NIGHT PRAYER: Saturday 1/20

This morning, Lord, 

    I heard the "first confessions" of some 40 second graders.

There's little variety in the sins they confess:

    "fighting with my brothers and sisters"

        is common to all - except those who have no siblings.

The sad part is that as we grow older

    this remains, in one form or another,

    the most common sin of all:

        we're still at odds with our sisters and brothers...

 

We argue with, fight, disparage and ignore

    betray, resent and badmouth others

be they siblings, spouses, neighbors or strangers,

    townsfolk, colleagues, opponents or classmates...

On the international scene

    we fight with our sisters and brothers

in wars, invasions, armed conflicts, incursions,

    cold war, terrorism, battles and bloodshed...

In business we abuse our brothers and sisters

    through hostile take-overs and cut-throat deals

for profit margins and market shares,

    for revenue, ranking and kickbacks...

Since Cain and Abel we've fought with our siblings

    out of jealousy, bitterness, fear and greed

and confess again - and again and again -

    our failure to love our neighbor...

Help us grow up and out of these habits,

    help us to finally change our ways;

it's your commandment, your wisdom and law,

    Lord, help us to love one another...

           

Protect us, Lord while we're awake

    and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.

Brother, Sister, Let Me Serve You  by Richard Gillard

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