A PRAYER FOR A POOR NEIGHBORHOOD

God of Creation, redemption, and reconciliation.

You call us to live together in peace.

Your Word speaks of reconciliation.

Your Spirit brings justice.

Look upon us and judge what we have done with our stewardship.


Witness the burned houses,

meth labs,

crack houses,

drug dealers,

slumlords,

and prostitutes.

See the emptiness and false promises,

the alienation and despair,

injustice and oppressions,

that bring these tragedies among us.

Hear the gunfire that breaks the peace!


How many lives are swallowed up in these tragedies!

How much pain and how much sorrow do they cause!

Heal this place, God of mercy and forgiveness.

Send your love and grace upon all

prostitutes,

drug dealers,

slumlords,

loan sharks,

bankers,

lawyers,

politicians.


Bring them to conversion of heart and life.

Cause those who are responsible to cease from their oppressions,

stop their crimes, and to keep the peace in our neighborhoods.

Fill the emptiness that is the source of these sorrows,

with love, peace, mercy, and justice.


Give us courage, so that we may show them of your love,

Teach us to respect all people as human beings,

not forgetting all

prostitutes,

drug dealers,

slumlords,

loan sharks,

bankers,

lawyers, and

politicians.


These blessings we ask,

in the name of the One who became poverty,

who will judge the deeds of all humanity,

on that great day when justice reigns

in every neighborhood,

on every street,

and among all nations.

Amen.


PRAYER FOR THE POOR

Who is Jesus to me?


Jesus is the Word - made Flesh.

Jesus is the Bread - of Life.

Jesus is the Victim - offered for our sins on the Cross.

Jesus is the Sacrifice for the sins of the world - and mine.

Jesus is the Word - to be spoken.

Jesus is the Truth - to be told.

Jesus is the Way - to be walked.

Jesus is the Light - to be lit.

Jesus is the Life - to be loved.

Jesus is the Joy - to be shared.

Jesus is the Sacrifice - to be given.

Jesus is the Bread of Life - to be eaten.

Jesus is the Hungry - to be fed.

Jesus is the Thirsty - to be satiated.

Jesus is the Naked - to be clothed.

Jesus is the Homeless - to be taken in.

Jesus is the Sick - to be healed.

Jesus is the Lonely - to be loved.

Jesus is the Unwanted - to be wanted.

Jesus is the Leper - to wash his wounds.

Jesus is the Beggar - to give him a smile.

Jesus is the Drunkard - to listen to him.

Jesus is the Little One - to embrace him.

Jesus is the Dumb - to speak to him.

Jesus is the Crippled - to walk with him.

Jesus is the Drug Addict - to befriend him.

Jesus is the Prostitute - to remove from danger and befriend her.

Jesus is the Prisoner - to be visited.

Jesus is the Old - to be served.

To me Jesus is my God,

Jesus is my Spouse,

Jesus is my Life,

Jesus is my only Love,

Jesus is my All in All,

Jesus is my Everything.


Amen.


(By Mother Teresa of Calcutta.)