Today's prayer suggestion is from Daily Prayer for All Seasons, an alternative prayer book with seasonal prayers for all the monastic 'hours' of the day. This one is for mid-morning, or Terce. Each 'hour' has a focus and for Terce that is Wisdom.
Daily Prayer for All Seasons/ Lent/Wisdom/Terce
Having asked for direction and guidance, we pray now to equip ourselves properly for the journey ahead.
Opening Know the grace of God
and live joyfully this day of salvation.
Prayer
God of heaven and earth, your wisdom stretches around the world, ordering all things for good: Free us from anxiety and understand us like a friend, that we might share the good news of your friendship with all people; through the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Praise
Come, heavenly comforter
Come, heavenly comforter and spirit of truth,
Blowing everywhere and filling all things.
Treasury of blessings and giver of life:
Come and abide in us;
cleanse us from every impurity,
and, in your great goodness, save us.
Scripture (Mark 8:27-9:1)
27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ 28And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ 29He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ 30And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’
34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ 9:1And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.’
Meditation
We can all please God. We must only choose well. Many go abroad to study, pursuing knowledge far from home, but the kingdom of God is always here and now, wherever you are, within you. Precisely because the kingdom is within, and God is our friend, our salvation only requires that we be willing. (Athanasius of Alexandria)
In what ways are we willing to accept the wisdom of God’s guidance today?
Prayer
Christ in my mind
that i may see what is true;
Christ in my mouth
that i may speak with power;
Christ in my heart
that i may learn to be loved;
Christ in my hands
that i may work with tenderness;
Christ in my soul
that i may know my desire;
Christ in my arms
that i may reach without fear;
Christ in my face
that i may shine with God.
Here, the people may add intercessions or thanksgivings.
Lord’s Prayer
Prayer
Wisdom is brilliant; she never fades. By those who love her, she is easily seen; by those who seek her, she is readily found. She is a breath of God’s power, an image of God’s goodness, the eternal light and mirror of God’s glory. Now let Wisdom do all things, renew all things, and pass into holy souls everywhere to make them friends of God. Amen.
Going Out
Know the grace of God and live joyfully this day of salvation.
