God of all times and places, in Christ you set us free to pursue righteousness and holiness without the limits of the laws given to Moses. You wanted us to worship you without the framework that had become distracting for some of your people. You set before us a life filled with grace and love and the ability to choose to follow you.
Forgive us when we mistake our ways for your ways.
God of boundless love and grace, in your house and at your table all people are equal guests. By Christ’s example our hospitality is boundless for those who come seeking sanctuary. You are not interested in pretty clothes or proper dress so much as you are in compassion and mercy. Nor are you overly concerned with our ways of doing things, as much as you are with our genuine desire to worship you with our whole hearts.
Forgive us when we mistake our ways for your ways.
Creator God, no heart is unknown to you and no mind is a mystery to you. You created us all to bear your image into the world, not just in our bodies, but even more so in the way we live our lives. You do not see the lines we draw on our maps, separating one nation from another. Our patriotism is not the religion you would have us practice nor our politics the righteousness you would have us seek.
Forgive us when we mistake our ways for your ways.
Saving God, not one soul lives outside the reach of your mercy. You would rather we pursue peace and justice than almost anything else. We use your name to justify our wars while your heart breaks over each life lost or destroyed. The independence and freedom of one nation need not depend on the destruction of another. The call to peace is louder than greed, fear, and lust for power if we take time to be still and listen.
Forgive us when we mistake our ways for your ways.
God who is slow to anger and abounding with steadfast love, you invite all who are weary to come to you and set our burdens down. You would give us rest if we would but learn from you. Your gentleness and humbleness make an easy yoke and our hearts and souls would find much needed rest. Your ways are easier than ours if we walk with you. We spend needless energy asserting our opinions and trying to make others see how wrong they are. You would rather we bear your yoke of gentleness and humility, extending mercy to our neighbors.
Lord, in your mercy, forgive us when we mistake our ways for your ways.
Amen.
RCL – Year A – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost – July 6, 2014
Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67
Psalm 45:10-17 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13 or
Zechariah 9:9-12 with Psalm 145:8-14
Romans 7:15-25a
Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
