Posted March 10, 2015

Used with permission of  Creighton University Online Ministries

Invitatory:

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

Collect:

May your grace not forsake us, O Lord, we pray, but make us dedicated to your holy service and at all times obtain for us your help. 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

Daniel 3:25, 34-43, Psalm 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9, Matthew 18:21-35

Daily Meditation:

Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy. Azariah asks God to remember his mercies. He places his complete trust in God. These days, we place our lives in God’s hands, and we let God forgive us. The challenge of the Gospel is to forgive as we have been forgiven. How often we are so very much harder on others than our God is on us! An important Lenten examination of conscience.

“So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

Intercessions:

Praise to Christ, who has given us himself as the bread from heaven. Let us pray to him, saying: Jesus, you feed and heal our souls; come to strengthen us.

Lord, feed us at the banquet of the Eucharist, – with all the gifts of your paschal sacrifice.

Give us a perfect heart to receive your word, – that we may bring forth fruit in patience.

Make us eager to work with you in building a better world, – so that it may listen to your Church and its gospel of peace.

We confess, Lord, that we have sinned, – wash us clean by your gift of salvation.

Closing Prayer:

God of infinite love, I thank you for this reminder of your love and your call that we be more patient, gentle and compassionate with others. Here in the middle of Lent, I turn to you to beg for your help. Please soften my heart. Help me to let go of judging others. I ask you this, in Jesus’ name.

Conclusion:

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

Amen.