Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

You turn everything upside down, Lord!  We are supposed to give up everything and everyone, and then we will possess everything!  Why the contradictions?  The tension is confusing.  Are You the desire behind all our desires?  Do we deify and idolize people and things, possessing them and letting them possess us — instead of seeing them as reflections and images You have given us to see You more clearly?  Free me from idols I’ve created and serve, so that I can more freely respond to You as the Desire of My Heart.  Teach me to love people and things as You love them in freedom.  Transform me so that my worship and life have an integrity that reflects Your justice, compassion and goodness.  Widen the boundaries of my heart that I might be more like You.  Be the God of justice Who moves me to treat everyone with equal compassion and not possess them by my prejudice, pride, fears or needs.  Free me that I may embrace them as Yours!