Daring to pray for structural change.

The fervent prayers of “Black Lives Matter,” “Me Too,” “I Can’t Breathe,” and other movements have something in common. They want structural change.

At their depth, and apart from tactics, consciously or unconsciously, they are part of a movement that goes back to the mission and movement of Jesus to bring Good News to the poor and marginalized. “Repent!” (Change your way of thinking and acting.)

And Jesus’ message in turn was the deepest fulfillment of Egyptian slaves from Israel. In their prayer, they longed for freedom. Jesus’ God set them free.

Having said that, I confess! Not every prayer service grabs me. Most often, after the service, I discard the handout. But there are some that really strike a chord within me. For this reason, I keep them.

In Indianapolis, in 2013 one such prayer service occurred at a Vincentian Family Gathering exploring systemic change.

At the conclusion of the prayer service some 200 people “dared to pray”…

• God, let the world be changed, for we long to see the end of poverty.
• God, let the rules be changed, for we long to see our economic structures bring justice to those who are poor.
• God let our lives be changed, for we long to bring hope where the Good News is needed.

I invite you to pray the entire 4-minute prayer service… And to share your experiences with us.

VFG Morning Prayer Sunday, October 27, 2013

Call to Prayer: Jeremiah 6:16

Leader: Yahweh says this: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Inquire about the ancient paths: which was the good way? Take it and you shall find provisions for the poor.”

Left: Lord, as we discuss the Spirituality of Systemic Change, we recall your promise to be present where two or three are gathered in your name. We know that without you here among us, and within us, we will labor in vain.

All: Lord, in your Wisdom, help us to make Systemic Change a living reality.

Right: We rejoice that we are blessed and called together as Vincentians to work in your name. We pray that we will respond generously to this opportunity to bring about something new for those we serve.

All: Lord, in your Wisdom, help us to make Systemic Change a living reality.

Left: Inspire us with your Spirit of wisdom; plant seeds of your vision in our hearts and minds; give us humor and give us humility as we work with one another to transform our service into something new for those living in poverty.

All: Lord, in your Wisdom, help us to make Systemic Change a living reality.

Leader: Antiphon: “May the radiance of your charity be a beaming light.” St. Vincent de Paul

Left: We bless You and thank You as well for that which is stable and unchanging, for the ancient and traditional Word of God that gives meaning to the new.

Right: We thank you, Lord of all good things, for change in our lives.

Left: We are grateful, for those among us who, through their gifts of excitement and adventure, have taught us not to fear change, nor to resist the new.

Right: We are thankful for Your Son, Your Sacred Word, who spoke to us of new wine for new wine skins and who calls us daily to a new kingdom and to a new covenant.

Left: May our hearts be ever-changing, ever-growing, as we journey to You, our Mysterious Source, You who are forever fresh and new yet forever the same.

Leader: Reading: Isaiah 43: 16-19

Thus says the Lord, who opens a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who leads out chariots and horsemen, a powerful army. Till they lie down, never, never to rise again. Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; See I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

Response:

Left: To be a Christian is to believe in the new.

Right: To be a Christian is to believe in a God of newness.

 Left: To be a Christian is to “dare to attempt to see as God sees.”

Right: To be Vincentian is to believe in our call to change people’s lives.

Closing Prayer:

Leader: Loving God, we thank You especially now for the gift of change, that gift of newness that opens doors closed by habit and routine.

Leader: We dare to pray:

All: God, let the world be changed, for we long to see the end of poverty.

Leader: We dare to pray:

All: God, let the rules be changed, for we long to see our economic structures bring justice to those who are poor.

Leader: We dare to pray:

All: God let our lives be changed, for we long to bring hope where the Good News is needed.

Leader: With the strength of your spirit and inspired by your compassion, we dare to make this promise to work for systemic change.

All: United with our Vincentian brothers and sisters, we will go to the poor with loving compassion and a holistic approach. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

[This is a companion piece to The Challenge of Pope John Paul II on Vincentian Mindwalk]