Prayer for a Nation of Division and Mixed Priorities

(A Prayer of Confession)

Good and gracious God,

Somehow,
in the U.S,
we’ve arrived at a place,
where we focus
on our differences
rather than our similarities –
which is curious
since we have more in common

than we have differences.

We’ve arrived at a place,
where we make
feeding the homeless illegal
and owning a gun
a basic human need –
which is curious
considering both
put people’s lives
at risk.

In the U.S.,
somehow,
we’ve arrived at a place,
where the color of your skin
seems to dictate
how some people see
the content of you character –
which is curious
when you consider
our long history
of racism and discrimination
and how little
we have apparently
learned from it.

We’ve arrived at a place,
where basic human dignity,
the value of all life,
the love of neighbor ,
have given way to the priorities
of the almighty dollar,
the rights of Big Business,
and the pursuit of power –
which is curious
when you consider
that the very money
we now worship
has printed across it,
“IN GOD WE TRUST.”

May we learn
that if we truly do
trust in you,
we must begin to reverse
the priorities of this nation.

May we learn
that if we truly do
trust in you,
love of neighbor
(and even of “enemy”)
will always trump
any differences
we see.

May we learn
that if we truly do
trust in you,
we will have a bias
toward life
and life-giving actions.

May we learn
that if we truly do
trust in you,
the last place
we would want to see your name
would be emboldened
across the gold calf
that our dollars have become.

Encourage us to be
a people whose priories
are founded in love –
not love of self
or love of family
or love of friends –
but love of all.

Do not let us forget:
all means ALL.

Guide us in this difficult task
as we endeavor to extend
you grace and mercy to ALL.

And encourage us along the way
through the love and forgiveness
others extend to us.

Amen.

 

 

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