Virtual Lenten Mission

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JMJ

Join us in praying scripture every day of this Virtual Diocesan Mission individually or as a family.

Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?

Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.

But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.

If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’

All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides.

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know well the plans I have in mind for you … plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.

Isaiah 43:1-7

But now, thus says the LORD,
who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name: you are mine.

When you pass through waters, I will be with you;
through rivers, you shall not be swept away.
When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned,
nor will flames consume you.

For I, the LORD, am your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your savior.
I give Egypt as ransom for you,
Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.

Because you are precious in my eyes
and honored, and I love you,
I give people in return for you
and nations in exchange for your life.a

Fear not, for I am with you;
from the east I will bring back your offspring,
from the west I will gather you.

I will say to the north: Give them up!
and to the south: Do not hold them!
Bring back my sons from afar,
and my daughters from the ends of the earth:b

All who are called by my name
I created for my glory;
I formed them, made them.

Hebrews 11:1

Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.

Mark 1:9-11

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.

On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.

And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Matthew 17:20

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

A format to follow each day for praying with Scripture:

  1. Find a spot that is conducive to prayer. A place that is quiet. Consider lighting a candle or praying in front of the crucifix or a holy image.
  2. Pray by calling upon the Holy Spirit that God would speak to you through His word.An example (you could say this):
    In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
    God our Father, be with us in this time as we open your Word. Please speak to our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. Give us the grace to hear what you have to say and the faith and courage to do it. Please transform our hearts as we encounter you the living God. We ask all of this in Jesus name. Amen.
  3. Read the scripture. (You can read out loud of you are praying as a family/group.)
    Ask yourself: What is God saying? What is God saying to me/us?
    Let everyone in the group speak about what it is saying to them.
    Go slow. Do not be afraid of silence. Things grow in silence!
  4. When you have all had a chance to share. Say a closing prayer trying to use similar words to what God has just revealed through the scripture you read.
  5. This whole process can take 8-15 minutes.
  6. Lastly, consider writing down the what struck you and put it in a place where you will see it. Think about it throughout the day.