1. A PRAYER ON OUR BEHALF

Father, please be kind to the hearts of Your children gathered here today at this hour. Father, with whom were we born? With whom do we live? With whom do we die? We were not born together with You, we have been unable to live together with You, and we are unable to die together with You. Now that You have taught us the way to live together with You, we must thank You ten million times for Your gracious gift. We find that before You even the total offering of our bodies as a living sacrifice is not enough. Therefore, we feel once again that we are too dirty to present ourselves before You.

Being so ashamed to offer our bodies to You, we block and cover ourselves. We worry about ways to hide. We have been too arrogant before You. We have been too proud. Nevertheless, we have the temerity to ask You directly to accept us, saying that we are Your sons and daughters. (27-209)