offer up struggles, and to align your heart with His sacrifice. Let your fasting be an act of hope in action, trusting that God is working through both your small daily offerings and your greatest acts of sacrifice and surrender.

How to Fast Well

Stay hydrated with water, herbal teas, and bone broth as needed. Fennel tea is my favorite - if you haven't figured that out yet!
Break your fast gently with nourishing whole foods: bone broth, protein, and healthy fats to replenish your body. (Yes, bone broth is "allowed" on Fridays in Lent as it falls into the same category as an egg or milk/cheese products. However, moral theologians will encourage you to eat like a vegan - no animal based products at all. Catholic Answers and many others sources online can clarify this issue for you if you would like to dig deeper.)
Pray through the discomfort. When hunger arises, turn to Christ in prayer, offering it for a special intention. Get out of your house. Go for a walk. Go to adoration. Go to Stations of the Cross. Meet a friend for tea.

Through your extended fast you are making room for greater hope, trust, and renewal in Christ. Commit fully and let's walk this road together - with Him.

HOPE For Your Marriage: Prioritization

Jesus teaches that love is not just a feeling, it is a commitment, a choice, and a call to action. In marriage, loving with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength means making your spouse a priority, not just when it’s convenient, but in the daily, intentional ways that reflect true love.

When life gets busy, it’s easy to give your spouse the leftovers: after work, after the kids, after the laundry, after everything else. But true love requires prioritization and presence. Just as you are called to put God first, you must also actively choose to love your spouse, not just in grand gestures but in everyday actions.

Hope in Action: Prioritizing Love

Love with your heart: Express gratitude, affection, and kindness daily. A loving word or small act of service can transform your spouse’s day.
Love with your soul: Pray for and with your spouse. Ask God to deepen your unity and strengthen your marriage.
Love with your mind: Be fully present. Listen intentionally, engage in meaningful conversations, and learn about each other continuously.
Love with your strength: Make time together a priority, even when it takes effort. Your marriage is worth investing in.

Challenge for the Day

Take a concrete step to prioritize your spouse today. Write a note, pray together, or do something thoughtful that shows intentional love.

Reminder: If you haven’t yet set a day and time for uninterrupted quality time with your spouse, follow through on yesterday’s challenge. Put it on the calendar and protect that time as sacred. Love is shown in action!

Emeril's Essence Creole/Cajun Seasoning Blend

BLACKENED SALMON

Our favorite way to eat salmon is blackened. It's so quick, easy and delicious. I keep a jar of homemade Emeril's Essence on hand at all times and use it on all kinds of things for a little extra kick. I usually triple the recipe and keep it in a pint sized jar.

INGREDIENTS

Emeril's Essence:

2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Salmon

4 salmon fillets - 6oz each, skin on
2 Tbsp butter
1 lemon cut into wedges

INSTRUCTIONS

Make the Emeril's Essence.
Place the salmon on a large plate, flesh-side up and pat dry.
Melt the butter and immediately brush it over the flesh-side of the salmon, then sprinkle evenly with the Emeril's Essence. Lightly pat/press the spices to the salmon to help it stick as needed.
Heat a large cast iron skillet or similar heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat (no oil necessary). Once the pan is completely hot, work quickly to add the salmon fillets, one at a time, flesh-side down. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes without disturbing them, until the surface is blackened. Carefully turn each piece of salmon over.
Continue cooking over medium heat, until the skin becomes crispy, and the fish is fully cooked through, about 5 to 6 additional minutes depending upon the thickness of your fillets. (145 degrees F is optimal if you want to check the internal temp.) The fish will flake easily with a fork at its thickest part when it is done.
Squeeze a couple of the fresh lemon wedges over the salmon, then transfer the fillets to serving plates. Serve immediately with additional lemon wedges.