Lord, how could you hide Your glory — Your freedom — Your beauty —
	Your wondrous creativity? You came as a poor carpenter’s Son and
	not the great military leader they looked for. But, people paid
	attention to Your words, teachings and Your works of healing,
	kindness, good will and peace. You made lasting impressions in Your
	three years of public ministry. You were about changing the world
	to love their God more and their neighbor as themselves. It is Your
	love that chases out fear,bringing the peace, harmony and unity that
	we need to put meaning to our gift of life.

	Lord, help me to freely accept the power of Your love and that of
	Your Father, without fear or hesitation. Your love has surrounded
	me from the day Your Father held me in the palm of His hand; the day
	He let me go out into the world where I keep looking for You; wanting
	to find my way back to You, never to leave again, and to use Your gift
	of my life to let me return to the glory that has always been there.

	Father, give me the wisdom for an orderly life without dark shadows,
	regrets or guilt; to be strong in the face of everyday happenings; to
	accept what comes with peace and serenity, knowing I’ll never have to
	handle it alone. Help me to open that gate You promised was there; to
	be strong from carrying out faithfully the weight of unwanted and
	frustrating problems; from pushing away temptations; from lifting off
	burdens of those around me. May I hold out my hand in friendship; my
	closed fist in fighting off the robbers of purity; seeing the
	magnificence of nature, knowing it’s another touch of Your beauty
	— another glory.

	Lord, help me to understand the love that You and Your Father have
	for me and my fellow man. We are Your wondrously made creatures,
	just a step below Your Angels. When we reach up, then does our spirit
	rejoice and give thanks; then our hearts can open up and let in Your
	pure love that is waiting to surround us. 

	Lord, Help me to take you clearly and cleanly and fully into my heart.
	Never let me forget that I am Yours completely. Grant me the courage
	and strength to fulfill my destiny that Your gift of my life was to
	prepare me for. May I always know that You are there when I call out
	to You. 
	
	May the work of my life be a thing of beauty when you ask for it back.

	Amen.