HOPE40 - Day 28 - Decision and Division

Week 5: HOPE IN THE CROSS

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As Lent progresses the gospel readings take us on a journey of decision and division. People are deciding if Jesus is who He says He is and division is creeping in. Some believe He is the Messiah, while others reject Him, clinging to their own expectations and misunderstandings. Even the chief priests and Pharisees, who pride themselves on knowing the law, refuse to recognize the truth standing before them. In contrast, Nicodemus, though still uncertain, courageously speaks up, calling for justice rather than condemnation.

When you choose to follow Christ, you may encounter resistance, even from those closest to you. Choosing to place your hope in the Cross means trusting God’s plan, even when the world around you is divided or hostile to it. Like Nicodemus, you may not have all the answers, but you are called to take a step forward in faith, seeking truth and standing firm in what is right.

The Cross teaches that hope is not found in immediate resolution or human approval but in perseverance and trust in God’s greater plan. When you feel discouraged or misunderstood, you can turn to Christ, who endured rejection and opposition yet remained steadfast in love.

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus, You faced rejection, yet You never wavered in Your mission. Help me to make a firm decision to place my hope in You, especially when I feel uncertain or discouraged. Give me the courage to seek truth, to stand firm in faith, and to trust in Your perfect timing. May my heart remain open to Your guidance, and may I always find hope in Your Cross.

Amen

HOPE For Your Health - Uniting Sacrifice with Christ

How did this past week go with increasing your fasting window to 16:8? Shifting to this rhythm can take some adjustment, but as you continue, your body adapts, and the benefits become more evident. From now until Easter, we will remain in this 16-hour fasting window, embracing it not just as a physical discipline but as a spiritual sacrifice, uniting your sacrifices with Christ’s on the Cross.

A 16-hour fast offers profound benefits for both body and mind:

✅ Increases Growth Hormone Production: Growth hormone plays a key role in muscle repair, metabolism, and longevity. Fasting naturally boosts its levels, supporting recovery and vitality.

✅ Reduces Inflammation: Chronic inflammation is linked to many diseases. Fasting lowers inflammatory markers, giving your body time to heal and reset.

✅ Increases Ketones: As your body shifts from burning glucose to burning fat, ketones provide a clean, efficient energy source for your brain and muscles.

✅ Burns Fat: With lower insulin levels during fasting, your body more easily taps into stored fat for energy, supporting a healthy metabolism.

✅ Improves Energy & Focus: By stabilizing blood sugar and reducing energy crashes, fasting helps sharpen mental clarity and sustain focus throughout the day.

As you move forward, remember that fasting is not just about physical benefits but about deepening your reliance on God. Each difficult moment is a reminder to turn your heart toward Him, seeking the true nourishment only He provides.

HOPE For Your Marriage: Perseverance in Trials

When division and doubt creep in, and you and your spouse are on different paths, take steps to unite your path anew...one step at a time.

When division and doubt surround Jesus, He remains humble and rooted in who He is and in His mission. This is just a season that as we know, plays out with our salvation won for us.

As the focus has been over the last week, marriage, too, can face seasons of misunderstanding and division. At times, it may feel like you and your spouse are speaking different languages, struggling to see eye to eye. Perseverance in these moments requires humility, open-hearted listening, and trust in God’s grace. Just as Nicodemus sought truth amid confusion, you are called to seek unity even when trials arise.

Hope in the Cross means believing that suffering is not the end of the story. In marriage, difficulties are not meant to break you but to refine you, to teach you patience, sacrificial love, and deeper trust in God’s plan. If struggles have become long-standing and deeply rooted, seeking outside help is not a sign of failure but of wisdom. Catholic resources like Kevin and Katie's Uniquely Us coaching, Dr. Bob Schuchts’ John Paul II Healing Center or Greg and Lisa Popcak’s CatholicCounselors.com can provide support and tools for healing.

Weekend Marriage Examen:

Take time this weekend to reflect on these questions with your spouse:

Where have we struggled in communication this week? How can we listen better?
In what ways have we shown love and support to one another?
Have we invited Christ into the challenges we are facing?
Is there anything we need to forgive or ask forgiveness for?

Let this examen be a moment of renewal, drawing strength from the Cross and the hope it offers for deeper unity and love.

SPRING FRUIT CROSTATA

For your Sunday feast...

This simple dessert from Ina Garten is one of our family's all time favorites in the summer with fresh picked huckleberries and peaches. However, in the spring, it is just as enticing using different seasonal fruits. I follow the recipe to the letter and it turns out amazing every time! Click the link highlighted abover or the picture to go to Ina's website for the recipe.

Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,

for all the benefits thou hast given me,

for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me.

O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,

may I know thee more clearly,

love thee more dearly,

and follow thee more nearly, day by day.

Amen

~St. Richard of Chichester