St. Nicolai Notes

Lenten Prayer - Day 35 - Sixth Monday (March 29, 2021)
Gospel Reading: John 12:1-11

     Jesus, we are often inclined to tone down our devotion to You because we do not want to make a spectacle that draws attention to ourselves, or misuse resources that You have provided to us for the benefit of others.

     We tend to judge those who act with extravagant devotion as foolish or childish. We tend to be overly conscious of what our left and right hands are doing+ and overly sensitive to what others might think of any extravagant display of devotion.

     Forgive us for withholding our deepest commitment from You. Forgive us for withholding our best resources from worship of You and generosity to our neighbors.

     Transform us! Free us from both internal and external constraints that hinder our ability to respond to You with our whole being, to give ourselves to You as You have given yourself to us. Enable us to perceive the actual needs of our neighbors and allow our devotion to You to generate an upwelling of love for them. 

     You provide us with endless opportunity to respond with compassion and generosity. Help us to seize those opportunities! Do not let us misconstrue your instruction by being hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward our many neighbors in need.* May your willingness to receive devotion and act with compassion, in solidarity.** shape our will and our action. Amen.

+Matthew 6:3

*See Deuteronomy 15:7-11, which provides background for this gospel reading and challenges our tendency to excuse unsympathetic responses to marginalized neighbors.

**Matthew 25:31-46