Peace, all! Enjoy. Use. Cite. Love.
For use John 8.
~ Tom
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Confession & Forgiveness (Lent 4a)
More pleasing than the smell of incense, O God
more delicious than any offering burnt
is the sound of your people
praying with legs and hands;
proclaiming:
justice for the oppressed
food for the hungry
and a Day when tears are no more.
And yet, it is been hard for us to get moving
to lift up our voices, to share both love and bread.
We have blamed the poor for their poverty.
We have blamed the addicted for their addictions.
We have blamed the sick for their suffering.
We have made ourselves ready to be judge
and executioner;
equipped and posed to throw the first stone.
Forgive us, O God.
Send your heart to beat within us
that our actions might follow its desires.
Where we have cringed, teach us to love.
Where we have judged, teach us to love.
Where we have condemned, teach us to love.
Where we have forgotten how to share, teach us to love.
May our lives testify to you.
May they rise up.
As incense.
As offering.
Amen.
+++
Absolution
Jesus taught us that a human who suffers
does so not because they did something wrong.
Rather, something is radically wrong with a society
that allows so much suffering.
Where you have been blamed for your poverty
Where you have been blamed for your addictions
Where you have been judged or left out or forgotten or condemned
know this:
Jesus sees you for who you are. Jesus loves you.
And whatever ailment, Jesus desires not to judge you,
but that you might be healed.
May your guilt and shame be lifted from you, friends.
And may newfound lightness free you
to love all around you
and to pray with your feet and your hands.
Amen.
Prayer of the Day (Lent 4a)
Make us curious, O God.
Teach us to listen with care
to the stories of those around us.
Make curiosity and listening
our very first instincts
in those times when
usually, we are tempted
to condemn or judge.
Amen.
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