Fifth Sunday of Lent
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen1
I love the prayer above because it captures so many aspects of this season and the cry of our hearts on a daily basis. Today on the fifth Sunday of Lent, let’s slow down and reflect on this prayer as we rest in its hopeful words.
“Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners:”
We proclaim that God alone transforms our twisted desires and affections. We recognize that salvation is the unmerited gift of His grace. We are totally dependent on his grace.
“Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise;”
God’s gift of grace gives us the ability to truly love his commands. When we understand the depths of his grace, our hearts and desires should respond to this gift by living out our faith as an outward expression of the inner transformation.
“that, among the swift and varied changes of this world,”
We acknowledge that the world around us changes, sometimes very rapidly and dramatically, and that can cause fear or anxiety, but we pray instead that:
“our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord,”
Regardless of how the world changes and how uncertain the times become—we know that true and lasting joy is only found in Jesus Christ. Our hearts can remain fixed on Him even when all else changes and seems uncertain around us. Christ grounds our hearts in what is eternal.
“who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.”
We acknowledge that Jesus is part of the trinity—that he is at work in co-operation with the Holy Spirit and the Father as one and that he is living and reigning—now and forever.
“Amen”
We say amen, meaning “so be it” or “truth”. It is not an afterthought; it is more of a signature at the end of the prayer, sealing the whole thing in the proclamation that we know God hears our prayers and that we unite our will to his will. We desire what he wants for our lives and trust that he will bring things to completion in us. 2 Let us never forget the profound statement that a simple amen is making!
Preparing Our Hearts
We rest in this prayer and in the “amen” today.