2nd Sunday of Lent

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 

Did you know that the shamrock became a symbol of the Irish holiday because St. Patrick was known to use the 3-leaf clover to explain the Holy Trinity to non-Christians? In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it would be appropriate to start the day with an old Irish Prayer: May God give you…

For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

Daily Scriptures:

Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18

5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars–if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 7 He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” 8 But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” 9 So the LORD said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” 10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. 12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates–

Psalm 27:1, 7-9, 13-14

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid?

7 Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. 8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. 9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.

13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Philippians 3:17-4:1

17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
4:1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

Luke 9:28-36 – The Transfiguration

28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

Lenten Prayers:

Let us pray
  in this season of Lent for the gift of integrity.
God our Father,
help us to listen and to hear Your Son.
Enlighten us with Your word,
so that our lives will bring You glory.
We humbly ask for light in the midst of whatever
might “shadow our vision.” 
We trust that You can give each of us
the change of heart we ask for.

Trust the LORD!
Be brave and strong and trust the LORD.
Psalm 27:14

Intercessions:

Let us give glory to God, whose kindness knows no limit.
Please fill our hearts with Your love.

God of mercy, let today be a day rich in kindness,
-a day of generosity to all we meet.
May we live not by bread only,
-but by every word falling from your lips.
Help us to do away with all rebellion,
-so that we may rejoice in your gifts of peace and love.

Closing Prayer:

Loving God,
please shine Your light on any darkness in my life.
Help me to change my heart by
guiding me by Your truth,
Help me to respond to Your generous love
which will fill my life to overflowing.

Amen.