As we begin the season of Lent on this day of prayer, penance, and hope, I offer to you the following prayer I composed (based on the 1st reading of Ash Wednesday—Joel 2:12-18). Peace, Friar Timothy
A PRAYER FOR THE SEASON OF LENT
—Based on the first reading of Ash
Wednesday—Joel 2:12-18
Good
and gracious God,
Enable
me to return to you
with
my whole heart!
During
this Lenten season,
give
me strength O Lord,
to
persevere in fasting,
to
replace sadness with joy,
to
serve others with delight,
and
always to give witness
to
the wisdom of the beatitudes!
Allow
me O Lord
to
rend my inner self,
to
love others from my heart,
and
not to seek the esteem and praise
of
my sisters and brothers
because
of who I am, or what I do!
Help
me to return to you
my
Lord and my God!
O
Lord, give me the strength
to
be gracious and merciful,
to
be slow to anger,
to
be rich in kindness,
never
to desire revenge,
and
always to comport myself
without
the slightest contempt
for
my family members,
for
my neighbors,
for
those with whom I work,
and
for all others I encounter
today
and always!
Please
forgive me O Lord
of
my sins and shortcomings,
and bless me with your grace!
For
to you my God,
I
offer all that I am,
for
you are my Lord and Savior,
and
you my God
are
the source and purpose
of my life's happiness and joy!
Amen!
Praise
God!
