Prayer by Kyle Oliver for prayr.cc (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: “what you don’t know” [cropped] by nerissa’s ring via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

A prayer inspired by the gospel reading from Matthew 23 for the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost (aka Proper 26A):

whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on people’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. (Matthew 23:3b-4, WEB)

O Lord, we pray for our leaders.

We pray that all who bear authority may seek to be worthy of trust.

We pray that we each may recognize the hypocrisy in our own lives even as we name what we see in the world around us.

We pray that all people may be aware of their power to model—behavior both good and bad, expectations both reasonable and irksome, judgments both merciful and capricious.

Teach us your statutes, O Lord,
that we may walk in your ways.

And guide us in the imitation of your self-sent Servant, who never asked more than he was willing to give.

Amen.

Worth putting this passage in conversation with Matthew 11, of course.

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Matthew 23:1-12

World English Bible, Public Domain

1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, 2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sat on Moses’ seat. 3 All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do.

4 For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on people’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. 5 But they do all their works to be seen by others. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments, 6 and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Teacher, Teacher’ by others.

8 But don’t you be called ‘Teacher,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. 9 Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.

12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

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Leadership Without Easy Answers by Ronald Heifetz

A classic. First encountered in engineering school, believe it or not.

Beast of Burden by The Rolling Stones

Because I literally can’t hear the word and not get the song in my head.

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