Gospel Reading: John 11:55-12:8
Jesus, as your time drew near, You were being sought by people with two radically opposed motives. Some sought you in order to test, discredit, arrest, abuse, and bring You to shame. Others sought You to share hospitality and demonstrate devotion.
Faith in You has grown within us, but we cannot assume that we would have responded in trusting or loving ways had we lived in other times. We acknowledge that our faith, often small, is not an achievement, but a gift that flows from your presence among us. Keep us receptive to your presence and your gift. Enable us to trust You in the circumstances that we find most challenging.
Enable us to build upon your gift by acting with the forgiveness and compassion that You showed to others. Free us to be extravagant in our devotion. And as we practice devotion to You, help us to practice solidarity with and generosity toward those who are commonly pushed to the side in our society’s idolatry of beauty, power and wealth.*
We follow You because You have transformed us as You revealed the compassionate heart of God to us. Enable us to follow your example, and the example of God, who sent You.** Amen.
*See Deuteronomy 15:1-11; Luke 4:14-21; Matthew 25:31-46
**See Ephesians 5:1
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