"Father, look upon our weakness and reach out to help us with your loving power … " Opening Prayer in Mass in the time of Lent.
"Our weakness" – The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. In our struggle against evil, we need God's help. We draw down this help through prayer. There is a favorable time for prayer and conversion. This period is Lent.
"Lord, may our sharing in this mystery free us from our sins and make us worthy of your healing …" (Prayer after Holy Communion)
The Eucharist is a mysterion/sacramentum. It has the power to free us from our sins and prepare us to receive God's healing.
"Then you will cry for help and Yahweh will answer; you will call and he will say, 'I am here." (Isaiah 58: 9)
The covenant: If I share my food with the hungry, if I shelter the homeless, if I clothe the naked, if I support my own kin, then when I cry out to God in distress, he will hear my cry for help.
Lord, this is a very attractive covenant. I agree to the terms. Help me by giving me the inspiration and the power to fulfill them. And glory will be your name.
"Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me: to break unjust fetters, to undo the thongs of the yoke. To let the oppressed go free, and to break all yokes? Is it not sharing your food with the hungry, and sheltering the homeless poor; if you see someone lacking clothes, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own kin?" (Isaiah 58: 6-7)
What does God want?
God is our source of power and inspiration. God is almighty, all-wise and all-loving. He can intervene directly in the life of man. Nevertheless, God wants man to share in his benevolent work of creation and redemption.
"The Lord heard me and took pity on me. He came to my help." (Psalm 30: 11)
Lent is the season of spiritual abundance. It is the springtime of God's favor. We are assured of God's attentive ear during the season of Lent.
"Master! Master! We are lost!' Then he woke up and rebuked the wind and the rough water; and they subsided and it was calm again." (Luke 9: 24)
In any type of danger, cry out to Jesus.
"When I cry to the Lord, he hears my voice and saves me from the foes who threaten me." (Psalm 55: 17)
"I am offering you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live, in the love of Yahweh your God, obeying his voice, holding fast to him; for in this your life consists, and on this depends the length of time that you stay in the country which Yahweh swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that he would give them." (Deuteronomy 30: 19-20)
Father, I choose life. I love you my Father. I will obey your voice and hold fast to you.
Father, bless me and prosper the work of my hands. Amen.
