Prayer of Confession: Matthew 25: 14-30

Here’s a prayer of confession based on Matthew 25: 14-30, the Parable of the Talents. It was written by Moira Laidlaw, and posted on her Liturgies Online website.

Introduction to Prayer of Confession:

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had been entrusted with spreading the Word of God but Jesus criticises them for neglecting to share this special gift fully with the people.  Much has been entrusted to us - especially the good news of the Word made flesh - Jesus Christ.   The more industrious we are in sharing this good news with others, the more opportunity there is for faith to increase in the lives of those who hear and respond to our witness.

Let us pray: 

Merciful God, forgive us when we invest our energies into increasing our personal prosperity rather than enriching people’s lives with the good news of Jesus Christ and when we squander our gifts by failing to use them to build people up.

Forgive us when we conceal the wideness of your mercy by our lack of compassionate behaviour.

Forgive us when we fail to be adventurous in spreading the gospel around. Increase our capacity to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed even if this means taking risks and expending whatever energy we may have.

Help us to hear Jesus’ words addressed to us about being eager to share the spiritual treasure that we have, knowing that as we do, more, much more, will  be given.   This we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen

Assurance of Forgiveness:

“God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us.  Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...” (1 Thess. 5:9-11) in the knowledge that in Jesus Christ we are enriched, we are loved, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!

— Copyright © Moira Laidlaw, posted on her Liturgies Online website. Visit that site for other great lectionary-based resources. 

For more worship resources related to this text, or other texts for November 13, 2011 (the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost), click on Proper 28A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page. 

For other resources related to confession, click on Confession or words of assurance in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page, or see this Confession & Assurance index.