Right rituals for the wrong reasons
Prayer
Contemporary Lectionary Prayers
Cycle B
Gospel Note:
In these sayings Jesus uses three common rituals -- almsgiving,
prayer and fasting -- as examples of rituals that can be done
publicly for the wrong reasons (e.g., human approval, self-
aggrandizement) rather than privately, in sincere devotion to
God. The verses that punctuate and frame these examples (6:1, 4,
6, 18, 19-21) suggest that there are heavenly rewards for rituals
rightly done.
Liturgical Color:
Purple or black
Suggested Hymns:
O Lord, Throughout These Forty Days
Savior, When In Dust To You
To You, Omniscient Lord Of All
Ash Wednesday
Lord, we know the routine.
Stand. Sit. Sing. Listen. Read.
We can do all of these things on cue and with
well-practiced skill.
Yes, we know the routine.
In fact, the routine is so familiar that we lose
our concentration at times and our minds wander.
Sometimes we find ourselves simply going through
the motions in worship.
We lose focus in other areas of our life too.
We want to live the Christian life but we are
easily distracted.
We are not always honest in our dealings with
others, with ourselves, or even with you.
We say things we do not really mean and we mean
things which we cannot bring ourselves to say.
We hurt others as well as ourselves.
Forgive us, Lord. We know that our own efforts
to become whole will always turn to ashes.
Cleanse us with the ashes of our repentance and
restore us to wholeness through the gift of your
forgiving love.
Amen.
In these sayings Jesus uses three common rituals -- almsgiving,
prayer and fasting -- as examples of rituals that can be done
publicly for the wrong reasons (e.g., human approval, self-
aggrandizement) rather than privately, in sincere devotion to
God. The verses that punctuate and frame these examples (6:1, 4,
6, 18, 19-21) suggest that there are heavenly rewards for rituals
rightly done.
Liturgical Color:
Purple or black
Suggested Hymns:
O Lord, Throughout These Forty Days
Savior, When In Dust To You
To You, Omniscient Lord Of All
Ash Wednesday
Lord, we know the routine.
Stand. Sit. Sing. Listen. Read.
We can do all of these things on cue and with
well-practiced skill.
Yes, we know the routine.
In fact, the routine is so familiar that we lose
our concentration at times and our minds wander.
Sometimes we find ourselves simply going through
the motions in worship.
We lose focus in other areas of our life too.
We want to live the Christian life but we are
easily distracted.
We are not always honest in our dealings with
others, with ourselves, or even with you.
We say things we do not really mean and we mean
things which we cannot bring ourselves to say.
We hurt others as well as ourselves.
Forgive us, Lord. We know that our own efforts
to become whole will always turn to ashes.
Cleanse us with the ashes of our repentance and
restore us to wholeness through the gift of your
forgiving love.
Amen.
