We Begin our Journey of Lent

O Lord
open my eyes
that I may see the needs of others;
open my ears
that I may hear their cries;
open my heart
so that they need not be without succor;

Let me not be afraid to defend the weak
because of the anger of the strong,
nor afraid to defend the poor
because of the anger of the rich.

Show me where love and hope
and faith are needed,
and use me to bring them to those places.

And so open my eyes and my ears
that I may this coming day be able
to do some work of peace for thee.
Amen.

— Alan Paton
in Life Prayers from Around the World
edited by Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon