A PRAYER FOR THIRD ADVENT(OT)

Zephaniah 3:14-20(MSG)

16-17 Jerusalem will be told:

    “Don’t be afraid.

Dear Zion,

    don’t despair.

Your God is present among you,

    a strong Warrior there to save you.

Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love

    and delight you with his songs.

18-20 “The accumulated sorrows of your exile

    will dissipate.

I, your God, will get rid of them for you.

    You’ve carried those burdens long enough.

At the same time, I’ll get rid of all those

    who’ve made your life miserable.

I’ll heal the maimed;

    I’ll bring home the homeless.

In the very countries where they were hated

    they will be venerated.

On Judgment Day

    I’ll bring you back home—a great family gathering!

You’ll be famous and honored

    all over the world.

You’ll see it with your own eyes—

    all those painful partings turned into reunions!”

        God’s Promise.

We are lost

and cannot find our way home

We have wandered from the joys of marriage

and the richness of family life

We have torn through broken relationships and shattered relationships

We have hurt and been hurt by selfish desires and need for control

We have been scared to show forgiveness and too proud to accept it

Bring us home, Dear God

to the richness and joy that the long and difficult work

that builds and sustains healthy relationships

and wholesome friendships

To learn anew to forgive and be forgiven

We are lost

and cannot find our way home

We are at sea in desires for security and wealth

We fear for our aging, our children, our savings, our health

We waste more than we need...abuse more than we use

We accumulate more than we share

Bring us home, Dear God

Teach us again the joy of giving

to those who need and they that hunger

To give of ourselves as well as our bounty

To sell all and follow you

We are lost

and cannot find our way home

We have taken the the road of warfare

falsely believing it leads to peace

We use drones and RPGs not prayers and petitions

to enforce our will and demand obedience

Nation building in our graven images

Bring us home, Dear God

Show us away the things that make for peace

Enable us to beat our swords into plowshares

and our spears into pruning hooks...

not take up sword against nation,

nor train for war anymore.

Bring us home, Dear God

Dwell among us again

Give us peace

Give us hope

Give us joy

Now and forevermore

Amen