Holy God, our undocumented sons and daughters are calling out in the streets, asking to be seen and valued. Come, Holy Spirit, take their voices on your wind and blow them into the halls of power so that their cries and your love for the least among us will be heard. Lord Jesus, you who said, “bring the children to me,” speak to the hearts of those who would send far away those brought to this country as children, sending them in exile to a land they have never known. Protect and bless the vulnerable and rebuke those who punish the innocent. Triune, inseparable God, the dreams of fathers and mothers are threatening to turn to nightmares as they worry their families will be torn asunder. Grant them strength to make it through the night. Grant them a sense of your unceasing presence, as promised by the prophet Isaiah: “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, whose table is never too crowded to include another, whose banquet is the feast where those who have been last will be given a place of honor, whose nature it is to embrace, include, adopt and engraft, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Comfort those who this day live in fear. Challenge those who cannot see you reflected the face of the other. Motivate us to be your hands and feet, even those who continue to stand uncertainly on the sidelines. Empower this day all who desire mercy, love kindness, and long for justice, all those who seek to follow Jesus, the One came to save the entire world, God’s world. Amen.
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