Prayer for the First Sunday after Epiphany

O Lord God,
you always hear those who cry to you,
and you show your tender mercy to those who are distressed.
Help us to despise the emptiness of this world,
renounce its deceits,
and find in Christ our eternal and exceedingly great reward;
Grant this, for the sake of your blessed Son, our Savior.
Amen.

Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects, ed. Rev. Chas. R. Hale, New York, 1881, p. 19 #1 (Epiphany 1)

“you always hear those who cry to you” is a reference to Psalm 27:7, Psalm 34:17, Psalm 39:12, Psalm 145:19

“you show your tender mercy to those who are distressed” is a reference to 2 Samuel 24:14, 1 Chronicles 21:13, Nahum 1:7

“Help us to despise the emptiness of this world” is a reference to Colossians 2:8

“renounce its deceits” is a reference to 2 Corinthians 4:2, see also Psalm 43:1, Romans 1:29, Ephesians 4:14, Colossians 2:8, 1 Peter 2:1

“find in Christ our eternal and exceedingly great reward” is a reference to Genesis 15:1, Colossians 3:24