Readings and prayers from the Book of Daniel occur a few times in the Lenten liturgy. Today's reading is from a section of Daniel's prophecy about the "70 weeks". He says (chapter 9:2) he was studying scripture and the prophecy of Jeremiah, when he turned his face to the Lord to pray and to plead. Our reading is the start of his prayer. Like other prayers that appear in the bible, it has echoes of other parts of scripture too. Daniel's prayer is a confession of faith, a recognition of God's greatness and love, an admission of sin and sinfulness on behalf of himself and of all God's people, an acceptance of shame before the Lord, and a plea for the mercy and pardon that God alone can give.

In this time of Lent as we listen to the scriptures and study them, let our reading or hearing lead, like Daniel's, into prayer from the heart to Him who speaks in and through these words. The words of Daniel's prayer are simple and direct and very suitable for anyone's personal use and not only during Lent. For we can all truthfully say that we have sinned, that we have not really listened to God's servants who have spoken to us in His name, in the scriptures and in our community of Christian faith.