God of our fathers and of our mothers,
We pray to you today for our fathers; fathers who were
present, fathers who were absent, fathers who showed us love, fathers who did
not show us love, fathers who taught us well, fathers who didn’t teach at all,
fathers who held us in their arms, fathers who abused us, fathers who tried
hard to be good fathers, and fathers who didn't try at all. The list goes on of
the different kinds of fathers we have all had and we have been ourselves. Most of all, we are grateful that you are the
father of us all, a father who loves, cares, is always present, who forgives us
and holds us in your arms. We all need that kind of father.
We pray today for all of us who are like the woman who
crashed the Pharisee’s dinner party and anointed you. We break open our
alabaster jar of sweet oil as we cry tears of joy, tears of sadness, tears of
years of pain, and tears of sin poured out on your feet. Accept our offering of
love and gratitude for your forgiving us, welcoming us and loving us.
We pray today for all of us who are like Simon the Pharisee,
who are caught by religion, eyes of judgment, hearts of stone, and voices of
criticism of ourselves and others. We pray father that you would set us free by
your forgiveness, love and mercy.
We pray today for all of us who are like the women who had been cured of evil spirits and
infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and
Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who
provided for them out of their resources. We thank you that we get to be there
with you, follow you and give out of our resources especially out of who we
are. We thank you that you have healed, cured
us, set us free, forgiven us, welcome us and love us.
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