Tuesday of the Second 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 23:1-12 (NLT)

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

“Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’

“Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Morning Prayer

Gracious God: you gave your own Son, the Word made flesh, to be our bread of life. Satisfy our hunger for you during this season of Lent.

+ May the message of Christ, in all its richness, live in our hearts.
+ May we hear your voice and journey with Christ from death to life.
+ May we celebrate his resurrection at Easter with great joy and love.
+ Teach us to live by your Spirit and help us to encourage faith in those who doubt.
+ May the knowledge of Christ penetrate our minds and hearts and find expression in all our ways of living.

Consecrate us, Lord God, and make your Church the living witness of your presence in the world. Watch over your people with unfailing compassion. Left to ourselves, we are prone to evil. By your grace, turn us away from all that is harmful and direct us into the way of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Broken Vessels” – Hillsong 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!