Opening
Lord, open my lips. And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
Hymn
Speak, Lord — the house is quiet still. Your servant waits to hear. Before the day becomes a crowd, Come near, and make us hear. Open the Scripture of our hearts; Let one true word remain. Then send us into what must come, Still listening for your name.
Original – Prayer on Fire
Psalm I
Antiphon
In the stillness, kindle understanding and love.
Psalm 98 (97):1–3
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has performed wonders. His right hand and his holy arm have accomplished salvation. The Lord has made known his salvation. He has revealed his justice in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon
In the stillness, kindle understanding and love.
Psalm II
Antiphon
Your word is light for the path I cannot yet see.
Psalm 103 (102):1–4
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Psalm
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and bless his holy name, all that is within me. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his recompenses. He forgives all your iniquities. He heals all your infirmities. He redeems your life from destruction. He crowns you with mercy and compassion.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon
Your word is light for the path I cannot yet see.
Silence
Hold the psalm a little longer.
First Reading
Zechariah 9:9–10
Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain)
Rejoice well, daughter of Zion, shout for joy, daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, your King will come to you: the Just One, the Savior. He is poor and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt, the son of a donkey. And I will scatter the four-horse chariot out of Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be destroyed. And he will speak peace to the Gentiles, and his power will be from sea to sea, and from the rivers even to the end of the earth.
Responsory
In the morning I lift my prayer to you. And I wait upon your word. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Second Reading
From a letter of St. Polycarp to the Philippians
public domain
I have greatly rejoiced with you in our Lord Jesus Christ, because you have followed the example of true love, and have accompanied, as became you, those who were bound in chains, the fitting ornaments of saints, and which are indeed the diadems of the true elect of God and our Lord. And because the strong root of your faith, spoken of in days long gone by, endures even until now, and brings forth fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sins suffered even unto death, but “whom God raised from the dead, having loosed the pains of Hades.” In whom, though now you see Him not, you believe, and believing, rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; into which joy many desire to enter, knowing that “by grace you are saved, not of works,” but by the will of God through Jesus Christ. “Wherefore, girding up your loins, serve the Lord in fear” and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and “believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave him glory” and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. His blood will God require of those who do not believe in Him.
Intercessions
Meet those who come thirsty and still feel dry.
R. Lord, have mercy.
For seekers who do not yet know your Name.
R. Lord, have mercy.
For the baptized who have grown dull of hearing.
R. Lord, have mercy.
For us, that we may stay until the Word becomes prayer.
R. Lord, have mercy.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Closing prayer
Father, receive our small yes. We offer the hours we have not yet lived. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.