A Prayer for Mary


O Lord God of Israel,
     Please be with my friend Mary for she is in distress.
Her oldest son is causing her sadness and shame.  He does
not obey the Law of Moses nor does he respect the tradition
of the elders; he eats unclean food and sits at the tables of
tax collectors and sinners.
   Wherever he goes, he seems to stir up controversy.
He continually argues with, and criticizes the scribes
and the Pharisees.  He believes Samaritans are our neighbor
and speaks of them as if they are worthy of your presence.
Last week, I heard he healed the daughter of a Syrian woman.
He has even started a gang; it has been rumored he is
attracting a small group of women as well.
     Mary's son, the one they call "Jesus", even compares
himself with you.  For, when he heals on the Sabbath,
he speaks such words as, "My father is always at his work to
this very day, and I, too, am working".

O Lord God of Israel,
     Again, I pray-please be with my friend Mary for she is in
distress.


                         -James Irving Mann-
                         copyright 2012

                         jamesirvingmann@yahoo.com

"A Prayer for Mary" was first published in HALO, January, 2013