The following prayer comes from Devotions for Lent
Show me the suffering of the Most Miserable
Show me the suffering of the most miserable;
So I will know my people’s plight.
Free me to pray for others;
For you are present in every person.
Help me to take responsibility for my own life;
So that I can be free at last.
Give me honesty and patience;
So that I can work with other workers.
Bring forth song and celebration;
So that the Spirit will be alive among us,
Let the Spirit flourish and grow;
So that we will never tire of the struggle.
Let us remember those who have died for justice;
For they have given us life.
Help us to love even those who hate us;
So we can change the world.
n Cesar Chavez
“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” – Psalm 51:17
Cesar Chavez is best known for organizing the farm workers of California into a union. Many of those workers were poor migrants who had little or no voice in how they were treated. His tireless efforts on their behalf improved working conditions for thousands. After his death, he became an icon for the Latino community.
His prayer above helps me appreciate his desire to understand the suffering of the people he represents.
But the last part of the prayer is what caught my attention as a pastor: This is what I pray for you and me this morning.
Let the Spirit flourish and grow;
So that we will never tire of the struggle.
Let us remember those who have died for justice;
For they have given us life.
Help us to love even those who hate us;
So we can change the world.
Three requests:
1. May the Holy Spirit continue to flourish and grow within us giving us strength for the struggles we face.
2. May we never forget the Saints who have gone before us leading the way.
3. Help us to love even those who hate us; who oppose us at every turn.
Because with these three qualities, God can use us to change the world.
Today, I pray –
1. God’s Holy Spirit will continue to flourish and grow with you, giving you strength.
2. We honor the saints who have gone before us by living our lives within their light.
3. We continue to love even those who hate us.
May God use us to change the world. May we feel God’s Spirit within us this morning.
Let the Spirit flourish and grow;
So that we will never tire of the struggle.
Let us remember those who have died for justice;
For they have given us life.
Help us to love even those who hate us;
So we can change the world.
