Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus, so many women and men followed you, for many different reasons. You were encouraged and energized by their response. Many had to change their expectations as they listened to you. I hope that you are encouraged and energized by our attempts to follow you today. Purge and purify our expectations. Sometimes we destroy the unity of love by demanding that you and religion rigidly fulfill our needs. Some people twist and shrink your call in faith to a following of their own need for security, comfort and boundaries. They call it religion, in your name, as they rashly judge and dismiss those who disagree. Help us to have your heart and passion as we follow you. Your only truth is your self-sacrificing love. The only sound doctrine is that you are love and we must love one another. Change all of us that we be living messengers of your good news.