Prayer for the Week (September 5-September 11, 2021)

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Let us pray that God’s Spirit opens us to all that is good:
God our Father, you wait for us to be open to you, to people, and to all that is true, beautiful and good.
May your Spirit open our ears to the liberating Word of your Son.
Open our hearts and hands to everyone who needs us.
Open our lips so that we proclaim everywhere the marvels you do for us.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

(Claretian Publications, alt.)

Sunday Reflection (September 5, 2021)

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We all make judgments about others based upon their appearance: The way they dress, the way they speak, where they live, the job they have or do not have, what country they are from, and what their bumper stickers say, or even who they voted for; yet, if we give or deny preferential treatment to someone upon appearance or social standing only, we err. James calls it more than a sin, he calls it “working a sin” (James 2:1-13).

We all have been guilty of discrimination based upon the appearance and the color of their skin, but we should never regard it as trivial! Furthermore, if we discriminate against the poor
and most vulnerable in society, we show ourselves not to be on the side of God
(Proverbs 22:22-23).