In this homily, through the story of Queen Esther risking her life to approach the king, and Jesus inviting us to ask, seek, and knock, we’re faced with a simple but powerful question: Do we truly believe that God is good? When we pray, we are not approaching someone distant or harsh — we are coming before a loving Father who delights in giving good gifts to His children. This homily invites us to open the door of our hearts and ask for the grace to be deeply convinced of His absolute goodness.

The readings bring us to the powerful story in the Book of Jonah, where the people of Nineveh did something extraordinary — they repented. Jesus calls this “the sign of Jonah,” pointing beyond the prophet to His own Resurrection. Even when God gives a sign, not everyone believes. Yet the invitation remains: turn back to Him. Repentance is more than sorrow for sin — it opens the heart to grace, freedom, and joy. Lent leads us toward the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal life.

This homily reminds us that God’s grace comes like rain and snow—sometimes soaking in right away, sometimes delayed, but never wasted. Just as water nourishes the earth, the Holy Spirit nourishes our souls through prayer. Drawing from Jesus’ words about “living water”, we’re encouraged not to give up when prayer feels dry or cold. Even when we don’t feel anything, God is still working. Every prayer is heard. Every prayer is answered with grace. And in the “daily bread” of the Lord's Prayer, we’re reminded that the Eucharist is the supernatural bread that sustains us in every season.

Lent brings us straight to the heart of the story—Adam and Eve, original sin, and Jesus facing temptation in the desert. Drawing from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this homily reminds us that life is a real spiritual battle between truth and lies, grace and sin. And it’s personal—the battle is for every soul. Jesus, the new Adam, entered the fight for us and gave His life on the Cross to show how much we are worth. This Lent, we’re invited to step into that battle with prayer, fasting, and trust in His victory.

A few days into Lent, how are we really following Jesus? In today’s Gospel, Jesus walks past Matthew, a tax collector, and simply says, “Follow me.” No explanation, no negotiation — just an invitation. And Matthew gets up and leaves everything behind. This homily invites us to reflect on our own response: have we truly chosen to follow the Lord, or are we just going through the motions? Lent gives us the grace to begin again — to move from routine to relationship, from obligation to discipleship. The Lord is still calling. It’s not too late to follow Him.

A few days into Lent, maybe the ashes are still faintly visible, and the Church already invites us to go deeper. In this homily, we’re reminded that fasting isn’t just about giving something up or proving our discipline — it’s about real conversion of heart. Through the challenging words of the prophet Isaiah and the powerful example of Jacinta Marto and Francisco Marto, we see that sacrifice only has meaning when it flows from love — love for God, love for sinners, love for those who suffer. When Jesus calls Himself the Bridegroom, He reveals that our fasting is preparation for something beautiful: the Wedding Feast of heaven. We’re not depriving ourselves for nothing; we’re making room for Him. Lent isn’t about “Catholic dieting” — it’s about preparing our hearts for the joy we were created for.

On this second day of Lent, we’re reminded that following Jesus is a daily choice. In the first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, God places before us life or death, blessing or curse—and in the Gospel, Jesus says, “Pick up your cross every day and follow me.” For those who first heard it, the cross meant suffering and humiliation, yet Jesus transforms it into the very path to life. Over time, the Church has come to understand that carrying our cross can mean martyrdom, sacrifice, patient endurance, or simply staying faithful in everyday struggles. This Lent, we’re invited to trust that whatever cross we carry—big or small—can be united to Christ and become the road to blessing and deeper life with Him.

Lent isn’t just about giving something up—it’s about walking with Jesus into the desert and letting Him work on our hearts. In this homily, we’re reminded that instead of asking, “What’s my plan for Lent?” we should begin with, “Lord, what’s Your plan?” A powerful story about a child who felt like a “nobody” becomes a beautiful reminder that God listens to every prayer. Drawing from Pope Leo XIV’s Lenten letter, we’re invited to fast, quiet the noise around us, and make room to truly listen to the Lord through Scripture.