Friday of the Third Week of Lent

Welcome to Friday graces in Lent series.

Fridays Graces in Lent series is based on the scripture for the day. I encourage you to read the scripture of the day, reflect on what grace this scripture passage is giving us and then, to finish the post, to pray either the prayer that I have given or if you prefer to complete your reflection time with your own prayer.

FRIDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT

The scripture passage which we are asked to reflect upon is Hosea 14:2-10. 
The prophet Hosea lived around 750BC.  By the time he became a prophet, Israel had already established a pattern that would itself out again and again.  The people would stray from the Lord, break the covenant, and experience great suffering because of their sins.  Finally a prophet would call them back into relationship with God.  Today we hear Hosea remind the people that they have continually strayed  from God, but God has remained faithful to them.  If they wish to restore their relationship with the Lord, they need to seek forgiveness.

FRIDAY GRACE FROM SCRIPTURE:  

On reflecting on this scripture passage, we can relate to the people of Israel who constantly strayed from the Lord, but heard the prophet of Hosea calling them back into relationship with God since God has remained faithful.  The grace we can receive from this scripture passage is seeking forgiveness.

REFLECTION PRAYER
God of our longings,
You know the deepest secrets of our hearts.  We praise and thank you for sending us prophets who bravely witness to Your truth, even when we may not want to hear or obey.  We thank you for those prophets who proclaim your love and call each of us to repent and change.  Help us to open our hearts  and our ears to those who may be proclaiming Your truth in our world this day, especially to Your word to us spoken through the Church, and encourage us to bravely witness to our world.  Bless us, fill us, strengthen us and nourish us with the food that we have before us and with the Word who walks among us.

Friday of the second Week of Lent

Welcome to Friday graces in Lent series.

Fridays Graces in Lent series is based on the scripture for the day. I encourage you to read the scripture of the day, reflect on what grace this scripture passage is giving us and then, to finish the post, to pray either the prayer that I have given or if you prefer to complete your reflection time with your own prayer.

FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF LENT

The scripture passage which we are asked to reflect upon is Matthew 21:33-46.  

FRIDAY GRACE FROM SCRIPTURE:  

In the parable of the vineyard Matthrew reminds us that we should use God's gifts and not take them for granted.  We are God's Chosen People, called into the fullness of life through our baptism.  But we must do more than simply claim an affiliation with God.  If we take our relationship with the Lord for granted, we may soon hear the same warning that Jesus gave the people of His time: "The kindgom of God will be taken away from you". ( Matthew 21:43).

REFLECTION PRAYER
God of commitment,
You are our rock, our fortress, and our strength.  You have remained faithful to Your people, even though we have sometimes wandered far from You.  At times we feel unconnected and out of touch.  We rejoice that in such moments, You are there, that You have never wavered, that You have remained steadfast.  Help us to remember Your loving presence and to recognize Your guiding and Patient Spirit.  Bring us home to You, our loving God.  Bless this time that we have together, this meal, that we share, and our faith that it symbolizes.  Let it be a moment that recalls for us the Eucharist that binds us to You forever.

Welcome to Friday graces in Lent series.

Fridays Graces in Lent series is based on the scripture for the day. I encourage you to read the scripture of the day, reflect on what grace this scripture passage is giving us and then, to finish the post, to pray either the prayer that I have given or if you prefer to complete your reflection time with your own prayer.

FRIDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT

The scripture passage which we are asked to reflect upon is Ezekiel 18:21-28.  

FRIDAY GRACE FROM SCRIPTURE:  

The prophet Ezekiel reminds the people of Israel that repentance is necessary for salvation.  It is only by conversion, by chooseing to live a life patterned on God's law, that we can ever hope to enjoy eternal life.

REFLECTION PRAYER

God of the prodigal son, of the woman at the well, of Peter who denied you, and of all who are in need of repentance.  We are the people who gather in Your name.  We are aware of our faults and weaknesses, conscious of our sins, but hopeful of Your love and forgiveness.  When we are blind to our faults and weaknesses and feel no consciousness for our sins, we call to you in hope that our blindness and apathy will give way to repentant change of heart.  We ask that You change our hearts, liberate us from prejudice and judgement, and set us free from whatever keeps us from You.  Enable us to reach out to each other with love, knowing that we are all in need of repentance and salvation.
We ask for the grace to appreciate the gift of repentance in a deeper way during this Lent.

Friday Graces In Lent Series: Lent and the grace of fasting

Welcome to Friday graces in Lent series.

Fridays Graces in Lent series is based on the scripture for the day. I encourage you to read the scripture of the day, reflect on what grace this scripture passage is giving us and then, to finish the post, to pray either the prayer that I have given or if you prefer to complete your reflection time with your own prayer.

FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

The scripture passage which we are asked to reflect upon is Isaish 58:1-9.  

FRIDAY GRACE FROM SCRIPTURE:  

Isaish teaches us that fasting is something that is pleasing to God, but only if helps those who are blessed with an abundance to understand the plight of the poor.  To freely choose to experience the plight of the poor and then to commit ourselves to working to relieve the conditions that cause poverty is most pleasting to the Lord.  To fast and then to ignore the poor is unacceptable to God.

REFLECTION PRAYER

God of abundance, You have blessed us with more than we need.  We often take what you have given us for granted.  We are aware that we waste more than many of our brothers and sisters have for life.  Help us through the gift of your grace to recognize all people as our family, to take nothing for granted, to rejoice in what is before us, and to be always grateful for what we have. We ask for the grace to appreciate the gift of fasting in a deeper way during this Lent.