Focus on the place setting at the center of your group. Use this place setting to make a commitment to invite someone you exclude from your life to your own table or to your parish table.
Spend five minutes in silence, thinking about whom you want to seat at this place setting.
VOICE 1: I am the woman bent over for 18 long years until Jesus raised me tall to praise and thank God.
ALL: Welcome to our table.
VOICE 2: I am the man with dropsy, misshapen, lame, the object of ridicule, long forgotten.
ALL: Welcome to our table.
Tell the group whom you will invite to your table or work to include by speaking in their voices, following the pattern of the woman bent over and man with dropsy. Answer each voice —
ALL: Welcome to our table.