Morning Prayer: 23 March – Matthew 26:14-25 ~ betrayal and deceit

Wednesday of Holy Week

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

God has made Jesus Christ our wisdom and our virtue, our holiness and our freedom.

Morning Reading: Matthew 26:14-25 (NLT)

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Judas Iscariot by Katsuya — Judas Iscariot
by Katsuya

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?”

“As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.

When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve. While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?”

He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”

Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?”

And Jesus told him, “You have said it.”

Morning Prayer

Christ my Savior: you have redeemed me by your death and resurrection, have mercy on me.

+ You endured the passion and entered into glory; lead me by way of the cross into eternal life.
+ Your heart was pierced with a lance; heal the wounds of my human weakness.
+ You made your cross the tree of life; share your victory with me.
+ You gave salvation to the repentant thief; pardon all my sins.

By your will, Lord God, your Son underwent the agony of the cross to break the power of Satan over me. Give me grace to rise again with Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

“I will rise “ – Chris Tomlin

Closing Sentence

The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: 22 March – John 13:21-33, 36-38 ~ one of you will betray me

Tuesday of Holy Week

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

Lord, plead my case; from deceitful and cunning men rescue me.

Morning Reading: John 13:21-33, 36-38 (NLT)

Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”

The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. So Judas left at once, going out into the night.

As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going.

Morning Prayer

Christ my Savior: you have redeemed me by your death and resurrection, have mercy on me.

Almighty God, have mercy on me. Grant that I, who am constantly betrayed by my own weaknesses, may draw the breath of new life from the passion and death of your Only-Begotten Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

“I Give You My Heart” – Hillsong

Closing Sentence

Lord, you have defended the cause of my soul; you have redeemed my life, Lord my God.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: 21 March – John 12:1-11 ~ the anointed King

Monday of Holy Week

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

Jesus said: ‘My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me.’

Morning Reading: John 12:1-11 (NLT)

Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus — the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor — he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

Morning Prayer

Christ my Savior: you went up to Jerusalem to redeem me by your death and resurrection. Lord, have mercy on me.

“Jesus Lover of My Soul” – Hillsong

Closing Sentence

Now sentence is being passed on this world; now the prince of this world is to be overthrown.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: 19 March – Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 ~ the faithful step-dad

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
(Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 (NLT)

Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
_____

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
_____

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.

Morning Prayer

Whatever we do or say, let us do it in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Lord, hear us.

+ As Joseph believed what you had told him, and became the guardian of your only Son: so may I put my faith in you, and receive the fulfillment of your promise.
+ Father, give me that faith which gives substance to my hopes, and make me certain of realities I do not see.
+ Joseph took the child Jesus into his care, loving and accepting him as his own Son: may I accept all that God gives me, and care for those entrusted to me.
+ You have given mankind authority over the work of your hands and invited us to share in your creation: help me to accept my responsibility by working for your glory and the good of all.

Almighty God, at the beginnings of our salvation, when Mary conceived your Son and brought him forth into the world, you placed them under Joseph’s watchful care. May his example still guide your Church to be an equally faithful guardian of your mysteries and a sign of Christ to mankind. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“There Is A Name” – Covenant Worship

Closing Sentence

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. (Isaiah 55:7)

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: 18 March – John 10:31-42 ~ ‘I am the Son of God’

Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
(Isaiah 55:6)

Morning Reading: John 10:31-42 (NLT)

Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”

They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” And many who were there believed in Jesus.

Morning Prayer

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying on the cross that I might live. Master and Savior, may your death bring me alive in you.

+ Lord, Jesus, you have taught me by your life and renewed me by your passion; do not allow me to grow used to sin.
+ Lord Jesus, you call me to care for the needy; may I deny myself to help my brothers and sisters in their need.
+ Lord Jesus, I accept from your hands this day of Lent; may I make it yours by deeds of love and kindness.
+ Lord Jesus, end the rebellion within my heart; make me generous and willing to share with both the deserving and the undeserving.

Lord, break the bonds of sin which my weaknesses have forged to enchain me, and in your loving mercy forgive my sin and wash away my guilt. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Jesus prayer” – Sr. Tereza Vodjana (Ukraine)

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Closing Sentence

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

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