Posted March 12, 2014

Used with permission of  Creighton University Online Ministries

Invitatory:

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

Collect:

Look kindly, Lord, we pray, on the devotion of your people, that those who by self-denial are restrained in body may the fruit of good works be renewed in mind. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

The Readings

Jonah 3:1-10; Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19; Luke 11:29-32

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Daily Meditation:

Hear our prayer. The Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent take on a more penitential tone. Our longing intensifies. We know we have to work hard to resist temptation and to change some of our bad habits. We know that spiritual renewal won’t come easy. But we know that all we will ultimately be able to do will come from God’s inspiration – as a gift. So we ask from a deeper and deeper place in our hearts.

We listen to the wonderful children’s story about Nineveh. They responded to God’s word and repented.

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. – Psalm 51

Intercessions:

Blessed be God, the giver of salvation, who decreed that mankind should become a new creation in himself, when all would be made new. With great confidence let us ask him: Lord, renew us in your Spirit.

Lord, you promised a new heaven and a new earth; renew us daily through your Spirit, – that we may enjoy your presence for ever in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Help us to work with you to make this world alive with your Spirit, – and to build on earth a city of justice, love and peace.

Free us from all negligence and sloth, – and give us joy in your gifts of grace.

Deliver us from evil, – and from slavery to the senses, which blinds us to goodness

Closing Prayer:

Dear Lord, I know you receive what is in my heart. Let me be inspired by your words and by the actions of your son, Jesus. Guide me to make sacrifices this Lent in the spirit of self-denial and with greater attention to you and to those around me. Help me to believe that you will grant me this because of the sacrifice Jesus made for me.

Conclusion:

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.