At the beginning of the Eucharistic Prayer at each Mass is a prayer called the Preface. This prayer begins with a "dialogue" between the priest and the assembly. You will recognize it as:

Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
People: It is right and just.

During the special liturgical seasons, such as Advent and Lent, the Preface is different each week and usually relates to the Gospel. This Lent might be a good time to listen closely to the Preface and the lesson it gives us.

Second Sunday of Lent Preface

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
For after he had told the disciples of his coming Death,
on the holy mountain he manifested to them his glory,
to show, even by the testimony of the law and the prophets,
that the Passion leads to the glory of the Resurrection.
And so, with the Powers of heaven,
we worship you constantly on earth,
and before your majesty
without end we acclaim ...

Look for the Preface of each Sunday in Lent in the coming weeks in this space. The words might be used for your daily Lenten meditation.