Hearing and Doing the Word
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
Lord, in a world where we erect podiums
and then are surprised and disappointed
when those we revere
fall short
When we are left questioning
the things we thought were good and true
When we are disillusioned
and outraged
and grieving
and uncertain
Give us the courage
to look deep within ourselves
To see all that resides in us
that extinguishes
that divine spark
that you place in each of us
That desire to give away our power
to relinquish our responsibility
to promote patriarchy
to be feminist only when it suits us
And as we see the darkness in ourselves
give us the will
to stand rightly in our power
with the force of love
to conquer evil
to raise up those
whose voices go unheard
whose oppression goes unseen
whose justice is denied
And may the power we embrace
never be at another’s expense
May we know without a doubt
that your power
and your love
and your justice
are given for all
with no exclusions
no limits
And as we are empowered
may we empower others
so that even in the darkness
your light shines brightly
revealing all
as we not only hear your word
but live out your promise
for all of creation.
In the name of the one who is love.
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