Loving and generous God: As we offer our gifts this day, we confess that when confronted with Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” our answer is ambivalent at best. Even when we get the words right, we know our lives give a different answer. We turn away from the suffering and oppression of your children. We accumulate wealth and prestige and ignore the poor and powerless. You give and hold nothing back, and we give from our excess and resent being asked to do more. Help us to respond with the answer that comes from the center of our being and that is demonstrated in our living. In Christ, we pray. Amen. (Matthew 16: 13-20)