Category Archives: Lent

Tuesday’s Scripture reading at Morning Prayer is an echo of Ash Wednesday. When we modern Christians see “heart,” perhaps we think first of the seat of emotion and love as our culture has reared us. I’m aware of the Jewish … Continue reading →

Saturday’s Morning Prayer finds a word from the prophet Isaiah. Do you hear hints of Psalm 51? Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress … Continue reading →

The end of the fourth Suffering Servant Song surfaces at Friday morning’s Lauds. Much has been written about these passages sprinkled through Isaiah 42-53. I leave you to Scripture scholars to sort it out. My concern is the appearance of … Continue reading →

Thursday Vespers finds a firm word for those at prayer: Submit to God; resist the devil and he will take flight. Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, purify your hearts, … Continue reading →

Monday evening finds us with a Scripture passage we’ve encountered a few times on this site. These verses are sometimes chosen for the wedding liturgy. They are also a possible selection for the Rite of Penance. By the end of … Continue reading →

Monday morning finds us in the desert with Moses and the escapees from Egypt. We’ve already rejoiced at the far shore of the sea, had a few episodes of grumbling, some manna from heaven, and even a battle. The drawing … Continue reading →

Sunday evening touches on something that appeals to the modern culture of sport. Perhaps Saint Paul offers a thought of which Saint James would approve: affirmation of the discipline needed to be come a Christian disciple. What was valid in … Continue reading →

One of the curious things I learned in my early days as a Catholic was that some people saw Sunday as a relief from the Lent commitments. If you gave up candy, Sunday gave you a respite for a sweet … Continue reading →

Wednesday evening’s reading is from that wonderful second chapter of the letter to the Philippians. What a classic urging to the imitation of Christ, and of interacting with all people from the posture of humility. Let’s read: Work with anxious … Continue reading →

Tuesday’s evening prayer finds another passage from the letter of James. This author can be misunderstood when he writes about faith. If you were paying attention at Mass yesterday (the first Monday of Lent) you would find Jesus illustrating the … Continue reading →

Saturday evening, aka Sunday Evening Prayer I finds us with a relatively long citation from Saint Paul. If it echoes from Ash Wednesday, it is because this reading overlaps with the second reading from that day’s Lectionary. Lent offers us … Continue reading →

Friday evening’s reading is one of three in the epistle of Saint James. Declare your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may find healing. The fervent petition of a holy person is powerful indeed. My … Continue reading →

Thursday morning’s reading has an important context. Solomon has just completed the building of the Temple and in verses 22-66 of 1 Kings 8, the Bible recounts a lengthy prayer he offers on behalf of his people. Solomon the King … Continue reading →