Lent begins today!

A Reading for Lent: Isaiah 58:6–9

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
Then you will call

and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help,

and he will say:

Here I am.

A Prayer for use during Lent:

When the world condemns us, when we condemn our selves,

when wrong is done to us, when we do wrong to our selves,

may we find the grace to forgive others, and to forgive our selves.

When we are weighed down by troubles,

when we continue to carry things that are too heavy for us to bear,

weighing our selves and others down,

may we find the grace to let go, and to go on empty handed.

When we know that we are not whole

and know that we have caused our selves and others to break,

may we find the grace to accept that which will bring healing.

When we are afraid, and seek the protection of isolation,

hugging our suffering to our selves

and causing pain to those who love us,

may we find the grace to step beyond the cage and find help.

When people we love have died, and yet we still fear our own death,

when even life seems too long or too short,

and when we cannot see the way ahead,

may we find the grace to trust, and light to lead us on.