A Concord Pastor Comments: Monday Morning Offering: 2/22

Coffee in the Morning by George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

In the spirit of this Lenten time,
I offer you a contrite heart...

I don't understand the mystery of your mercy, Lord:
how you love me even in my sins;
how you never fail to see the good in me;
how you always find something in me to love;
how you never cease to reach out, gently,
to rescue me from my selfish ways,
to bring me home to your embrace,
to mend what's broken inside me,
to heal what's sick,
to forgive what's sinful...

I don't understand, Lord,
but I'm ever grateful for the mercy,
the depth of mercy,
you never fail to offer me...

So this morning, Lord,
I offer you my contrite heart...

So great is your love for me,
so exquisite the delight you take in me,
so taken are you with my soul
that even when I forget, when I tarnish,
when I deny your beauty within me -
still, you call me back to your grace
and offer me your pardon...

So this morning, Lord,
I offer you my contrite heart...

Help me remember that you meet me
just where I need you:
where I'm rough-edged,
you come to smooth me;
where I'm broken,
you come to mend me;
where I'm weak,
you come to strengthen me;
where I'm sick,
you come to heal me;
where I've sinned,
you come to forgive me...

And so I offer you my contrite heart...

Forgive my sins, Lord,
and nurture all that's good in me:
be gentle in receiving the heart I offer you
for it is, indeed, a broken and contrite heart...

Help me forgive those who've hurt me, Lord,
and to see what's good in them,
to see what you love in them:
let me be gentle in welcoming them
into my contrite heart...

Help me to trust in the mystery of your mercy, Lord,
in the mystery of your merciful and sacred Heart...

I offer you my contrite heart, O God,
this morning, this day, tonight
and through this season of Lent...

I offer you my contrite heart:
a broken and contrite heart, O Lord,
you will not turn away...

Amen.