Opening Prayer
God of Exile and Homeland, You reach to us with rich arms of mercy. Thank you. We exile ourselves from Your truth and our reality. We desecrate the temple of Your earth and the holiness of Your people. We divide, demean and destroy, rather than build the living Temple of Your Spirit. As Moses lifted up the serpent to lead Your people home, help us to follow Jesus back to Your Heart and the justice of Your Reign. Thank you for lifting him up in our midst. Teach us to reverence the Cyruses who free and challenge us to be faithful, even when they are not of our people or tradition. Enlighten us not to get lost in the darkness we create. As we continue our journey through Lent, refine us to see Jesus as Your Son and our Savior, uniting us with You and each other that Your life and glory may shine in all Your people. Call us all home to the truth in our hearts, to the Temple of Your Light. Embrace us again with Your rich arms of mercy.
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