Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
your only Son was lifted up
that he might draw the whole world to himself.
May we walk this day in the way of the cross
and always be ready to share its weight,
declaring your love for all the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 41

Refrain: O Lord, be merciful to me.

1 Blessed are those who consider the poor and needy; •
the Lord will deliver them in the time of trouble.

2 The Lord preserves them and restores their life,
that they may be happy in the land; •
he will not hand them over to the will of their enemies.

3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed; •
their sickness, Lord, you will remove.

4 And so I said, ‘Lord, be merciful to me; •
heal me, for I have sinned against you.’ R

5 My enemies speak evil about me, •
asking when I shall die and my name perish.

6 If they come to see me, they utter empty words; •
their heart gathers mischief;
when they go out, they tell it abroad.

7 All my enemies whisper together against me, •
against me they devise evil,

8 Saying that a deadly thing has laid hold on me, •
and that I will not rise again from where I lie.

9 Even my bosom friend, whom I trusted,
who ate of my bread, •
has lifted up his heel against me. R

10 But you, O Lord, be merciful to me •
and raise me up, that I may reward them.

11 By this I know that you favour me, •
that my enemy does not triumph over me.

12 Because of my integrity you uphold me •
and will set me before your face for ever.

13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, •
from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

Refrain: O Lord, be merciful to me.

God our deliverer,
raise up the poor and comfort the betrayed,
through the one who for our sakes became poor
and whose betrayal brought our salvation,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Almighty and everlasting God,
who in your tender love towards the human race
      sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
to take upon him our flesh
and to suffer death upon the cross:
grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility,
and also be made partakers of his resurrection;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.