Prayer for the Week: September 22

This week in the Gospel reading from Luke,  Jesus tells a confounding parable of a corrupt owner, a dishonest steward, and some lucky borrowers. Here is the prayer we offered in response to a complicated world and Jesus’ call to examine our loyalty to money and greed in contrast to our loyalty to a different value system. May the prayer be a part your life and living this week:

Lord, we the confused, the perplexed, the beaten, the weary just mostly don’t know how to help right the ship of the world. Are we to use our ill-gotten gains for good? Or would you have us forgo goods for gain? And in a world where we are as much owned as owners, how shall we live to bring light to the shadowed places of our hearts? We pray, therefore, for you to help us use our wits and wiles wisely, and to include in our plotting those who have no patron, no private banker, no portfolio save the charity Christ has taught us. We pray for bravery, that we might be bold, startling, and persistent in divesting of self-interest and self-delusion about how we help shadow the world ourselves; and help us be oh so joyful and gracious and relentless in the pursuit of fair wages, fair treatment, fair care, loving arms, safe housing, and enough food for all in the land of plenty. Clear our heads, clear  our hearts, and clear our schedules that we may both receive and offer such love, taking in such love that feeds us, and sending it forth magnified to build tents of light for all who wander bewildered.  –Rev. Kent Gilbert