pilgrim without a shrine

This Page is reserved for prayers for justice and peace – either from famous dead guys(and gals), or if anyone chooses to write their own you can put them in the replies below.

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(added 02-27-2008)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer shares the following excerpt from a hymn in his book Life Together. It is in a chapter about how Christian brothers and sisters might share the day together. In particular Bonhoeffer is discussing the act of greeting God in worship each morning. I find the poetry particular evocative as a prayer for justice and peace, especially when imagining the night mentioned as the darkness of injustice, and the day as the light of Christ at work in the world. In this interpretation consider the second verse as Jesus keeping watch through the night of injustice, refreshing the victim who is able to sleep in peace, and perhaps condemning the inactive/unaware Christian who sleeps too peacefully. Verse three then becomes a request for the guidance for a life as peacemakers.

morning hymn from the Bohemian Brethren

the day does now dark night dispel; dear christians, wake and rouse you well, give glory to God our Lord.

once more the daylight shines abroad, o brethren let us praise the Lord, whose grace and mercy have thus kept the nightly watch while we have slept.

we offer up ourselves to Thee, that heart and word and deed may be in all things guided by Thy mind, and in Thine eyes acceptance find.

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A Prayer for the Leaders of the Nations

O God our heavenly Father,
whose love sets no boundaries
and whose strength is in service;
grant to the leaders of the nations
wisdom, courage and insight at this time of darkness and fear.

Give to all who exercise authority
determination to defend the principles of freedom, love and tolerance,
strength to protect and safeguard the innocent
and clarity of vision to guide the world into the paths of justice and peace.
This we ask through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

(the above prayer is from An Invitation to Prayer)

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whatever happens

Father in heaven!

let us consider that whatever happens to us, this comes from thee, and that whatever comes from thee nothing is able to harm us; no, no, it can only be to our benefit.

-soren kierkegaard

wikipedia article on kierkegaard

The Prayers of Kierkegaard (Amazon)

The Prayers of Kierkegaard (University of Chicago Press)

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Prayer for Daily Bread

may You give bread; that is to say, let us have nourishment from our just efforts. if your profit does not belong to others, if your income is not the result of another’s tears, if no one is hungry because you are fill, if no one groans because of your abundance, such then is the bread of God, the fruit of justice, the ear of the corn of peace, undefiled by being mixed with the seed of tares. but if you cultivate what belongs to others and fill your eyes with injustice, confirming your unjust gains with written documents, then you may indeed say to God, “give bread,” but another will hear this cry of yours, not God. One who pursues righteousness recieves bread from God, whereas the man who cultivates injustice is fed by the inventor of injustice.

-gregory of nyssa

wikipedia article on gregory