Prayers for Worship
Proper 10
by Ron Gordon

Mark 6: 14-29

Collect:
 

Eternal God, through all ages you have given us men and women who speak up 
for justice and call for repentance, and when their cry has been silenced you continue 
to speak through others. The cry of John is echoed from the cross of Jesus 
and is carried forward by all who long for justice, truth and peace, and have been prepared 
to pay the cost for their witness to your demands. We join them in our prayer 
for the coming of your kingdom, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer:
 

You, Eternal God, chose to make yourself known through your prophets as One who offers justice, 
mercy and loving kindness to people, and who demands the same behaviour from those 
who worship and serve you in their dealings with others. You gave the Law to guide us 
in your way so that we might freely love and serve you and our fellow human beings. 
Blessed are you forever.

You, Lord Jesus, lived amongst us as one of us, but full of grace and truth, 
revealing the will and purpose of God in the way we care for and love others. 
You spent yourself in teaching, healing and bearing witness to the goodness 
of your Father. You affirmed the witness of John and all the prophets. 
You gave yourself on the cross to plumb the depths of human wickedness, 
and reveal the depths of the divine compassion. 

Blessed are you forever.

You, Spirit, are the inspirer of the prophets, the source of their strength 
and the renewal of their minds. Through them you spoke repentance and peace to kings, 
petty princelings and dictators, calling for justice for the people of God. 
You gave strength and courage, and the determination of faith. 
Blessed are you forever.

God of the prophets, God and Father of our Lord Jesus, our God and Father: 
receive our prayer for all who faithfully bear witness to your demands for justice, 
mercy and love. May all those who suffer under oppressive regimes know your 
liberating word which brings down the mighty from their seats and exults the humble 
and meek and establishes your kingdom in our midst. To you our God, Father, 
Son and Holy Spirit, be adoration, thanks and love forever and ever. Amen.

© 2009 Ron Gordon (used with permission)

imprisoned
by Jenn Gordon
 
Mark 6:14-29

who sits at his table

in this black eucharist
feasting on pomposity and perversion
enthusiastic for vacant entertainment
aroused by the nearness of delight
in this dark and drunken night
powerless to pull the reins
bound by evil’s claims
he impotently acquiesces
and the wilderness voice is still

who waits in his cell

willing to converse but not converge
with political power,
sign persistently pointing the way
released, despite the chains
to speak unpopular, uncomfortable truth
potently aware of the sharp edge
of deluded ambition
that holds and harms his body
but not his soul

who sits? who waits?

I do
God help me to dwell,
free
within the cell

(Comments to Jenn at jennieg@labyrinth.net.au.)