Monday, January 01, 2024

A Prayer for Today . . . and the Year Ahead

Art: Vicki Shuck


Today is World Day of Peace, and in celebrating it at Spirit Catholic Community yesterday a special prayer was shared, an adapted version of which I share below.

I dedicate this prayer to the new year starting today, and intend making it a part of my morning prayer throughout 2024. Perhaps you’ll consider joining me in doing the same.

____________________


Beloved One,

From the desire for worldly power
and the worship of weapons, shepherd us.

From the celebration of killing
and the slaughter of the innocent, shepherd us.

From the nightmare of hunger and the
politics of both apathy and terror, shepherd us.

From plundering earth’s resources and from
the despair of our times, shepherd us.

By the light that guided your way of justice
and compassion, help us discover within ourselves
this same living light.

By a hunger for balance and justice
and in a spirit of trust, gentleness and nonviolence,
help us manifest clarity, purpose and peace.

By truths that set us free, by prophesy & witness,
and by the power of love, let us be living
embodiments of deeper understanding,
justice and compassion.

Amen.


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
The Light of This New Year’s Day (2023)
Shining On . . . Into the New Year (2022)
A Very Intentional First Day of the Year (2021)
Carrying It On . . . Into the New Year (2021)
A Blessing for the New Year (2020)
A Blessing for the New Year (2019)
Jane Goodall's New Year Message (2018)
A New Year (2017)
Move Us, Loving God
Andrew Harvey on Radical, Divine Passion in Action
For 2015, Three “Generous Promises”
Threshold Musings (2013)
A Song and Challenge for 2012
In This Time of Liminal Space
Dwelling in Peace
A Sacred Pause
Aligning With the Living Light
Mystical Participation
Returning the Mind to God
The Beauty and Challenge of Being Present in the Moment
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Being the Light

Image: Vicki Shuck.


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