RESPONSIVE READING

 

Jesus, Help Us

 

Jesus, you do not regard people with partiality;

Help us not to value the wealthy and the strong over the poor and the weak.

 

Jesus, you see through our hypocrisy;

Help us to acknowledge the truth of our greed and our economic inequities. 

 

Jesus, you recognize the necessity of taxation;

Help us to understand that our taxes can and should be used for the common good.

 

Jesus, you show us that worldly rulers stamp their images on money, but you have stamped your image on us;

Help us to reflect the glory of your generous love.

 

Jesus, you teach us that we cannot serve two masters;

Help us to serve God by giving to our neighbors, rather than hoarding and worshipping wealth that cannot save.

 

Jesus, you gave us all that you had.  You gave yourself for our salvation, and we are to live by your example.

Help us share all that you have given us for the well-being of others.

 

Jesus, you have sanctified us;

Help us to live in the holiness of your justice.

 

Jesus, you have made us members of your body;

Help us understand that the good we do for “the least of these,” we do for you.

 

(by B. J. Morton)

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Generous God, we confess that we have allowed ourselves to be shaped by worldly thinking and worldly economic systems.  We confess that we have bought into the deceptive rewards of capitalism, selling our souls for individual gain.  We confess that we have stood by while our political leaders fashioned taxation policies that favor the rich and burden the poor, including tax cuts that rob the poor of basic human services.  We have allowed “welfare” to become a dirty word.  Yet you call us to consider the welfare of others — to love our neighbor as our self.  Generous God, help us to recognize our moral obligation to care for the common good, and let us walk in your generous Spirit.  Reshape our thinking by giving us the mind of Christ, who cared about us all and emptied himself for the well being of us all.  Let us live by the godly principle that it is better to give than to receive, and let us value charity and justice over selfish material gain.  Amen.

 

(by B. J. Morton)

 

A Prayer for Economic Justice

God of Justice, who commanded that we open our hands to the poor and needy among us, we pray for all members of our society, especially your church.  May your people lead by the example of your love, justice, and unity.  Help us realize that we are one with each other, and let us be unafraid to spend ourselves and our wealth for the good of many.  Help us to be good stewards of your abundant gifts, willingly paying taxes so that there are adequate resources for programs that enable all our citizens to live with vitality and dignity.  Let our taxes be fairly distributed so that they do not crush the head of the poor, but rather lift them up to enjoy the good along with the wealthier members of our society.  May your church and your world thrive in the sanctuary of economic justice.  Amen.

 

(by B. J. Morton)

 

A Prayer to be Generous

Teach me, Lord Jesus, to be generous:

to serve You as You deserve;

to give for economic justice, not counting the cost;

to fight for tax justice, not heeding the wounds; 

to toil for social justice, not asking for rest;

to labor in love, not seeking any reward,

save that of knowing that we do Your will.

Amen.

 

(Adapted from “A Prayer to be Generous” at www.catholic.org/clife/prayers/prayer.php?p=763)

 

A Prayer for our Church

Enable this church to do your will.  Make it vulnerable that it may walk with others in humility.  Make it outward looking that it may care deeply for our world.  Make it a community that embraces social responsibility.  Make it compassionate that it may reveal your Spirit.  Make your church whole that it may live in simplicity.

Enable this church to do your will.

 

(Adapted from “A Prayer for Our Church,” by Delia at www.thisischurch.com/prayer/shortprayers.htm)

 

Who is Jesus to Me?

 

Who is Jesus to me?

Jesus is the Word made Flesh.

Jesus is the Bread of Life.

Jesus is the Victim offered for our sins on the Cross…

Jesus is the Word - to be spoken.

Jesus is the Truth - to be told.

Jesus is the Way - to be walked.

Jesus is the Light - to be lit.

Jesus is the Life - to be loved.

Jesus is the Joy - to be shared.

Jesus is the Sacrifice - to be given.

Jesus is the Bread of Life - to be eaten.

Jesus is the Hungry - to be fed.

Jesus is the Thirsty - to be satiated.

Jesus is the Naked - to be clothed.

Jesus is the Homeless - to be taken in.

Jesus is the Sick - to be healed.

Jesus is the Lonely - to be loved…

Jesus is the Old - to be served.

To me Jesus is my God,…

      Jesus is my Life,…

      Jesus is my All in All,…  Amen.

 

(Excerpt from “Prayer for the Poor” by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/english/p02686.htm)