Prayer of Confession: Hardened Hearts


Here’s a prayer of confession for the 5th Sunday in Lent, Year B. It was written by Rev. Terri Peterson and posted on LiturgyLink.

Confession: Hardened Hearts
(inspired by Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Covenant-making God,
you use every possible means to reach us,
breathing your Spirit in us,
calling us by name,
showing us symbols of your promise,
offering us a new way of life.

We confess that our hearts are hardened.
We choose certainty over faith,
anxiety over courage,
independence over compassion.
We turn our eyes from our neighbours in need,
and from stories of despair,
and from pleas for peace,
and from anything that might bring tears to our eyes,
for we prefer our own comfort.
We get caught up in our own needs and desires,
and forget you have made us to be your people, together.

Engrave your word on our hard hearts again, O God.
Then break them open for what breaks yours,
that your word might sink in and become a part of us,
so we might truly live
as if you are our God and we are your people.
We pray in the name of the One
whose love breaks all bounds,
Jesus the Christ. Amen. 

~ written by Rev. Terri Peterson and posted on LiturgyLink.