Sundays after Epiphany
Prayer
Pastoral Prayers For All Seasons
Object:
Eternal Spirit, sometimes it is nearly impossible to believe that you are interested in each one of us. If we were the president, or the vice-president of our country, a representative, a senator, a chairperson on the board of a huge company, the pope, a bishop, or an executive of a denomination -- then likely you would make time for us. But you know and we know the vast majority of us are important only to a relatively small circle of friends and family. The media doesn't hunt us down to get our opinion on the latest social issue, or what we intend to do in the face of some international event. What we wear will not start a fashion trend. What we do won't make the headlines in the tabloids at the grocery checkout counter. According to our world we are the small people, unheralded and unknown.
Then we turn to the scriptures and learn that the image we have of ourselves is not the image you have of us. We are not small people. Through Christ you revealed that you had time for the oft-married woman who came to the well in the heat of the day. You gave attention to a common thief on the cross, a forgotten man at the pool of Bethsaida, a shrieking blind man, a hassled homemaker, an unknown sinner begging for mercy, a poor woman giving her last coin to the temple, a father who was desperate to have his child healed, and a crazy man living in a cemetery.
Your Son recruited a tax collector and a fisherman and transformed them into religious leaders. He raised a friend who had fallen into the sleep of death. He continued to love a disciple who denied him. He took time to provide for his mother's care as he hung dying on the cross.
Jesus never did seek out the important people; rather, he sought out everyday people. After bringing the Word to these people, he brought it to us.
O God, we don't know how you can possibly relate to each one of us. Because it seems an impossibility to us, we are tempted to think that it can't be true. So we are challenged to reach out to you in faith. And what a leap of faith that is! Now we know that you care for each of us -- every last one of us. Is there a greater love? A greater miracle? How grateful we are that you are our God. Without you we would be lost and hopeless. With you we are victors in life and filled with unending joy.
O Christ, we pray in your name. Amen.
Then we turn to the scriptures and learn that the image we have of ourselves is not the image you have of us. We are not small people. Through Christ you revealed that you had time for the oft-married woman who came to the well in the heat of the day. You gave attention to a common thief on the cross, a forgotten man at the pool of Bethsaida, a shrieking blind man, a hassled homemaker, an unknown sinner begging for mercy, a poor woman giving her last coin to the temple, a father who was desperate to have his child healed, and a crazy man living in a cemetery.
Your Son recruited a tax collector and a fisherman and transformed them into religious leaders. He raised a friend who had fallen into the sleep of death. He continued to love a disciple who denied him. He took time to provide for his mother's care as he hung dying on the cross.
Jesus never did seek out the important people; rather, he sought out everyday people. After bringing the Word to these people, he brought it to us.
O God, we don't know how you can possibly relate to each one of us. Because it seems an impossibility to us, we are tempted to think that it can't be true. So we are challenged to reach out to you in faith. And what a leap of faith that is! Now we know that you care for each of us -- every last one of us. Is there a greater love? A greater miracle? How grateful we are that you are our God. Without you we would be lost and hopeless. With you we are victors in life and filled with unending joy.
O Christ, we pray in your name. Amen.
