THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

Wednesday, March 2, 2022, Cycle C: Ash Wednesday

 

Joel 2:12-19 (return to the Lord with all your heart; sanctify a fast)

Psalm 51 (wash me from my sins; put a right spirit within me)

2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 (be reconciled with God; don’t let his grace be in vain; we have  suffered for your sake

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 (fast, pray, give alms, but don’t show them off before others)

******************

Let us humbly beseech God for his mercy upon the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Have mercy on this world that you created in love, though it has turned away from you, most Holy Father. Have mercy on the people who sit in the darkness of sin and the shadow of death, and whom you came to save, most Holy Son. Have mercy on this fallen creation that cries out in travail for its deliverance from futility and death, most Holy Spirit.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy on your Church. Cleanse it from false teaching, holier-than-thou holiness, and fair-weather discipleship. Form it in the likeness of your Son. Fill it with your Spirit. Use it to draw all people to yourself.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy on your persecuted servants. Cleanse them from bitterness, hatred, or thirst for revenge. Form them into the likeness of your Son. Fill them with your Spirit. Use them to lead the enemies of Christ to repentance and salvation.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy on this congregation. Cleanse us from apathy, contention, and stinginess. Form us into the likeness of your Son. Fill us with your Spirit. Use us to draw our families, friends, and communities to the foot of Jesus’ Cross.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy on all who doubt your existence or your goodness. Cleanse them from spiritual darkness, intellectual pride, or emotional despair. Form them into the likeness of your Son. Fill them with your Spirit. Bless them with faith and trust in you, their Savior, Lord, and Friend.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy upon all who are entrusted with power and authority in this sin-shadowed world. Cleanse them from cruelty, lust for power, and worship of self. Form them into the likeness of your Son. Fill them with your Holy Spirit. Use them to bring your blessings of justice, mercy, and peace to all people.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Have mercy upon all who stand in harm’s way on behalf of others. Cleanse them from wrong judgment or base motives. Form them into the likeness of your Son. Fill them with your Spirit. Use them to bring a measure of safety and freedom in dangerous places.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Have mercy on all whose lives are shadowed by suffering, sorrow, or any kind of evil. Cleanse them from all that troubles them and prevents them from turning to you, their Rock and their Redeemer. Form them into the likeness of your Son. Fill them with your Holy Spirit. Restore them to wholeness and hope, in the company of all who love them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Most holy and gracious Father, we commend into your mercy all our beloved dead. We who are ashes and dust humbly beseech you for your mercy upon us as well. Cleanse us from the sins that separates us from you and from one another. Form us into the likeness of your dear Son, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and use us to help lighten our neighbor’s burdens throughout our earthly pilgrimage. Lead us, with all whom you have redeemed by the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus, into your Kingdom, where, untroubled by sin, evil, or death, we may rejoice in your goodness and gaze upon your glory forever.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

For these things, and for whatever else is needful, dear Father, we pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

 

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him” (2 Timothy 2:3-4).

For those who have served in the military, there is no need for an explanation here.  You who have served, you know what this means.  Put it into action.  For those who have not, you are under new orders.  Your Lord, Jesus Christ, is now your commander.  There is no arguing allowed, only “Yes Sir.”  It is not like the civilian world where everyone argues.  Come then and learn what this means.

Lord, whether I have this worldly experience or not, it is still hard for me because I want to do things the way I want to do them.  Help me to learn that You alone must be in charge; I need to follow and You must lead.  This is good, right and salutary.  Help me see the good and give me strength to quell the rebellious voice in me that wants it another way.  You are the Lord and there is no other.  Lead me, Lord Jesus.

My Lord and Savior, You know all that is needed.  Guide me Lord in the way of life such that I may now and always be directed by You.  Keep me from those temptations that would lead me into any other way.  Help me see when I am tempted to disobey orders that I may be kept from it by You and learn from You obedience.  Guide me, Lord, so that it is You alone whom I follow.  Guide me now and forever in the way of obedience.  Amen.