PRAYING THROUGH LENT - MARCH 2008
A prayer for each day of Lent with suggested Bible readings.
The Collect
O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Hosea 6:1-6 Psalm 51:15-20 Luke 18:9-14
MAR 2 - Fourth Sunday in Lent
The Collect
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give me this bread, that he may live in me, and I in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Readings
Psalm 23 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Ephesians 5:(1-7)8-14 John 9:1-13(14-27)28-38
MAR 3 - Monday in the Fourth Week of Lent
The Collect
O Lord our God, in your Holy Sacraments you have given us a foretaste of the good things of your kingdom: Direct us, we pray, in the way that leads to eternal life, that we may come to appear before you in that place of light where you dwell forever with your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Isaiah 65:17-25 Psalm 30:1-6,11-13 John 4:43-54
MAR 4 - Tuesday in the Fourth Week of Lent
The Collect
O God, with you is the well of life, and in your light we see light: Quench our thirst with living water, and flood our darkened minds with heavenly light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12 Psalm 46:1-8 John 5:1-18
MAR 5 - Wednesday in the Fourth Week of Lent
The Collect
O Lord our God, you sustained you people in the wilderness with bread from heaven: Feed now your pilgrim flock with the food that endures to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Isaiah 49:8-15 Psalm 145:8-19 John 5:19-29
MAR 6 - Thursday in the Fourth Week of Lent
The Collect
Almighty and most merciful God, drive from us all weakness of body, mind and spirit; that, being restored to wholeness, we may with free hearts become what you intend us to be and accomplish what you want us to do; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Exodus 32:7-14 Psalm 106:6-7,19-23 John 5:30-47
MAR 7 - Friday in the Fourth Week of Lent
The Collect
O God, you have given us the good news of your abounding love in your Son Jesus Christ: So fill our hearts with thankfulness that we may rejoice to proclaim the good tidings we have received; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Wisdom 2:1a, 12-24 Psalm 34:15-22 John 7:1-2,10,25-30
MAR 8 - Saturday in the Fourth Week of Lent
The Collect
Mercifully hear our prayers, O Lord, and spare all those who confess their sins to you; that those whose consciences are accuse by sin may by your merciful pardon be absolved; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Jeremiah 11:18-20 Psalm 7:6-11 John 7:37-52
MAR 9 - Fifth Sunday in Lent
The Collect
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Readings
Psalm 130 Ezekiel 37:1-3(4-10)11-14 Romans 6:16-23 John 11:(1-17)18-44
MAR 10 - Monday in the Fifth Week of Lent
The Collect
Be gracious to your people, we entreat you, O Lord, that they, repenting day by day of the things that displease you, may be more and more filled with love of you and of your commandments; and, being supported by your grace in this life, may come to the full enjoyment of eternal life in you everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Daniel 13 1-9, 15-29,34-62 or verses 41-62 Psalm 23 John 8:1-11 or John 8:12-20
MAR 11 - Tuesday in the Fifth Week of Lent
The Collect
Almighty God, through the incarnate Word you have caused us to be born anew of an imperishable and eternal seed: Look with compassion upon those who are being prepared for Holy Baptism, and grant that they may be built as living stones into a spiritual temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 102:15-22 John 8:21-30
MAR 12 - Wednesday in the Fifth Week of Lent
The Collect
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, renew in us the gifts of your mercy; increase our faith, strengthen our hope, enlighten our understanding, widen our charity, and make us ready to serve you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Daniel 3:14-20,24-28 Canticle 2 or 13 (from the Book of Common Prayer) John 8:31-42
MAR 13 - Thursday in the Fifth Week of Lent
The Collect
O God, you have called us to be your children, and have promised that those who suffer with Christ will be heirs with him of your glory: Arm us with such trust in him that we may ask no rest from his demands and have no fear in his service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Genesis 17:1-8 Psalm 105:4-11 John 8:51-59
MAR 14 - Friday in the Fifth Week of Lent
The Collect
O Lord, you relieve our necessity out of the abundance of your great riches: Grant that we may accept with joy the salvation you bestow, and manifest it to all the world by the quality of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Jeremiah 20:7-13 Psalm 18:1-7 John 10:31-42
MAR 15 - Saturday in the Fifth Week of Lent
The Collect
O Lord, in your goodness you bestow abundant graces on your elect: Look with favor, we entreat you, upon those who in these Lenten days are being prepared for you Holy Baptism, and grant them the help of your protection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Ezekiel 37:21-28 Psalm 85:1-7 John 11:45-53
MAR 16 - Palm Sunday
The Collect
Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Psalm 22:1-21 or 22:1-11 Isaiah 45:21-25 or Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Philippians 2:5-11 Matthew (26:36-75)27:1-54(55-66)
MAR 17 - Monday in Holy Week
The Collect
Almighty God, whose dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other that the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Psalm 36:5-10 Isaiah 42:1-9 Hebrews 11:39-12:3 John 12:1-11 or Mark 14:3-9
MAR 18 - Tuesday in Holy Week
The Collect
O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Psalm 71:1-12 Isaiah 49:1-6 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 John 12:37-38,42-50 or Mark 11:15-19
MAR 19 - Wednesday in Holy Week
The Collect
Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Psalm 69:7-15,22-23 Isaiah 50:4-9a Hebrews 9:11-15,24-28
John 13:21-35 or Matthew 26:1-5,14-25
MAR 20 - Maundy Thursday
The Collect
Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Psalm 78:14-20,23-25 Exodus 12:1-14a 1 Corinthians 11:23-26(27-32)
John 13:1-15 or Luke 22:14-30
MAR 21 - Good Friday
The Collect
Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Psalm 22:1-21 or 22:1-11 or 40:1-14 or 69:1-23
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 or Genesis 22:1-18 or Wisdom 2:1,12-24
Hebrews 10:1-25 John (18:1-40) 19:1-37
MAR 22 - Holy Saturday
The Collect
O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Readings
Psalm 130 or 31:1-5 Job 14:1-14 1 Peter 4:1-8 Matthew 27:57-66 or John 19:38-42
