May the compassionate heart of God
fill that soulful place deep within,
moving us to see the broken and afflicted
in the ruins of their shattered dreams.

May we gaze upon those held in captivity by addiction,
materialism, or their own insatiable quest for power—
with the perceptive eyes of Jesus
and his liberating embrace.

May our proclamation of the Lord’s favor
be seen in our sacrificial deeds for others,
our collective resistance against self-indulgence,
and our questioning of all that oppresses.

May we comfort all who mourn,
even as we mourn what must die within us,
bringing the oil of gladness
upon the unfolding of our truest selves.

For the sake of our world,
for the sake of our children,
and their children.

Amen.

—Scott Jenkins, retired MHM staff chaplain

This prayer, written for our staff in 2019 and timely for today, is inspired by Isaiah chapter 61 and Luke chapter 4.