Here’s
a prayer of confession inspired by Matthew 22:1-10. It was written by John Vest
and posted on his website (see below for link).
Prayer of Confession
(inspired by Matthew 22:1-10)
God
of grace, you invite us to a banquet, and we don’t even respond.
You set us a place at the table, but we find excuses not to come.
You lovingly prepare for our arrival, yet we ignore your efforts.
Forgive us, God.
You set us a place at the table, but we find excuses not to come.
You lovingly prepare for our arrival, yet we ignore your efforts.
Forgive us, God.
God
of creation, you give us a world capable of abundance,
but we act as if it is a world of scarcity.
You give us the resources and the intelligence to provide for all,
yet we lack the will and the vision to feed all of your children.
Forgive us, God, for filling our plates while others go hungry.
but we act as if it is a world of scarcity.
You give us the resources and the intelligence to provide for all,
yet we lack the will and the vision to feed all of your children.
Forgive us, God, for filling our plates while others go hungry.
God
of love, you call us to be the body of Christ in the world,
but we horde the blessings of communion for ourselves.
Instead of loving our neighbors, we are consumed by the love of self.
Instead of loving you, we bow before idols of our own making.
Forgive us, God.
but we horde the blessings of communion for ourselves.
Instead of loving our neighbors, we are consumed by the love of self.
Instead of loving you, we bow before idols of our own making.
Forgive us, God.
God
of hope, we avert our eyes when we see hunger and need;
we close our ears to the cries of the poor and the oppressed;
we refuse to let our minds be opened to the realities of our world;
we refuse to let our hearts overflow with love and compassion.
Forgive us, God.
we close our ears to the cries of the poor and the oppressed;
we refuse to let our minds be opened to the realities of our world;
we refuse to let our hearts overflow with love and compassion.
Forgive us, God.
God
of mercy, as you once again call us to your table, help us to respond in faith.
Forgive our failures and help us to learn from them.
Change our hearts and minds as we hear your good news proclaimed.
Help us to taste and see the goodness you have prepared for us,
and for the world. Amen.
Forgive our failures and help us to learn from them.
Change our hearts and minds as we hear your good news proclaimed.
Help us to taste and see the goodness you have prepared for us,
and for the world. Amen.
~
written by John W. Vest, and posted on John
Vest. http://johnvest.com/
