Walking with Jesus

God of compassion,
you await the sinner’s return and spread a feast
to welcome home the lost.

Save us from the temptations
that lead us away from you,
and draw us back by the constancy of your love,
that we may take our place in your household
and gladly share our inheritance with others.

We thank you for sending your Son, Jesus,
into our world to show and teach us how to love.
During this Jubilee Year of Hope,
may we open our hearts to you
so that we may reflect your love, mercy and compassion
in our families, communities and parishes.

May we walk with Jesus
through the “streets of Galilee,
comforting the sick, opening our arms to the little ones”,
sharing with the poor
and searching out the marginalized in our society.

May it be a year when barriers between us fall
and reconciliation becomes possible:
a year when our faith in your mercy is strengthened
and we learn how to be your beacons of hope in our world.

Amen.

(For the 4th Sunday of Lent, 2025)