Prayer: Have Mercy Upon Us
Here’s an opening prayer (or prayer of response) based on Mark
10:46-52. It was written by Rev. Dr.
Safiyah Fosua.
Prayer:
Have Mercy Upon Us
(based on Mark 10:46-52)
Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy upon us!
So many days,
we are like the blind beggar in Mark's gospel,
sitting on the
side of the road hoping to hear the sounds of your coming.
We are like the
Canaanite woman begging for the crumbs that fall from your table.
We are like the
woman who was sick for so many years
who reached out
to touch the hem of your garment.
Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy upon us!
Have mercy upon
us when we cannot see how we will make it,
Have mercy upon
us when we are sick and cannot get well,
Have mercy upon
us when life hardens our hearts
and makes it
difficult for us to love, to heal or to forgive,
Have mercy upon
us when persecution comes and when we are misunderstood.
Jesus Christ, Son of David,
we come this morning asking for strength to get to the other
side,
and grace to represent you well.
We come,
confident that your promise to be with us always is true,
confident that
you are greater than the trials we face,
confident that
we are secure in the palm of your hands.
We come to you
today,
like blind
Bartimaeus who sat on the side of the road to Jericho,
knowing that
you love us and have not forgotten our needs.
Jesus Christ, Son of David, have mercy upon us,
And grant us your peace. Amen.