We all have or will have trouble in our lives. Through it all, the key is to surrender to God and let Him take control. To be addicted to our own self-will is a tyranny that enslaves us — the only rescue from it is to trust God, trust Jesus, and let Him take care of it. Identify the most pressing thing that keeps you afraid from trusting God and His providence in your life, and ask God to take control while you surrender yourself to Him (the Surrender Novena is a great tool to help you in this).

Readings at this Mass: Gn 12:1–4a | 2 Tm 1:8b–10 | Mt 17:1–9

Lent is a time to enter honestly into our own hearts — to repent, to confess, and to grow closer to God. It is a season of freedom, when the Lord desires to lift burdens from us so that we may truly flourish. This Lent, do not be afraid of what God uncovers. He is not trying to diminish you. He is forming you. And if we let Him change our hearts, we will not merely endure these forty days — we will flourish.

Readings at this Mass: Gn 2:7–9; 3:1–7 | Rom 5:12–19 | Mt 4:1–11

Jesus talked about three different practices in today's gospel — praying, fasting, and almsgiving — which the Church has always recommended doing during this penitential season to help us to grow in our relationship with God.

Readings at this Mass: Jl 2:2–18 | 2 Cor 5:20—6:2 | Mt 6:1–6, 16–18