Lord, touch us

In the gospels we have accounts in which Jesus touches people and they are healed from their disease. We see our own soul diseases in our sin and brokenness, and we ask the Lord to touch us individually, and that is a good prayer to pray.

But we need to think and act in terms of community in Jesus as his Body in this world. "Lord, touch us together" might be an even better prayer oftentimes. Of course we need to focus on our own need instead of castigating others as being the needy ones. Yet oftentimes we do have compassion as we understand or sense something of the struggle of others around us. Instead of condemning them in their struggle which may include sin or temptation toward sin, we need to empathize with them and see our own heart and pray with us in mind, "Lord, touch us."

This goes along with the prayer the Lord taught us as his followers to pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

As I found my misplaced copy of Bonhoeffer's Life Together, which along with Scripture has been my "meat and drink" lately, I will be praying this prayer today.