Wednesday, March 5, 2014

An Ash Wednesday Prayer (After reading Isaiah 58:1-12)

Love
surrounds and overwhelms us.
It lies deeper within us than we are, as yet,
brave and strong enough to explore,
and further beyond us than we are, as yet,
able to imagine.
The One who is Relationship and Solitude,
the One who is Journey and Rest,
the One who is Spirit and Earth,
the One who is Death and Resurrection,
this One, whom we and so many others call
God,
creates and abides with all that is seen and unseen
because this Holy One can do no less
and still be
Love.

      God of grace and wholeness, we thank and praise you for the gift of life. Because of your love, and because you are Love we understand why your prophets become impatient with the empty actions and words we often offer as worship. They recall us to holiness, and to relationship with you.
      Help us, O God, to include in our Lenten observance the loosening of the bonds of injustice in this church and community, the freeing of the oppressed in this church and community, and the breaking of burdensome yokes that keep brothers and sisters throughout your creation from experiencing your presence and living into the fullness of your image within them.
      Rebuild us, O God. Repair our foundations, and restore us so that we may love you, our neighbors and ourselves with the fullness of our hearts, souls, minds and strength.
      Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

No comments:

Post a Comment