The Lenten Recovery Challenge

Module 39 of 47

Saturday, March 28th

To complete today's challenge, find time to prayerfully read through the reflections below, attend a recovery meeting, and share what's on your heart and mind on today's discussion board.

REFLECT

Good morning, Friend

April 16

Daily Reflection

Saint of the Day

Daily Reflection

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

Saint of the Day

Saint Benedict Joseph Labre

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

In our first reading, the Apostles are questioned before the Sanhedrin and given strict orders to stop teaching in the name of Jesus. Similar to the Apostles, we too are called to obey and trust in God rather than man. In fact, recovery echoes this very idea. By obeying and trusting God, not ourselves or others, we experience healing and freedom.

In the Responsorial Psalm, we read that the “Lord hears the cry of the poor.” This is a beautiful reminder that the Lord will rescue us from our distress, broken hearts, and crushed spirits when we lean on Him. As we try to meet all of life’s challenges, we can cling to His promise that He will always hear our cries on our journey of recovery.

Today’s Gospel reading makes it clear that Jesus speaks the word of God and whoever believes in Him has eternal life and those who do not will not. Step Two and Step Three in recovery programs offer a similar truth: if we believe in a higher power and turn our will and lives over to the care of God we will discover freedom, healing, and life. Today’s readings remind us to always turn our wills and lives over to the care of God, and that He remains by our sides always with His love.

Reflection Questions

Consider a time in your life when you needed to be reminded that the “Lord hears the cry of the poor.” How did the Lord respond?
Reflect on your working of Step Two and Step Three. How did you experience God’s love and presence while working those steps?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Acts 5:27-33
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20
Gospel: John 3:31-36

Reflection by Julie G.

View Full Reflections Calendar

Saint Benedict Joseph Labre

Audio Reflection

(1748-1783) — The “Beggar Saint” was the oldest of fifteen children born to a prosperous shopkeeper in northern France. Benedict was educated by his uncle, a parish priest, until his uncle’s death when Benedict was 18. He then tried to join the Trappists, Carthusians, and Cistercians, but was rejected by all of them. He became a permanent pilgrim and joined the Third Order of Saint Francis. He traveled to most of the major shrines of Europe, begging for what he needed each day, and sharing what he received with other homeless people. He spent many hours in Eucharistic adoration and was said to go into ecstasies where he would levitate or bilocate. He was reported to heal his fellow homeless and multiply bread for them.

The orders that Benedict tried to join are very austere. His own way of life as a permanent pilgrim was also extreme. Turning our penances or our discomforts into prayer is a valuable spiritual skill. How do you offer up penances and discomfort in prayer for yourself and others?

“We offend God because we do not know His greatness” (Saint Benedict Joseph Labre).

Reflection by Brad Farmer

Other Saints

Saint Cesar de Bus

April 15, 2026

Blessed Peter Gonzalez

April 14, 2026

Pope Saint Martin I, Martyr

April 13, 2026

Saint Joseph Moscati

April 12, 2026

Saint Gemma Galgani

April 11, 2026

Saint Fulbert of Chartres

April 10, 2026

Saint Liborius of Le Mans

April 9, 2026

Saint Julie Billiart

April 8, 2026

Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle

April 7, 2026

Discuss

Share your thoughts and connect with others on this journey.

Richard LaPilusa 3 weeks ago

One of the things I’m doing regularly, daily, to be specific, during recovery is to thank God for keeping sober, as well as asking Him to keep me sober. I started doing it a couple weeks back, after discovering the CIR app. These prayers, as simple as they may appear, I think are crucial to our recovery. We can’t beat this thing without Him.

A and A F 3 weeks ago

Thanks, Loretta. Part of my daily practices are listening and reflecting on the Mass readings, and listening to these reflections and the Saint of the Day reflections. The Mass readings connect me to Jesus and expose me to His teachings, and the CIR daily reflections profess how a good, solid recovery program brings me to wholeness. The Saint of the Day points me to the extraordinary ways Catholics gone before me have served Jesus. I am filled by all of these sources, and that helps me in return bring Him to others when called upon. Thank you, Jesus, for walking with me and for giving me opportunities to serve you.

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