God of all the nations
many have been gathered to you
from generation to generation
gathered that they may worship at your holy mountain
we praise you we are among those gathered into you family
a family drawn from all races, all cultures, all backgrounds
a family of all the nations
How, O Lord, can all the nations come
come to your holy mountain
where others drive them away?
Drive them away because they are foreigners
because of the colour of their skin
because of their sexuality
teach us to be more open to others, whose views and lifestyles are wildly different from our own
that, as we listen to them
as we talk with them
we come to love them and
show your love revealed in Christ
Challenging Christ
throughout your earthly life,
you challenged rules and regulations which excluded those on the margins
but in the encounter with the Canaanite woman, you seemed to turn all you’d taught on its head
though we do not fully understand what you were up to
we praise you for stopping us in our tracks
making us think deeply about what your teaching means for us
and to look at your interaction with the Canaanite woman in context of all you said and did and taught
May we recall all nations are welcome to come to you
all nations
none are better
none are superior
none are more loved
so may we challenge all systems and people who attempt to segregate
attempt to divide
attempt to drive others away
be like the Canaanite woman
defiant in the face of oppression
persistent in faith
Faith inspiring Holy Spirit
Inspire us to take more than the crumbs from the master’s table to all the nations
that God’s justice and righteousness may prevail
through our faithful, devoted prayers, action and love
Amen