21 March 2020

Praying through Lent with
USPG (25): 21 March 2020

‘O earth, cover not my blood’ (Job 16: 18) … the verse continues, ‘let my outcry find no resting-place’ … a prophetic cry in the Jewish Museum in Venice (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Patrick Comerford

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. During Lent this year, I am using the USPG Prayer Diary, Pray with the World Church, for my morning prayers and reflections. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the end of the Holocaust, so I am illustrating my reflections each morning with images that emphasise this theme.

USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) is the Anglican mission agency that partners churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential, and champion justice. It was founded in 1701.

This week (15-21 March), the USPG Prayer Diary is focussing on the theme of ‘Standing with Indigenous Communities in The Philippines.’ This theme was introduced in the Prayer Diary on Sunday.

Saturday 21 March 2020 (International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination):

Lord, help us to see each other as equals, and to do all we can to end all forms of racial discrimination.

Readings: Hosea 5: 15 to 6: 6; Psalm 51: 1-2, 17-20; Luke 18: 9-14.

The Collect of the Day:

Merciful Lord,
Grant your people grace to withstand the temptations
of the world, the flesh and the devil
and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Lenten Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent:
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Continued tomorrow

Yesterday’s reflection

No comments: