Praying Together 2021

169 Gather Light a candle as a sign of God’s presence and sit quietly. Ring a bell or chime to start the prayer. The love of God be with you! And with your spirit. COLLECT Meeting Jesus changed Matthew’s life. He was a tax collector, but then became an apostle and gave us one of the gospel accounts about Jesus. Let us pray that his words will bring us to Christ. (pause) O God, as we meditate on Matthew’s stories about Jesus, lead us to know Jesus and love him. Amen. SCRIPTURE A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 9:9-13 Later, Jesus and his disciples were having dinner at Matthew’s house. Many tax collectors and other sinners were also there. Some Pharisees asked Jesus’ disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and other sinners?” Jesus heard them and answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. Go and learn what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others.’ I didn’t come to invite good people to be my followers. I came to invite sinners.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. RESPONSE When Jesus was on earth, he didn’t choose to have dinner with popular people. He chose to spend time with those whom others rejected, those who had made bad choices, those who were looked down upon by others. If Jesus came to your school today, or to your neighbourhood, who do you think he would choose to sit with? Instead of judging people or turning away from them, Jesus wants us to be kind and welcoming. Close your eyes and spend a moment in silence thinking about someone you wouldn’t normally talk to, and decide how you could show kindness and mercy to that person today. DISMISSAL May the compassion of Christ direct our actions. Amen. May God bless us in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Ring the bell or chime to signal the end of the prayer. Extinguish the candle. “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do.” Tuesday St Matthew 21 September 2021