Here’s
a pastoral prayer inspired by the suggested scripture readings for
Proper 13 C. It was written by Richard
J. Einerson.
Pastoral Prayer
(inspired by Psalm 107, Luke 12: 13-21)
Our
gracious, eternal God, we bow to you who are from everlasting to everlasting.
We thank you for that seed of uneasiness which you have placed within us which
causes us to hunger and thirst for an inner peace which endures. Yet we often
wander on life’s journey and fail to find peace. And we know that our lack of
peace is due to the many ways in which we misdirect our inner discontent.
• We
set our sights on money and would figuratively build bigger and better barns.
• We
keep our eye upon those who are more successful and we become consumed by envy.
• We
carry resentment that someone else has more than we and we rail against life’s
unfairness.
• We
long for a security which money might bring but fail to see that there is no
way money can cure our inner discontent.
Bend
your ear to us this day. Provide your healing touch and help us to redirect our
search for security and peace.
• Help
us always to remember that it is you who lend us life and that life is a gift.
• Help
us to remember that the purpose of life is always greater than knowing that we
have enough for tomorrow.
• Help
us to remember that our resources also are only a gift and that we are only
caretakers with a responsibility for the well-being of our sisters and
brothers.
• Help
us to remember that true riches do not lie in abundance but in being rich
toward you who alone offer a peace which passes all understanding.
O God,
we ask that you would transform us and provide us victory over all greed and
avarice. Amen
~
written by Richard Einerson, and posted on Richard
J. Einerson: Prayers of the People. http://www.richardeinerson.com/einerson_004.htm
