Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 3/10

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Today's pause for prayer requires two simple props:
     just your two hands, open before you...

Your open hands provide a good image
   for the three ancient exercises of Lent,
       prayer, fasting and almsgiving...

Are your hands open? Then let's pray...

My open, empty hands, palms up, gesture a receptivity
to what God offers me in prayer:
my praying hands are open to the Lord's Spirit...

My empty, open hands remind me of my fasting,
my giving up something for Lent, my giving something away,
in hope of finding, feeding and fulfilling
     my heart's deeper desires...

My open, empty hands reach out
to serve the needs of others, especially the poor:
hands emptied, finally free, of so many things I cling to...

Lent is a time for my hands to be:
open in prayer,
emptied by sacrifice,
reaching out to help...  

Lord, help me pray with open hands today
and let my open hands teach me
how to live this Lent,
mindful of you in prayer,
letting go of some things I don't need
and free to serve you in my neighbor...

Amen. 




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