The Invitation

The following is the opening prayer/poem for YWCA's Lenten Reflections for Breaking Down the Wall. There are five reflections to match five weeks in Lent or the five primary events in Holy Week.

The Invitation

We invite you this Lenten season

of reflection, study, and repentance

to walk with us as we walk with Jesus

the Way of Suffering

to lives threatened with resurrection.

We invite you to accompany us

as we accompany them

those border crossers for justice

who seek and work for peace

who break down, break through, break open

all the walls that separate and segregate us,

break our bodies and spirits.

We invite you to accompany us

on the vigil that leads to resurrection

by facing those whose lives are constricted,

restricted, and targeted;

who ask you to stay awake and pray

stop the destruction of trees,

the demolishing of homes,

the burning of homes and worship spaces,

the stabbings and the shootings.

We invite you to bear the cross

We invite you to live

with those dying daily

to see in them

Him calling out, weeping, rising up.

We invite you to join us

this Lenten season

in breaking down all the Walls

that divide us

in rolling away all the Stones

that entombs us.

We invite you to live lives threatened with resurrection.

Inspired by Guatemalan poet Julia Esquival’s poem Threatened with Resurrection