Day 12 of Lent – Tuesday

Daily Scriptures

Isaiah 1:10, 16-20

10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

16 wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, 17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. 18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Psalm 25:4-7

4 Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow. 5 Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. 6 Remember, O LORD, your unfailing love and compassion, which you have shown from long ages past. 7 Forgive the rebellious sins of my youth; look instead through the eyes of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O LORD.

Matthew 23:1-12

1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’ 8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Lenten Prayers:

Lord,
watch over us,
and guide us with your unfailing love.
Protect us from what could harm us
and lead us on the right path for us to follow.
Help us always,
for without you we are sure to fail.
 
Lead me by your truth and teach me,
for you are the God who saves me.
All day long I put my hope in you.
Psalm 25:5

Intercessions:

God the Father has given us His only Son, the Word made man,
to be our food and our life. Let us thank Him and pray:
May the Word of Christ dwell among us in all its richness.

Help us in this Lenten season to listen more frequently to Your Word,
-that we may celebrate Easter with greater love for Christ,
-that we may encourage those in doubt and error to follow what is true and good.
Enable us to understand more deeply the mystery of Christ,
-that our lives may reveal Him more effectively.
Purify and renew our hearts during this season,
-that we may be a greater witness to you.

Closing Prayer:

God in heaven and in my life,
guide me and protect me.
When I mistakenly believe I can “handle life” by myself
it always end in failure.
Lead me with your love away from harm
and guide me on the right path.
May your Spirit inspire me
and make me an instrument of your love and guidance.
Thank you for your care for me.

Amen.