SWIC prayer of the week 2.26.07

God, our companion along the road,
Enter with us in the wilderness of uncertainty and the loneliness of desolation, that through our wanderings and reflections we too may choose the path of uncertainty and travel with those who have left behind home and security.
Hear us in your mercy,
And strengthen us to do your will.

God, our resistance,
Strengthen our resolve to seek bread that nourishes and sustains, that through our
resistance of instant satisfaction we may learn to value what we take for granted and seek solidarity with those who have nothing.
Hear us in your mercy,
And strengthen us to do your will.

God, our judge,
Guard us against all arrogance, hypocrisy, and self-righteousness, that through choosing
the fast that undoes the fetters of injustice we may share our bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into our house.
Hear us in your mercy,
And strengthen us to do your will.

God, our beginning and our end,
Remind us that we are but dust and to dust we shall return, that through acknowledging
our frailty and owning our mortality we may draw closer to those who live in constant fear of death.
Hear us in your mercy,
And strengthen us to do your will.

God, our cross bearer,
Challenge us to take up our cross and to choose the narrow path, that on our journey we may learn the cost of discipleship and identify with those who give up home and livelihood for the sake of principle.
Hear us in your mercy,
And strengthen us to do your will.

God, our challenger,
Stir up our lives and shatter our complacency, that through the people we meet and the

life stories we share we may be challenged to change and moved to action.
Hear us in your mercy,
Strengthen us to do your will,
And let our lives reflect your purpose.

-Annabel Shilson-Thomas (Anglican priest in England who works for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)