O Lord, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth: Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee: Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

-- Collect for Quinquagesima Sunday, Book of Common Prayer (1662)

As we prepare to enter the Lenten season tomorrow, we enter a time of good works, of contrition, of slowing down, of listening anew to the Word of God. May we always keep before us this simple prayer as a reminder for the true motivation of these things: love. Without love, our works are ultimately self-seeking and self-centered.

Let us not do any of these works for the adoration of others or in misguided efforts to gain the approval of God. Instead, let us do good works out of love for our neighbor. Let us spend a season of repentance out of love for God and the undeserved mercy he has showered upon us in Christ. In all these and more, let this twin love be our motivation.

Lord have mercy. Amen.

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