My Prayer

God of all ages and of every generation, whose wisdom extends beyond the horizon

and whose care reaches the farthest depths of the sea,

we give thanks that we abide in the shelter of your encompassing love.

We hear how nothing -- not even death itself –

can separate us from resting eternally in your presence.

We give thanks for Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf,

how he arose victorious from the fetters of that ultimate bondage

and now prepares a place for us by your side.

We pray, O God, that you will remove from us

any encumbrances that keep us from realizing our destiny.

Remove the scales from our eyesso that we can see clearly what you would have us do.

Help us to put our trust in Christ,

who alone can keep us from falling by the wayside

of self-deception, materialism, false pride, or boredom.

Let our faltering steps be strengthened

by his willingness to suffer defeat on our behalf,

so that we can -- from now on -- walk boldly in his name.Cleanse us of whatever foolishness causes us daily to betray him.When we expect him to work wonders on our behalf,

remind us through the testimony of Scripture

how he cared for all people.

When we would serve him only at our convenience,

startle us with his call to sacrifice all that we have and follow him.

When we would betray him before others

by our unwillingness publicly to proclaim him our Savior,

send your Spirit among us to renew our commitment.O God, you have been “our dwelling place in all generations. . .

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

We come before you in the name of Jesus, the one who redeems.

The one who taught us all to approach you, saying:

Our Father, who art in heaven ...

Prayers of the People: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

James G. Kirk, When We Gather: A Book of Prayers for Worship for Years A, B, and C (Louisville, KY: Geneva Press, 2001), 236.