A Concord Pastor Comments: Monday Morning Offering

Image: George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

Well, in 48 hours it will be Ash Wednesday.

I want, Lord -actually I need-
for this to be a good Lent.

I need to start again, with you.
I want to be refreshed.
It's time for me to take a spiritual inventory:
to count my sins and number your countless mercies....

You offer me a season of grace, Lord,
and my heart needs what you so freely give...

I've been here before, Lord,
so many times...

Like New Year's resolutions
my Lenten promises often fade away
before the ashes are brushed from my brow...

So, I offer you my past broken Lenten vows
and pray for your strong arm to keep me faithful this year
to my prayer, my fasting and my works of mercy...

I offer you all my past false starts, Lord,
and pray you'll walk this Lenten path with me
from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday...

I offer you a lifetime of unkept pious promises
and pray you keep me modest in my pledges
that this Lent I might, at last, be faithful
if only in a few small things...

I offer you, in advance,
whatever my Lenten failures might be, Lord,
and pray that when I stumble
your Spirit will pick me up, dust me off,
and set me back on the path marked out for me,
the path I pledged...

I offer you my ego, Lord,
and pray I take no pride in being faithful this Lent:
humble me with the strength of your grace
and sustain in me what I cannot do alone:
and help me remember that without you
I can do nothing...

I offer you the 40 days ahead, Lord,
and pray you help me live and walk this season
just one day at a time...

Help me to pray, a day at a time...
Help me to sacrifice, a day at a time...
Help me to be merciful, a day at a time...

Walk with me this Lent, Lord,
and remind me each day
that this season is first for you
and then for me
that I might grow in my faith in you...

And as I walk this Lenten journey with your Church, Lord,
open me to the needs of my brothers and sisters
who walk beside me, behind me and before me...

Whenever, wherever I might be merciful,
make me as generous to others
as you have been to me...

One day at a time this Lent, Lord:
you and me, with the Church,
in the grace of your Holy Spirit...

Amen.