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New Beginning Every Lent is a new beginning; Lent gives us the opportunity to refresh our faith. Like the springtime it is a time of growth and renewal. it is a time to take stock, and to reflect on our lives as followers of Jesus and to prepare our hearts for renewing our Baptismal promises at Easter. The Lenten good works of ‘Praying, Fasting and Almsgiving’ help to give us the focus on what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Over the next few weeks, we will share some thoughts, reflections, and prayers on ‘Praying, Fasting and Almsgiving’. This week our theme is ‘Praying’ What do we do when we’re facing an upcoming big event, celebration, or special occasion in our lives? We prepare for it. Holy Week and Easter are “big events” in the liturgical year of the Church and in the spiritual life of a Christian. So, as Christians, we prepare spiritually for these through the forty days of Lent. This means that, during Lent, we rededicate ourselves to prayer. These forty days are a wonderful time to rethink everything and to allow ourselves to take up our crosses as Christ did. Unfortunately during these unprecedented times we are unable to physically visit the church in order to spend time in prayer with our Lord. 10 Ways to Pray Online may be a useful source of information. One of the most common traditions of Lent is to pray the Stations of the Cross. This prayer helps us reflect on the passion and death of Christ in preparation for Good Friday observance and the Easter celebration.
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Lenten Prayer for Spiritual Renewal God, heavenly Father, look upon me and hear my prayer Fill my heart with Your love and keep me faithful to the Gospel of Christ. Father, our source of life, I reach out with joy to grasp Your hand; God, heavenly Father, look upon me and hear my prayer during this holy Season of Lent. Amen |
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Second Sunday of Lent – Keys to more Powerful Prayer
A heartfelt thank you is always a great conversation starter. Like any parent, God loves to see that we have grateful hearts. But more importantly, as we take the time to praise God for all He has done in the past — the answered prayers, the impossible situations overcome, the healings and grace — our faith to believe for even greater answers to prayer grows stronger and more confident. Praise opens the gates of heaven and should always be part of our alone time with God.
The Lord’s Prayer is not the only place where Jesus role-modeled a heart of obedience and submission to the will of God over his own desires and needs. In the Garden of Gethsemane, only hours before Jesus’ crucifixion, he would once again pray, “not my will, but yours be done.” In a world where right and wrong are frequently confused and the future is so uncertain, it can be hard to know how to pray or what to ask for when difficult circumstances arise. But the one thing we can know with absolute certainty is that God’s plan for those who love him is good, and the safest place we can be is in the center of his divine will.
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Second Sunday of Lent – Keys to more Powerful Prayer
In Jesus’ time, bread was a staple — one of the most basic needs of life — and he did not hesitate to ask God to provide it. But we often hesitate to bother God with the little things we need, thinking he shouldn’t be bothered. And when the big problems come, we try everything we can to solve the problem before we think to pray. The Bible says, “You do not have because you do not ask God.” So never hesitate to ask God for what you need. Your Father in heaven delights to give you good gifts.
James 5:16 reminds us that if we want our prayers to be heard, our hearts need to be right with God and with one another
The most important key to a vibrant prayer life is to understand our spiritual authority in Christ as explained in the Scriptures. The only way to do that is to become intimately familiar with the Bible. Even a few minutes a day in the Word of God will add strength and authority to your prayers.
“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” |
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Lent is a time to think of others Times are difficult for everyone at the moment particularly the most vulnerable people in the world. During Lent perhaps we can help the Lenten Campaign of Trocaire. Trocaire is the overseas development agency of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, which facilitates. our commitment to the needs of the Third World.
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Readings for Second Sunday of Lent The First Reading from Genesis reminds us about the testing of Abraham and the absolute trust that is required of him, given that he is asked to sacrifice hos only son. The Second Reading from St. Paul links Abraham’s story with the basic truth of our Christian faith. The eternal Father, who for our sake ‘did not spare his own Son’, will not refuse anything to his people in their need. The promise made to Abraham was to be fulfilled in the victory of the Saviour’s resurrection. As he undertakes the journey towards the Cross and its glorious aftermath, he gives the chosen three among his followers a glimpse of the triumph in which he would fulfil the promise of the Law (Moses) and realise all the hopes of the prophets (Elijah). Again the Father’s love shines through: ‘This is my beloved Son – listen to him!’ (Gospel). |
Lenten Prayer Almighty and ever living God, AMEN Today’s Mass Readings |
Lots more Lenten resources here