A prayer for grace
Luke 18: 9-14 (NRSVA)
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” 13 But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
Lord, remind me
that following you
is not a competitive sport
My sin is not diminished
because I deem another’s sin as greater
My perceived righteousness
does not lessen
my need of your grace.
Once again
You queer our binary world
pitching up with grace
In the prayer of confession
and in your words of absolution
may I experience your grace
as powerfully
and as vitally
as in the gift of the Eucharist.
Let the experience of your forgiveness
change the way I encounter others
softening those hard edges
that make me quick to judge
smoothing out the abrasions
that foster harshness
May the knowledge of your infinite, healing love
encourage me to risk being hurt
again and again
as I live into
that part of you that dwells in me
and connects with your presence in others.
May humility consist in recognising
the sheer wonder of your creation
shining through us
bringing glory to you
And may we live into
and live out of
the forgiveness we receive
from you, God of forgiveness and grace.
Lent Legacy 2021 Action
Ask God if he will help you examine your heart.
What are people saying?
Amen
Poetry causes us to stop and think. A prayer intercedes. It doesn’t always work to use poetry in prayers, especially if you try to be clever with words to achieve an effect. For example, what do you mean by:
‘You queer our binary world’?
How is the world binary? Are you talking about gender or something else? How does it relate to the passage?
I’ve found this week very difficult with the hidden meanings in the prayers, because you try to show us what you can do with your poetry. Could you be less cryptic, let us pray together as a community and not wonder what hidden meaning is in the prayer, because it’s really a poem?
When James uses poetry in prayer, he keeps it accessible and prayer-like. You could look at his prayers for examples of how to use a poem as a prayer.
Sanctuary First seeks to leave room for the poets and the prophets to pray. One person’s prayer may not suit another but it may well be the cry from the heart that resonates with a soul that has long struggled to find a voice to speak with God in prayer. The prayer may well have to be vailed on some occasions because it is not for everyone. We may be faced with that which we can’t quite see or need not know about. Let’s keep in mind Jesus often spoke in parables .Plain talking is not always biblical talk.
Interesting perspective MPS - especially on a prayer for grace.
I want to say something!