Daniel 3:25, 34-43
Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud:
“For your name’s sake, O Lord, do not deliver us up forever,
or make void your covenant.
Do not take away your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham, your beloved,
Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one,
To whom you promised to multiply their offspring
like the stars of heaven,
or the sand on the shore of the sea.
For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation,
brought low everywhere in the world this day
because of our sins.
We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader,
no burnt offering, sacrifice, oblation, or incense,
no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you.
But with contrite heart and humble spirit
let us be received;
As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks,
or thousands of fat lambs,
So let our sacrifice be in your presence today
as we follow you unreservedly;
for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
And now we follow you with our whole heart,
we fear you and we pray to you.
Do not let us be put to shame,
but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy.
Deliver us by your wonders,
and bring glory to your name, O Lord.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Lifting Our Prayers to the Lord
The Law of Moses very concretely specified how the ancient Israelites were to offer the best of their agricultural labors to God, how they were to offer the best materials for God’s worship. Yet, in our first reading, we hear a prayer of those in exile, who have no fruit of their labors or external offering left in their possession. The only thing left for them to offer to God is not the best of their labors, but the best of God’s labors: their own humble hearts. Perhaps this is why the priest at Mass offers these words from Daniel silently before the Offertory Prayer. In the Eucharist, Jesus makes the perfect offering of himself to the Father, and we join our hearts to Christ’s in this offering. Today, what might you lift up to the Lord in prayer for him to receive and bless?
—Thomas Croteau, SJ, is a deacon of the Central and Southern Province studying theology in Berkeley, California.
Prayer
With humble spirit and contrite heart may we be received by you, O Lord. Jesus, take our hearts with our joys and sorrows and present them with your own heart to Our Father. Amen.
—Thomas Croteau, SJ