MORNING PRAYER

22 JANUARY 2024

Good morning Sister, teachers, employees and all of my friends. Let us start our
activities today by praying together.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Morning prayer

God our Father, I come before you this morning, I thank you for the gift of my
life, the life of my family members and that of my friends.

Thank you Lord for directing, protecting, guiding, guarding, governing and taking
care of me throughout the night. I have woken up because of your abundant
Mercies and Grace.

Merciful God, this morning, I submit myself into your mighty hands, may you fill
me with your wisdom and grant me good health as I undertake my every deed
today.

God, now we would like to listen to Your Words, open our heart and mind so
that I can understand Your Words and implement them in our daily life.

READING THE HOLY BIBLE

R : The Lord is with you

V : And also be with you
R : This is the Gospel of the Lord according to ... (Mathew/Mark/Luke/John)
V : Praise to you Lord.
Gospel – Mark 3:22-30
22
The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,”
and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”
23
Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out
Satan?
24
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25
And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
26
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end
of him.
27
But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up
the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
28
Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them.
29
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty
of an everlasting sin.”
30
For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
R: These are the words of the Lord.
V : Thanks be to God.

Today’s Bible Verse of the Day Reflections

Now this is a frightening thought. Normally when speaking of sin we quickly focus on the
mercy of God and His abundant desire to forgive.

But in this passage, we have something that could at first appear quite contrary to the
mercy of God. Is it true that some sins will not be forgiven by God? The answer is yes and
no.

This passage reveals to us that there is a particular sin, the sin against the Holy Spirit, that
will not be forgiven.

What is this sin? Why would it not be forgiven? Traditionally, this sin has been seen as a sin
of final impenitence, or presumption.

It’s the situation where someone sins gravely and then either fails to have any sorrow for
that sin or simply presumes God’s mercy without truly repenting. Either way, this lack of
sorrow closes the door to God’s mercy.

Of course, it must also be said that whenever a person’s heart is changed, and he/she grows
in sincere sorrow for sin, God is there to immediately welcome that person back with open
arms. God would never turn away from someone who humbly returns to Him with a
contrite heart.

Reflect, today, upon the abundant mercy of God, but also reflect upon your own duty to
foster true sorrow for sin.

Do your part and you will be assured that God will lavish His mercy and forgiveness upon
you. There is no sin too great when we have hearts that are humble and contrite.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. I do
acknowledge my sin and I am sorry for it.
Help me, dear Lord, to continually foster within my heart a greater sorrow for sin and a
deeper trust in Your divine mercy. I thank You for Your perfect and unfailing love for me and
for all. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
Birthday prayer for a friend
Lord, we feel so privileged to know _______, _________, and___________(name).
Thank you for all that (he/she/they) is/are and is/are becoming in You.
Thank you that you knit (him/her/them) together in their mother's womb, and that you have
created _______ (name/him/her/them) as unique, special and deeply loved.
We ask now that you would bless this day, may it be a day to remember and cherish. May -
_______(name/he/she/they) enjoy it to the full, and reveal in the excitement! And may this
be a foretaste of their year to come - one that is abundant in happiness, overflowing in
blessings, and great in adventure. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

St. Francis’ prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Divine Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life. Amen

Our Father
Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come ;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

R. Seat of wisdom,
V. Pray for us.

R. Saint FRANCIS OF ASSISSI,

V. Pray for us.

R. Bless us, O Virgin Mary,

V. With thy Holy Child.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen