Sacredise - Prayer: True Fasting

True Fasting

by John van de Laar

Keep us, O God, from dry, brittle religion,
    from rigid laws and cold judgements,
    from personal piety
        and aloof disinterest in the well-being of others.
Teach us the way of true fasting, O God, we pray.

Keep us, O God, from empty, lifeless ritual,
    from babbled liturgies and noisy songs,
    from Sunday worship that has nothing to say
        to Monday’s world.
Teach us the way of true fasting, O God, we pray.

Keep us, O God, from proud, self-interested practices,
    from approval-seeking prayers and manipulative fasting,
    from faith that would demand blessing,
        at the expense of the weakest and the poorest.
Teach us the way of true fasting, O God, we pray.

May we be those whose lives reflect our love for you,
    our commitment to bring joy and justice to all,
        and our embrace of the cross as we do so.
May we be those who fast truly and pray with integrity,
    whose worship overflows into compassion and service,
        and through whom our world becomes a little more whole.
For the sake of your Kingdom.
Amen.

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