LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

FOURTH TUESDAY

Mark 8:1-10

God of grace, You have fed, clothed, and sheltered us. You have provided for every one of our needs. You have been faithful beyond anything that we could possibly earn or deserve.

In love and mercy, You have called us to share in Christ’s ministry to the poor and hungry. You have called us to be people of compassion. You have instructed us to feed those who are hungry and weak. And You have taken our meager resources and multiplied them so that they are adequate for the needs we see among our diverse neighbors.

In spite of our experience of your abundant provision, in spite of all that we have witnessed of your generosity, we continue to doubt that there are enough resources to provide for those in need. We continue to question how to respond and continue to be anxious in the face of widespread need.

Forgive us for our forgetfulness. Forgive us for our lack of faith. Remind us of all that You have done and give us a vision for a world in which all are adequately provided for from the abundance that You have generated and still generate today.  

Enable us to be humble, yet faithful stewards of your abundance. Amen.

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

FOURTH MONDAY

Mark 7:24-37

God of all, from the scripture it almost seems that Jesus’ ministry outside the borders of Israel was unintended. When he encounters a loving mother, desperate to see her daughter released from spiritual oppression, his words seem insulting and he seems resistant to act on her behalf until she responds with a mixture of humility and shrewdness. He is moved to action. He liberates. He affirms her words as the basis for his action and expands the scope of his ministry in a different direction than he has gone before.

Once again outside the borders of Israel, he encounters a deaf and partially mute man brought to him by compassionate friends. He listens to their pleas. He touches. He prays. He heals. He asks for secrecy.

But who can keep such healing secret? Who can halt the healed tongue? Praise pours forth. People are amazed. Jesus’ abilities are proclaimed.

God, we rejoice that Jesus has touched, healed and liberated many who were outside of Israel. We rejoice because that includes us! We have also been brought into Christ’s presence by people who loved us and acted in compassion. We know that we had no claim upon your power or your grace. We could not assume anything. But we are overjoyed to be included within the broad scope of Jesus’ ministry.    

We rejoice that we have been healed, liberated, forgiven, and empowered to follow Jesus and continue his ministry. Amen.    

Prayer for March 11-17, 2018

Sermon Text: Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

That we may tell our stories of redemption with gladness

God, our Savior and Sovereign, we give thanks to You! We rejoice as recipients of your enduring love. We are the ones 

You have:

          Redeemed from many foes;

          Gathered from places of wandering and exile;

          Saved from many forms of distress;

          Healed; and

          Preserved from Death.

     

Even when we have acted as fools, rebelled against You, and brought suffering upon ourselves, You have heard our pleas. Your love has not failed even when ours has. You have continued to do wonderful works on our behalf. 

We turn our faces to You. We give You all of our thanks. We sing our songs of joy to You. We tell our stories with gladness. We give our whole selves to You as offerings of thanksgiving. Amen.

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

FOURTH SUNDAY

John 6:27-40

Jesus, Savior, we have sought You for many things. Most of the time our seeking has been motivated by our physical needs: food, water, clothing, shelter, health and healing, personal security, and the like. You take such needs seriously and have promised to meet our true needs as we follow You and serve God’s reign with gladness.

But fulfilling those needs seldom satisfies our deepest hunger: to know God and live in God’s presence. We need more! And You are that more!

You give us new life that is durable. You nourish and energize us by your presence, by word and action. When we stay close to You, follow You, and carry on the ministry that You have done among us, we discover satisfaction that we could not create or conjure for ourselves. 

You are divine gift. You are Bread that is never consumed. You are bread that gives new life and energy. You are bread that satisfies. We have sought You because You have called and drawn us to yourself and fed us the bread of your presence. Hallelujah! Amen.

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

FOURTH SATURDAY

Mark 7:1-23

God of creation and covenant, give us discernment. Enable us to see which of the traditions we cling to are deeply rooted in your word and which we have fabricated for our own reasons, our own comfort, and our own glory.

Forgive us for resisting your presence. Forgive us for closing our hearts against the work of transformation that Jesus is doing among us as Agent of your healing, liberating reign.

Prevent evil from fermenting in our hearts and minds and pouring from us in ways that corrupt and damage our relationships with others. Help us to avoid everything that diminishes us or our neighbors. 

Enable us to honor You with heart and mind, but also help us to use our bodies for works of obedience that bring honor to You. Energize us for the truly free, fully human life for which You have created and redeemed us. Amen.

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

FOURTH FRIDAY

Mark 6:47-56

Jesus, Provider, we rejoice that You are not gripped by the confusion, fear, and disbelief that often characterize our lives. You are not afraid of the chaos that seems to surround and threaten us. You are not paralyzed by circumstances that often leave us feeling helpless.

Even when our faith is weak and we are gripped by terror, You seek us out. You do not ignore us or abandon us, but You see our crises and come to us during our nights of storm and dread.

Sometimes your arrival terrifies us. You are Mystery beyond our control! But then, as You draw close, the chaos around us is still, and the terror in our hearts is quieted, and we are simply amazed by You. 

After our anxious fears have subsided, You guide us along to continue your ministry of healing and renewal. We go gladly, trusting that You are able to minister to others even through our weaknesses. Amen.

LENTEN PRAYERS 2018: PRAYING THE DAILY GOSPEL

FOURTH THURSDAY

Mark 6:30-46

Jesus, we rejoice that You have not called us to endless, anxious ministry, but that You call us aside for rest and renewal when that is necessary. We rejoice, though, that You give us adequate energy when we are stretched beyond our normal limits. You help us keep going when rest is delayed.

Because we are still anxious, too often, we frequently fail to see that You have adequate resources to meet the needs around us. You are able to take our meager offerings and turn them into abundant provision for those who have no one to instruct them or tend to their needs.

Help us to trust You. Help us to remember that You are able to act in diverse circumstance, including some that seem hopeless or impossible to us. 

Fill us with your compassion. When You take, bless, break and give us the bread of life, help us to turn and see the needs of known neighbors, and unknown multitudes, and share your gifts for life with them. Amen.