O Lord:
During the season of Lent, as we prepared for this moment when we contemplate your Passion, our hearts were filled with repentance. Indeed, these ancient words of prayer, in one form or another, echoed within us: ‘Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. But give, rather, the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to your servant. And grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brothers and sisters.’
In these days of Holy Week, when we now commemorate your death on the cross and burial in the tomb, and the mystery of your salvation, our hearts burst with these prophetic words: ‘The dead shall arise. Those in the tombs shall awake. All those on earth shall greatly rejoice.’
And as we anticipate our celebration of your Resurrection, we know our hearts will be filled with these joyous words of song: ‘Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!’
May our celebration of Easter be filled with love, joy, and praise! Blessed are you, O our God, and to you do we give glory!
Amen
-Dr. Tony Kireopoulos, Associate General Secretary, Faith and Order and Interfaith Relations