These reflections are intended to help you pray through the day – morning, noon hour, and evening – as you enter into Lent. Carve out a few minutes for each of these reflections if you are able.

Morning

Song for Reflection – “Give Me Jesus”

In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus 
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

Scripture – Mark 1:35

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

Invitation to Prayer

In the darkness (before daybreak) and in isolation Jesus came to prayer. Sit silently, and remember that you are in the presence of God. Remain in that stillness for a few moments, and then pray:

Now,
O Lord,
calm me into a quietness,
that heals,
and listens,
and molds my longings,
and passions,
my wounds,
and wonderings
into a more holy and human shape.
Amen.

Noon

Consider going for a short walk and listening to this noon time reflection with your headphones in, or simply find a quiet place and allow the audio below to help you reflect and pray.

Evening

As you sit down to begin this time of evening prayer, light a candle and have it nearby.

Scripture – Mark 8:34-37

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

Invitation to Prayer

Prayerfully consider Jesus’ questions above as he ask them directly to you: What good is it to get everything, but lose your soul? Is anything of greater value than true life? Take a few moments to answer Jesus’ questions in prayer and then read the following from the Psalms.

Scripture Reading – Psalm 90:1-6, 12

Lord, through all the generations
    you have been our home!
Before the mountains were born,
    before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
    from beginning to end, you are God.
You turn people back to dust, saying,
    “Return to dust, you mortals!”
For you, a thousand years are as a passing day,
    as brief as a few night hours.
You sweep people away like dreams that disappear.
    They are like grass that springs up in the morning.
In the morning it blooms and flourishes,
    but by evening it is dry and withered.

At this point, extinguish the candle.

Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
    so that we may grow in wisdom.

Song for Reflection – “I Surrender All”

Remember You are Dust

Grab the wick of the extinguished candle between your finger and thumb and gather some of the ash or soot on your fingertips. Hear these words as a reminder of the frailty of life and the need for God’s salvation.

Remember that you are dust
And to dust you shall return;
Repent and believe the Gospel.