Here’s a prayer of confession inspired by Isaiah 58:
1-9. It comes from the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance.
Confession
(inspired by Isaiah
58: 1-9)
“Is this not
the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds
of injustice,
to undo the thongs
of the yoke,
to let the
oppressed go free,
and to break every
yoke?
Is it not to share
your bread with the hungry,
and bring the
homeless poor into your house;
when you see the
naked, to cover them,
and not to hide
yourself from your own kin?”
God of mercy
we confess to you our faulty fast.
Instead of setting the oppressed free
we buy cheap without asking who pays with poor wages and
abuse.
Instead of inviting the homeless poor into our houses
we erect fences and gates to keep them out.
Instead of breaking the yoke,
we continue consuming until the earth cries out its pain.
Forgive us when we humble ourselves as an alternative to
actually changing.
Forgive us when our spiritual disciplines turn us in on
ourselves
and away from our neighbours both near and far.
Forgive us when we hide ourselves from our kin,
the hungry, the naked, the poor, our sisters and brothers in
Christ.
Forgive us and turn us to the fast you desire through Jesus
Christ. Amen.
~ from an Ash Wednesday 2011 Fast for Life service
of worship by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. http://www.e-alliance.ch/
To see the entire liturgy, click here. http://www.e-alliance.ch/typo3conf/ext/naw_securedl/secure.php?u=0&file=fileadmin/user_upload/docs/All_Food/2011/Ash_Wednesday_2011_Liturgy_EN_.pdf&t=1299152952&hash=a5998e8740e7f9f882354e95acbaad7e
