Loving Father,
So many times I turn away from you
and always you welcome me back.
Your mercy and love gives me confidence
Thank you for the invitation to share, fast and pray
so that you can form a new heart within me.

Free your Church from the sins of this world
and protect us from evil we see
and the evil we prefer to ignore.
We need your guidance, Lord
for we cannot do this alone.
Only with your help can we be saved.

Thank you for your desire to save us.

Thank you for this reminder of your love
and your call that we be more patient,
gentle and compassionate with others.

Here in the middle of Lent,
I turn to you to beg for your help.

Please soften my heart.
Help me to let go of judging others.

May I bend my life and will toward you
so that I might accept your teaching and guidance.
I am so grateful for your support in my life,
now and in the eternal life you are preparing for me.

I hear your invitation, “Come back to me”
and I am filled with such a longing to return to you.
Show me the way to return.
Lead me this day in good works I do in your name
and send your Spirit to guide me and strengthen my faith.

I feel my heart overflowing with your tenderness.
I sense your loving touch deep within my soul.
I ask for your help in my weakness
that I might be faithful to your word.
I know that with help
I can open my heart more fully
to the mysteries of the suffering and death of your son.

Help me to be humble in this journey
and remember that any mercy and compassion I feel
is a gift from you.
I await the joy of Easter with new longing and patience.

Adapted from Creighton University’s “Daily Lenten Prayers”

(For the 3rd Sunday in Lent, 2025)