Home prayer service: 2nd week of Lent

Lenten meditations from Bishop Jacobs, Legatus’ International Chaplain . . .

Dear Legatus members and your families,

As we enter into this holy time of the Church year, Lent and the Easter Season, I would like to share the attached Home Prayer Service for recitation during the Weeks of Lent.  I offer these prayerful considerations to encourage the inclusion of family prayer in the Lenten Season.  May Our Crucified Lord draw you closer to Himself and may you come to know Him more intimately through these brief dialogues.

Yours in Christ,

+ Bishop Samuel Jacobs
Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux
International Chaplain, Legatus

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Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen

Leader: As we continue our Lenten journey with Jesus, we stop with him on his way to Jerusalem at Mount Tabor. Here he spends time in prayer to be strengthened for his upcoming death and to strengthen his disciples. Before hearing the Word of God, let us look at how we pray. Lord Jesus, our prayers are at times filled with distractions, Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Leader: Christ Jesus, in comparison to all we do in the day, our prayer with you is minimal, Lord, have mercy

All: Christ, have mercy.

Leader: Lord Jesus, there are many times we only come to you when we are in need. Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Leader: Let us be attentive to the Word of God taken from Luke.

Reader: 

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.  (Pause) The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Leader: We now take time to reflect on what we have just heard. (Pause) Jesus’ prayer was focused on the Father and not himself, because he knew that the Father loved him. Do we know the Father loves us? (Pause) Spend a few moments in prayer, placing yourself in the arms of the Father. Listen to him say “You are my beloved.” (Pause) If prayer is a dialogue between myself and God, how much time do I spend in listening to God in my heart? This was what the Father said to the apostles: “Listen to Jesus.” (Pause) What will we do this Lent to deepen our prayer relationship with God? (Pause)

In prayer-conversation with God we worship, praise, thank, repent and petition him. Let’s so turn to the Lord now. Lord God we bow down in our hearts before you to worship you as our God. So we pray: We worship you true God.

All: We worship you true God.

Leader: God of all things, we praise you our Creator for the gift of life and for all of creation. We pray: We praise you almighty God.

All: We praise you almighty God.

Leader: God of all blessings, we thank you for all you have done and will do in our life as we journey to you. We pray: We thank you.

All: We thank you.

Leader: Lord, healer and forgiver of our sins, we repent of sin in our life because of what it does to our relationship with you. We pray: Lord, we repent of our sins.

All: Lord, we repent of our sins.

Leader: Generous and loving God, we now bring you our personal needs and intentions. (Pause) We pray: Lord, hear our prayer.

All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: We conclude with the prayer Jesus has taught us.

All: Our Father…

Leader: As we continue our Lenten journey, may our relationship with God be reflected in the time we spend with God in prayer. Go in the peace of Christ.

All: Thanks be to God.