Posted April 4, 2014

Used with permission of  Creighton University Online Ministries

Invitatory:

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

Collect:

O God, who have prepared fitting helps for us in our weakness, grant, we pray, that we may receive their healing effects with joy and reflect them in a holy way of life. 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

Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22; Psalm 34; John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

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Daily Meditation:

May we reach out with joy to grasp your hand. We keep acknowledging that God is the source of our life. We realize that we have been seeking other sources of life. We recognize our weakness and turn to God for help. Though our hearts are being opened up to their depths, though we cry out to God for help, we are not discouraged. The Lord is near to broken hearts. When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. The Lord is close to the broken hearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.

Intercessions:

Let us pray to Christ our Savior, who redeemed us by his death and resurrection: Lord, have mercy on us.

You went up to Jerusalem to suffer and so enter into your glory, – bring your Church to the Passover feast of heaven.

You were lifted high on the cross and pierced by the soldier’s lance, – heal our wounds.

You made the cross the tree of life, – give its fruit to those reborn in baptism.

On the cross you forgave the repentant thief, – forgive us our sins.

Closing Prayer:

Loving God of forgiveness, I come before you humbled and sad in the face of my own repeated failings. I hold out my hands as a petitioner would, asking for mercy. It is then that I feel you reach out and take my hand in your loving grasp. Thank you for the love you pour out on me so lavishly. Help me to follow more closely in the path you have set for me, the path of your Son.

Conclusion:

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

Amen.