For this week’s installment of The Wild Reed’s “Prayer of the Week” series, I share Terry Oakley’s beautiful “Prayer for Others,” taken from Just One Year: A Global Treasury of Prayer and Worship (edited by Timothy Radcliffe, OP). I invite you to join me in praying this prayer throughout this week.
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A Prayer for Others
Move us to action, loving God,
so that we do not avoid the pain of the world by escapism,
but engage in work of justice and peace.
Move us to action, compassionate God,
so that we do not care only for ourselves or our own,
but care for all those in need, friends and strangers alike.
Move us to action, healing God,
so that we do not aim simply for our own health,
but share our resources with all who are dis-eased.
Move us to action, friendly God,
so that we do not exclude those different from us,
but welcome with generous hospitality those in need.
Move us to action, wonderful God,
so that we do not lie lukewarm in apathy,
but give of ourselves in courage and daring for your cause.
In the power and grace of the Spirit of Christ,
we offer ourselves and our prayer,
for you to make us your wonder.
Amen.
Move us to action, loving God,
so that we do not avoid the pain of the world by escapism,
but engage in work of justice and peace.
Move us to action, compassionate God,
so that we do not care only for ourselves or our own,
but care for all those in need, friends and strangers alike.
Move us to action, healing God,
so that we do not aim simply for our own health,
but share our resources with all who are dis-eased.
Move us to action, friendly God,
so that we do not exclude those different from us,
but welcome with generous hospitality those in need.
Move us to action, wonderful God,
so that we do not lie lukewarm in apathy,
but give of ourselves in courage and daring for your cause.
In the power and grace of the Spirit of Christ,
we offer ourselves and our prayer,
for you to make us your wonder.
Amen.
See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
Prayer of the Week (April 19, 2010)
Prayer of the Week (April 12, 2010)
Karl Rahner on the Need for Prayer
A Springtime Prayer
Letting Them Sit By Me
For the Traveler
It Happens All the Time in Heaven
Image: Michael Bayly.
Thank you for this prayer, Michael!
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a prayer calling Christians to serve and be Christ's hands and feet in the world -- embracing the majority of the poor of our world with our hearts -- and befriending those whom society rejects. Generally speaking, to be counter-cultural and prophetic in humanizing the world as well as the church.
Thanks for the wonderful pictures too!
Bob