You are the God who gives food to the hungry and in Jesus you miraculously fed the five thousand from very little. You LORD set the prisoners free and in Jesus You freed the man from the legion of Demons and the self-destruction inflicted; You LORD open the eyes of the blind, and in Jesus you said the word to many who were blind and immediately they received their sight. You LORD lift up those who are bowed down and in Jesus You greatly blessed and upheld a prostitute who washed Your feet with her tears and hair in remorse and repentance and love For Christ; You LORD love the righteous. You LORD watch over the sojourners and those without a home; You uphold the widow and the fatherless, the abused, the broken, the chastised, all those who suffer deeply, but the way of the wicked You bring to ruin. The prideful, haughty, evil, and self-sufficient You oppose.

Father we ask for your mercy on those areas in our lives where we still hold on to our self-sufficiency to make a life and name for ourselves apart from Your presence and grace. Would You direct us to Your face in prayer and Your Word that we may appropriately fear You, holding in balance Your holiness and yet know that in Jesus through His absorption on the cross of what we deserve for our arrogance, we can approach You as children of our Father who readily accepts us so that we can be cleansed and have our stained garments washed, that we may become more like you in all the ways You are for those who are downtrodden and hurting and oppressed, even when it’s inconvenient. This at its heart is the life-changing hospitality you displayed in Jesus toward us and desire for Your people for the sake of the Gospel and the good of our neighbors. May it be so.

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP)