A Prayer of Thanks

Prayer of thanks to Jesus by Richard Rohr

I thank you, Lord Jesus, for becoming a human being so I do not have to pretend or try to be a God.

I thank you, Lord Jesus, for becoming finite and limited so I do not have to pretend that I am infinite and limitless.

I thank you, crucified God, for becoming mortal so I do not have to try to make myself immortal.

I thank you, Lord Jesus, for becoming inferior so I do not have to pretend that I am superior to anyone. . . .

I thank you for becoming weak, so I don’t have to be strong.

I thank you for being willing to be considered imperfect and strange, so I do not have to be perfect and normal.

I thank you, Lord Jesus, for being willing to be disapproved of, so I do not have to try so hard to be approved and liked.

I thank you for being considered a failure, so I do not have to give my life trying to pretend I’m a success.

I thank you for being wrong by the standards of religion and state, so I do not have to be right anywhere.

I thank you for being poor in every way, so I do not have to be rich in any way.

I thank you, Lord Jesus, for being all of the things humanity despises and fears, so I can accept myself and others in you.