World Day of the Poor Prayer

Open the Doors of My Heart

(Catholic Relief Services' World Day of the Poor Prayer)

"As long as Lazarus lies at the door of our homes (cf. Luke 16:19-21), there can be no justice or social peace." - Pope Francis

God of Abraham,
on my television,
on my newsfeed,
on my street,
everywhere I go,
I see Lazarus.
But I also see so many doors,
doors that I’ve built,
that I’ve closed.
Doors that society has hung and locked.
Doors that separate me from Lazarus.

Lord, teach me to open the door to Lazarus,
to the poor,
to know them as your children
to lift them in their distress
to work to help them find a fair share of your bounty.

This World Day of the Poor,
help us all turn to those outside our door,
to bless, heal, comfort,
and together, from this day forward, build a world,
where the poor are strangers to none,
and, indeed, the very chains of poverty are broken.

Amen