A prayer of self-discovery

Jane Denniston October 04, 2025 0 0

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Luke 16: 19-31 (NIV)

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

God of life,
in you I am my best self
and in following you faithfully 
I become the person you created me to be. 
But, Father, I confess that, like the rich man,
I can be blind to my faults. 

My life has four windows.
One window is transparent and clear for all to see into.
One has shades and only I can see in.
One is open to others, but I can’t see what lies inside.
One has blinds and only you know what that room contains. 

Give me eyes to see, I pray,
Show me the dark things that lie in those shuttered rooms,
That I may repent, and turn, 
and at the last I will be comforted like Lazarus,
not condemned like the rich man, Amen