Monday Morning Offering: Monday 3/3

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,
with your help...

I want to be refreshed
by making peace with you...

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 so dearly needs
what you so freely give...

And as you know well, Lord,
I've been here before,
so many, many times...

Just as my New Year's resolutions

easily slip my mind,
my Lenten pledges disappear
before the ashes 

fade from my brow...

 

So, I offer you 

my past, broken Lenten vows
and I pray that this year

your grace will  keep me faithful
to prayer, fasting and works of mercy...

 

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 -
even if only in a few small things...

And I pray that when I stumble, 

as I know I will,

I pray you'll pick me up, Lord, dust me off

and set me once again 

on the path that I had pledged to walk

throughout Lent's 40 days... 

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

I offer you the 40 days ahead, Lord,
and pray you help me live 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 generous in giving,

one day at a time...

Walk with me this Lent, Lord,
and remind me each day
that this season is first an offering to you,
and then a grace for me...

And as I walk this Lenten journey 

with your people, Lord, 

open me to the needs of all 

who walk beside, behind me and before me,
near and far,
around the corner

and around the world... 

 

Whenever and wherever 

I might be forgiving, Lord,
help me be as merciful to others

as you have been to me...

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

Amen.

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