Psalm 40:5-10
5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you.
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
they would be more than can be counted.
6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Here I am;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O LORD.
10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
- Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
- Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
- As you sit with Mary, the mother of God, on this day of Annunciation of the Lord, I wonder, how are you delighting in the will of God today?
- What wondrous deeds and invitations from God do you delight in sharing?
- Check in with your body and notice if there is any tension or an obstacle that is keeping you from being present to the Holy One.
- Notice in this tension your desire for healing and wholeness.
- What great news of deliverance comes to mind as you invite the Holy into this place.
- Invite the Wounded Healer to free you and release you from pain today.
- Notice that Mary is still sitting with you. I wonder if Mary has a story of glad news of deliverance to tell you today.
- What is Mary’s invitation for you today?
- How will you respond to Holy Mystery?
- Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
- Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Friday, March 25, 2022, the Annunciation of the Lord (Year C)
Isaiah 7:10-14
Psalm 40:5-10
Hebrews 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-38
If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings. (c) 2022 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD
Rev. Dr. Lil Smith is a trained spiritual director, supervisor, and co-founder of Retreat House Spirituality Center in Richardson, TX. Upon completion of her spiritual direction certification, Lil began Praying the Lectionary in 2011 as a spiritual practice for her morning prayer time. Instead of reading about someone else’s experience of God, it was important for her to create a prayer practice that would encourage felt sense experience of the Holy emerging from within. It dawned on her others might enjoy the practice, as well. So she began to share them on this site.
As you experience the practice of Praying the Lectionary, adopt a loving, caring, and compassionate stance. If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do. Keep wrestling. God is faithful to your journey. Love and hope will emerge. Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.