MORNING and Evening Prayer
of the Sisters of Mercy


easter
SEVENTH WEEK MONDAY
Morning Prayer


READING
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
Our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant.

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who shepherds the people and sets them free.

God raises from David’s house
a child with power to save.
Through the holy prophets
God promised in ages past
to save us from enemy hands,
from the grip of all who hate us.

The Lord favored our ancestors
recalling the sacred covenant,
the pledge to our ancestor Abraham,
to free us from our enemies,
so we might worship without fear
and be holy and just all our days.

And you child, will be called
Prophet of the Most High,
for you will come to prepare
a pathway for the Lord
by teaching the people salvation
through forgiveness of their sin.

Out of God’s deepest mercy
a dawn will come from on high,
light for those shadowed by death,
a guide for our feet on the way to peace.



INTERCESSIONS
Loving God, you have called us to be ministers of the Good News of salvation. You have poured forth your Spirit upon us and strengthened us to be witnesses to your love and mercy. Complete the work you have begun in us, O God.

For all called to the ministry of the word, for teachers, preachers and writers:
~May they pass on to others the richness of your revelation.
For all called to the ministry of the table, for presbyters, Eucharistic ministers and liturgists:
~May they animate our worship and nourish your people with the food that sustains.
For all called to the ministry of leadership, for bishops, leaders of religious communities and lay ministers:
~May they have the gifts of discernment and courage in the discharge of their duties.
For all called to the ministry of social justice, for political advocates, social workers and community organizers:
~May they not grow weary in their efforts to build a better world.
For all called to the ministry of healing, for doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, counselors and therapists:
~May they convey the gentle, compassionate love of Jesus to those who are sick or wounded.



THE LORD’S PRAYER


PRAYER
Spirit of God, come and transform us. Stir up in us an ardent desire to do your will and bring about the reign of mercy and justice. Holy Spirit, praying unceasingly within us, give our tongues the words to praise you, our hearts the fervor to love you. Sanctify the work of our lives that all our acts may give glory to God, today and always. Abide with us that we may abide with you. This we ask in faith. Amen.


easter
SEVENTH WEEK MONDAY
EVENING PRAYER

READING
Jeremiah 23:16-18, 21-22
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They keep saying to those who despise the word of the Lord, “It shall be well with you”; and to all who stubbornly follow their own stubborn hearts, they say, “No calamity shall come upon you.” For who has stood in the council of the Lord so as to see and to hear his word? Who has given heed to his word so as to proclaim it? I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

CANTICLE OF MARY
If you would seek life, listen to the counsel of our God.

I acclaim the greatness of the Lord, I delight in God my savior, who regarded my humble state. Truly from this day on All ages will call me blest. For God, wonderful in power, has used that strength for me. Holy the name of the Lord! Whose mercy embraces the faithful, one generation to the next. The mighty arm of God scatters the proud in their conceit, Pulls tyrants from their thrones, and raises up the humble. The Lord fills the starving And lets the rich go hungry. God rescues lowly Israel, recalling the promise of mercy, the promise made to our ancestors, to Abraham’s heirs for ever.


INTERCESSIONS
Spirit of Counsel, lift from our hearts the cloud of uncertainty. Fix our eyes upon Jesus that we may choose what gives life. We come to you asking that you transform us and our world.

Give us listening hearts:
~Teach us to hold sacred each person’s story, each person’s dream.
Give us compassionate hearts:
~Use our hands to ease the pain of others.
 Give us vision to see the invisible poor among us:
~Help us never to be blind to another’s need.
Give us fluent tongues to name injustice:
~Strengthen us to speak the challenging message of the gospel.
Give us energy to not grow weary of doing good:
~Accept our lives, given in service of your people.


THE LORD’S PRAYER

PRAYER
Spirit of God, come and transform us. Stir up in us an ardent desire to do your will and bring about the reign of mercy and justice. Holy Spirit, praying unceasingly within us, give our tongues the words to praise you, our hearts the fervor to love you. Sanctify the work of our lives that all our acts may give glory to God, today and always. Abide with us that we may abide with you. This we ask in faith. Amen.