The Kindness and Goodness of Jesus
Prayer for the Fourth Sunday in Lent
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
From The Book of Common Prayer
I bless you, and give thanks to you, O Lord Jesus Christ, Power of God, and Wisdom of the Father, for the glorious signs and mighty wonders by which you did shed forth upon the world your glorious light, and did make known your truth even to those sitting in darkness, openly showing yourself, by infallible proofs and incontestable miracles, to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who had come into the world to be the Savior of mankind.
I praise and glorify you for your boundless love, in that you did show yourself to all men so kind and so good that not only the poor and the sick, but even the vilest sinners, were not afraid to come to you. And they were allowed to freely speak to you and to touch you.
Blessed be those eyes, shining more brightly than the sun, which you did turn, full of pity, upon the crowds who came to you, to whom you were so gracious and so compassionate that you would in no wise send them away hungry to their homes. Rather you did, not just once but twice, by working a great miracle, more than satisfy many thousands with a few loaves and some small fish.
Blessed be those adorable hands which you did freely lay upon so many sick folk, healing at once, by the touch of your most sacred body, all their diseases and infirmities.
Blessed be those all-beautiful feet, so often wearied and smeared with dust, for the salvation of souls, which you did use when going to and fro upon the earth, sowing plenteously the Word of Life. You proclaimed it to all men — now upon the mountain side, now upon the open plain — working moreover, in proof of your holy teaching, frequent miracles, causing men sick of the palsy to go upon their feet, giving sight to the blind, cleansing lepers, casting out demons, and by the power of God, bringing back the dead to life.
O adorable Jesus, Light of the world, Salvation to your people Israel, our Life, our Might, and our Glory: Turn your eye of mercy, I ask you, upon my infirmity and drive out from my heart every evil lust. Give sight to the eyes of my soul that I may see the heavenly light. Open the ears of my understanding that I may hear, O my God, what you have to say to me. Raise me from my bed of sloth that I may go on from strength to strength. Direct my feet in the path of your commandments and give power to my withered hands for earnest work in your service. Cleanse me from the leprosy of the flesh. Cure me of the madness of anger. Subdue in me the swelling of pride. Pluck out from my heart the sting of envy. Keep me from excess in eating. Drive far from me the plague of covetousness and crush within me all impure desires.
These most grievous afflictions of an ailing soul, these secret impulses of the world and the devil can be healed by you alone, O Lord. They can be removed in no way than by your resistless Word. None can heal these spiritual wounds, none can work wonders of holiness in the inner life but you alone, O almighty God, who speaks and it is done, who commands and straightway your order takes effect.
Speak but one word only and my soul shall be healed.
Thomas a Kempis from Prayers and Meditations on the Life of Christ
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471) was born in Kempen, Germany. He traveled to Deventer, Netherlands to attend a famous Latin school there. While in school, Thomas encountered the Brethren of the Common Life. He ultimately entered the monastery of this group in 1406 and was a part of them for the remainder of his life. He was the author of the classic devotional work, The Imitation of Christ. He also produced a book of sermons entitled, Prayers and Meditations on the Life of Christ. The above excerpt is from this rare work.