During Lent, we reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and what it means for our lives. The sacrifice of Jesus is a reminder that we are all loved by God, and that we too, are called to live our lives for others as humble servants.
Day 1 – Head
On the first day of our prayer we will be reflecting on The Word of God to help us to understand our theme.
We begin our prayer this morning with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Sacrifice goes beyond simple giving. It requires transformation. Paul urges us to offer ourselves fully to God:
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament, Sacrifice was used to offer up something to God in order to gain forgiveness or some special request, or just as simple worship.
Often, in the early times of the People of Israel, sacrifices were prescribed for very specific reasons and used at special occasion, such as when Moses received the Ten Commandments:
Moses rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar.
Exodus 24:4-6 ESV
Sacrifice, then did have a lot of significance in the early history of the Hebrews, but even long before Jesus was born, they began to change the way they saw sacrifice:
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Psalm 51:16-17
Therefore, we must endeavour to offer ourselves, as St Paul tells us, as a “living sacrifice”, we must offer ourselves, but not physically on any altar; we must offer our lives and our hearts to God.
Lets us Pray:
Living God,
Help us to offer ourselves as a pleasing sacrifice to you.
Guide us to know how we should change our hearts and minds to draw closer to you.
We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, who made the ultimate sacrifice for us.
Amen
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Day 2 – Heart
On the second day of the week we focus on our hearts. How can the scripture that we looked at previously impact our lives, and the lives of others? What themes can we draw from the scripture?
We begin our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
There is a difference between offering and sacrifice. Giving something away is an offering, but a sacrifice requires a real change.
In the Old Testament, a sacrifice wasn’t just giving God one of your sheep—it was burning it as an offering. Transformation is key to true sacrifice.
God Himself sacrificed for us. Jesus did not just teach or perform miracles and give us great teachings; He gave His life. The ultimate sacrifice is love:
Greater love has no one than this,
that someone lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
What does true sacrifice look like in your life?
Are there things you hold on to that prevent you from following God more fully?
We end our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Day 3 – Hands
On the final day of the week we try to put into action the things we have learnt and reflected on previously in the week, hence the hands link!
We begin our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Consider what you can truly sacrifice to God—not just something to give up, but something to transform. Is there a habit, attitude, or behaviour that needs to change?
Pray about what God is calling you to surrender to Him, and ask for the grace to be transformed.
What step can you take today to offer yourself more fully to God?
Let us pray:
Living God,
Who made the heavens and the earth, and all they contain.
We offer our lives to You.
Help us to know you more, and teach us what we must do to draw closer to you.
Grant us the courage and grace to live our lives in accordance with you.
Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, we ask you to hear our prayer.
Amen.
We end our prayer with the Sign of the Cross. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
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