Ever Merciful: Lent Daybook 2
Welcome to a Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayerful repentance.
Is this your first time to practice Lent? Here's a simple introduction.
Look: The father embraces his prodigal son, Reconciliation window, St. John's Church, Tralee, IR, Tom Denny - Source
Listen*: Come Thou Fount / I Will Arise - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube
Read**: Psalm 37; Habakkuk 3; Philippians 3:12-21; John 17:1-8
Excerpts:
Look: The father embraces his prodigal son, Reconciliation window, St. John's Church, Tralee, IR, Tom Denny - Source
Listen*: Come Thou Fount / I Will Arise - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube
Read**: Psalm 37; Habakkuk 3; Philippians 3:12-21; John 17:1-8
Excerpts:
Pray: from Philippians 3:13b-14, NIV - Source
"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Dear Father in heaven, living source of all that is eternal in us, we come to you and plead with you to strengthen the gifts you have given us. Grant us the light of life in which we can walk in spite of the many burdens and uncertainties of our earthly life. Protect us from deception and disappointment. Strengthen our hope for your steadfast, firm, and eternal rule in us, in many others, and finally in all people. Amen.
Do: Sit in silence for 5 minutes praying only the “Jesus Prayer”.
As you enter this time of prayer, find a comfortable position. Quiet yourself. Don’t worry about inner and outer distractions. Notice them and let them point you toward the words of the Jesus Prayer. For example, “Oh, there’s my noisy neighbor. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner.” Or, in response to galloping thoughts about an upcoming event, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner.” Even, “My neck and wrists are sore from bending over a screen too long today. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner.”
If you’re able to sit quietly without distraction, notice your breathing and occasionally breathe in “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God” and exhale “have mercy on me the sinner”.
The Jesus Prayer is one of the best-known traditions within Orthodoxy.
Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστέ,
Υἱὲ Θεοῦ,
ἐλέησόν με τὸν ἁμαρτωλό
Its words say simply:
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God,
have mercy on me the sinner.
The Jesus Prayer is a short, simple prayer that has been widely used, taught and discussed throughout the history of Eastern Christianity.
In order to enter more deeply into the life of prayer and to come to grips with the Scriptural challenge to pray unceasingly, the Orthodox tradition offers the Jesus Prayer – which is called the “Prayer of the Heart” (Καρδιακή Προσευχή) by some Church Fathers – as a means of concentration and as a focal point for our inner life.
The exact words of the prayer have varied from the most simple possible involving the name “Jesus,” or “Lord have mercy,” to the more common extended form: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (from Spirituality: an introduction to the Jesus Prayer by Patrick Comerford)
You might also enjoy: Our Favorite Lent Devotionals & Online Resources
* Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify: Lent: Worship & Prayer 2020. Add it to your account by clicking ‘Save to my library'.
** Sunday Scripture readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (Year A). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the Book of Common Prayer (Year 2).