Opening Prayer
I will sing to You as long as I live; I will sing praise to You, my God, while I have my being. May my meditation be pleasing to You; I will be glad in You, O Lord. -Psalm 104: 33-34 (silent reflection) Prayer of the Bible Many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. -Isaiah 2:3 (Free expression of praise and thanksgiving to God) Confession of Sin There isn’t anyone on earth who continually does good and never sins. -Ecclesiastes 7:20 (Time of silence for confession of sin) The Words of Jesus Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” -Luke 2:41-49 (Think deeply on the life and words of Jesus) Prayers for Ourselves and Others Blessed Be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! -Psalm 66:20 (Time to bring before God our own needs and the needs of others) Closing Prayer O Lord my God, teach my heart this day where and how to see You, where and how to find You. Teach me to seek You, for I cannot seek You unless You teach me, or find You unless You show Yourself to me. Let me seek You in my desire, let me desire You in my seeking. Let me find You by loving You, let me love You when I find You. -Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) |