Fr. James Martin, SJ, was asked by Sojourners to write a prayer for the United States’ 250th birthday. HeartSpeak shares his prayer with you and invites you, in the “Comments” section below to share your own prayers and hopes for the United States at this birthday celebration time.
A Prayer for Our Nation
James Martin, SJ
Loving God,
on our 250th anniversary as a nation,
help us to be
just,
loving,
merciful,
grateful,
compassionate,
and, above all,
kind.
Help our nation mirror
the kind of people
we want to be.
And help us to avoid
envy,
cruelty,
violence,
boasting,
prejudice,
nationalism,
scapegoating,
and malice towards anyone.
Help us to be loving,
as you are,
Loving God.
Amen.
Every day our earth turns, revealing an ever-present sun. Sometimes, it might be behind some very troubling black clouds and our “faith” must tell us it is there.
Our U.S.A. is part of an unfolding evolution of God’s history of creation, and each one of us has been chosen to participate in this unfolding. When I am tempted to be taken in by darkness, I return to the words of our Creator God as quoted by Frederick Douglass:
“I do not despair of this country…the FIAT of the Almighty, ‘LET THERE BE LIGHT’ has not yet spent it’s force.”
Happy Birthday America !
Il est bon de voir et de goûter la présence de l’Esprit d’un Dieu plein d’Amour et de miséricorde déployer son énergie à travers les textes qui nous arrivent par vous. Merci pour vos envois.
Thank you for this simple, gentle prayer!