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Sunday Prayer – Lectio Divina

November 23, 2014 By Jean Wise

For I was hungry and you gave me food,

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  

I was naked and you gave me clothing,

I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’  

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?  

And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25: 35-37, 40

 prayer

Lord pour compassion into my heart so I reach out to the hungry more often. I have three meals a day plus a cupboard overflowing with snacks and ‘just in case’ food. So many go to bed hungry. Open my hands to help them more.

Clear my vision, Lord, so I truly see the stranger and make them feel welcomed. Help me to look deeply and connect with others. Stop me from not connecting and this continual skimming by, barely noticing their hurt, their loneliness, their deep desire to be accepted.

Lord, increase my awareness of those without when I have so much. I have more clothes than I need and catalogs and web sites shout out to buy more. Help me simplify and condense so my resources may be used in your wider service.

Lord your healing touch has restored me so many times – teach me how to heal others with your touch too. Your warmth and caring has eased my pain – may I transmit your love to those who hurt.

Lord, so many live behind the bars of sin, doubt, confusion – release us from this bondage so we may live freely with you. I am blessed to live in a country with religious freedom unknown to many parts of the world. Fellow Christians who just because of their faith, can’t vote, can’t apply for passports, can’t freely worship and discuss their faith. I pray for them and for people of all faiths so they may worship you as they feel called without fear, discrimination or violence.

Lord, give me the wisdom to know what is right and the strength to serve you in this world. Increase my understanding of those with fewer resources and forgive and take away my criticalness, conceit and judgment, remembering all I have comes from you. Lord, forgive my possessive and selfish nature.

Less of me – my wants, desires and demands and more of you – reaching out, connecting, healing. Help me see you in the eyes of my fellow humans and find you in the hearts of the world. Make me more generous and loving like you.

 

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Comments

  1. Lisa notes... says

    November 24, 2014 at 3:13 pm

    Such an awesome prayer for each of us, Jean. You capture the very essence of compassion here–as well as the very heart of Jesus. I pray it along with you for myself as well.

    • blankJean Wise says

      November 24, 2014 at 4:14 pm

      Thanks Lisa, Those verse really resonated with me this week.

  2. blankCeil says

    November 23, 2014 at 8:15 pm

    Hi Jean! We had this reading today at church too. “When did we see you?” I am so humbled by that, because he is everywhere in the people who struggle. I have to challenge myself to see each person every day, because I often just blast through my day.
    I like the idea of being ‘less of me’ and more of others. That inspires.
    Blessings,
    Ceil

    • blankJean Wise says

      November 24, 2014 at 1:45 pm

      Thanks Ceil. These verse get me every time that Christ is in the least of those. Dorothy Day wrote: I really love God only as much as I love the person I love the least.”

      Sort of the same thing I think.

  3. blankmarthaorlando says

    November 23, 2014 at 2:06 pm

    Beautiful prayer from the heart! Blessings, Jean!

    • blankJean Wise says

      November 23, 2014 at 5:52 pm

      Thanks Martha. I know you prayer with me! Have a wonderful week

      • blankmarthaorlando says

        November 23, 2014 at 7:52 pm

        You have a great week, too, and a blessed Thanksgiving!

  4. blankClella says

    November 23, 2014 at 7:33 am

    Amen

    • blankJean Wise says

      November 23, 2014 at 5:51 pm

      Thanks for praying with me, Clella

Healthy Spirituality – a sacred space to nurture your faith, grow closer to God, and belong to a community, walking together on life’s journey. This blog is written by author, speaker and retreat leader Jean Wise

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