God of our deepest convictions, God known within and between in intimate encounters through ecstasy, compassion, grace and humor; God as foundation or projection - we pause to affirm again the words across the ages, contained in holy writings, proclaimed by prophets: “This is the fasting I desire: releasing those bound unjustly, sharing bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed, the homeless ones and not turning our back on your own, brothers and sisters in need.”

Might these words not be a distant and empty call or commitment, but rather invitation to be and become gifts for each other in word, resource and deed. As we commit to peace and peacefulness, may we link it all to justice and sharing – restoring people back to community, working toward fairness in all exchanges. May the value of peace be an ever-widening reality in our homes, families, workplaces. We move beyond limited perspectives, cultural biases, half-truths, entitlement, easy answers to empower ourselves and others toward greater equality and understanding.

We consider now in discomfort, hope and possibility…the faceless idle millions, the economy’s disillusioned and distressed, displaced. We look into the statistics of the evening news and re-commit to further learning, empowering, becoming and caring. Might we move an inch this day toward expanded minds, compassioned living, mindful spending and giving – fulfilling the prophet’s call and our own inner voice of reason and passion.

We pause now to remember all the abandoned human cargo of a civilization racing headlong on success’ interstate. The unknown, nameless, the sponsored children, those pushing carts, boxes for homes. Those afraid of freezing to death or being beaten by some half-crazed presence. We pause to remember these and to imagine a new world we must all share.

Indeed, we remember all our friends, family, all those struggling with all that takes place under the sun….

May we look kindly on the ragged refugees, the wanderers in the exodus of economics, the hungry, hunted, homeless ones….the cousins of Jesus with no where to lay their heads. Amen.

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