Prayers based on Matthew 25

Lector | Hear us, O Lord and listen to our cries for mercy and shalom.

Lector | O Lord, salvation of the world,
All | deprive us not of your mercy.

Lector | O Lord, salvation of the world,
All | deprive us not of your shalom.

Lector | O Lord, salvation of the world,
All | deprive us not of your presence.

Lector | O Lord, Son of Man, salvation of the world, deprive us not of the food to give to you, who are hungry and poor, without agency, access, and authority—You, our Beloved.

O Lord, Glorious One, salvation of the world, deprive us not of the water to lift to your lips, who thirst, quietly suffering—You, Beautiful One.

O Lord, Gatherer of all nations, salvation of the world, deprive us not of the doors, the table, and the bed to invite you into, you who are homeless, you our stranger, you our refugee, you, invisible and hidden—You, Precious One.

O Lord, Shepherd of your beloved ones, salvation of the world, deprive us not of the clothes to warm you, blankets to shelter you—you, who are naked, who are exposed to danger and threat, you who are trembling and afraid—You, Holy One.

{Pray for those experiencing homelessness or unemployment.}

Lector | O Lord, King of the world, salvation of the world, deprive us not of your company as we visit you who are sick, and suffering, lonely, and oppressed. Help us to find you, lonely and forsaken, fearful and feared—You, our Teacher.

{Pray for the sick and for the lonely.}

Lector | O Lord, Inheritor of all things, salvation of the world, deprive us not of your company as we come to you, imprisoned and forgotten, condemned and cast away by us, the righteous bearing stones—You our brother.

Pray for those imprisoned, those who are in detention centers, those who are victims of human trafficking, and those who are vulnerable to exploitation.

Lector | O Lord, grant us courage, boldness, and most of all faith and joy and wonder in you and your steadfast love and power and strength.

Lector | Hear us, O Lord
All | and listen to our cries for mercy.

Lector | Hear us, O Lord
All | and listen to our cries for shalom.

Lector | Hear us, O Lord
All | and listen to our cries for your presence.

Lector | Jesus, heal our world, heal our bodies, strengthen our hearts and our minds, and in the midst of turmoil, give us hope and peace. Remember, Lord, all your family, the entire human race, and all your creation, in your love. Amen.