Here’s
a prayer of confession inspired by the story of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus
(Luke 19: 1-10). It comes from an Order for Ecumenical Worship: World Aids Day
2002.
Confession
(inspired by Luke 19:
1-10)
You
were accused, Good Teacher.
You
ate with sinners.
You
touched the unclean.
You
offended common decency.
We
had thought you came to bless us,
but
you keep going to those we do not understand,
those
we do not trust,
those
we fear.
We
want you to confirm our prejudices,
but
you shatter them.
Samaritans,
children, lepers, women, tax collectors, a sick friend, a dead daughter,
All
of these you blessed and healed.
Those
we distance ourselves from, you actually touch.
We
grumble at you,
not
sure that we can follow you in this way,
not
strong enough to overcome what we have always been taught,
not
open enough to see the depth and breadth of your grace.
Forgive
us Jesus,
turn
our grumbling into acts of courage.
Turn
our codes of conduct into the conduct of compassion.
Turn
our condemnation of the failures of others
into
the awareness of our failure to love others with your grace and compassion.
Forgive
us Jesus and make us new,
until
we become one with the lost ones,
until
we become lost in your love.
Amen.
~
from Order for Ecumenical Worship: World
Aids Day 2002. Posted on http://data.unaids.org/Pub/externaldocument/2002/20021029_wad_worship_en.pdf
