Opening Prayer
God my Father, help me to rest in the truth that, “before you formed me in the womb, you knew me; before I was born, you set me apart.” -Jeremiah 1:5 (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. -2 Samuel 22:2-4 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin May You, O Sovereign Lord, deal well with me for Your name’s sake; because of the goodness of Your mercy, deliver me. -Psalm 109:21 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. -Mark 15:6-15 (Think deeply on the life and words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others O Lord, hear my prayer; listen to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, for You will answer me. -Psalm 86:6-7 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer God of every human being, in a world where we are bewildered by the incomprehensible suffering of the innocent, how can we be witnesses to the Gospel? Enable us to manifest the compassion of Christ by the lives that we live. -Brother Roger of Taize (1915-2005) |