Techgab1415
Monday, January 19, 2015
A Martin Luther King Jr. Day Prayer
The Prayers of Martin Luther King Jr.
In the National Catholic Reporter, John Dear contributed the following:
"Recently, I came across a new collection of prayers by Martin Luther King Jr., Thou, Dear God: Prayers that Open Hearts and Spirits (edited by Lewis V. Baldwin, Beacon Press, 2012). For his birthday today, I thought I'd offer here a sample of those prayers to encourage us on our journey so we might be, like Dr. King, people of prayer, peace, justice and nonviolence."
Some of the prayers are posted below. To see more, follow the link.
Link: http://ncronline.org/blogs/road-peace/prayers-martin-luther-king-jrGod, give us strength of body to keep walking for freedom. God, give us strength to remain nonviolent, even though we may face death. Amen.
***
God, remove all bitterness from my heart and give me the strength and courage to face any disaster that comes my way. Amen.
O God, make us willing to do your will, come what may. Increase the number of persons of good will and moral sensitivity. Give us renewed confidence in nonviolence and the way of love as taught by Christ. Amen.
***
Eternal God, out of whose mind this great cosmic universe, we bless you. Help us to seek that which is high, noble and good. Help us in the moment of difficult decision. Help us to work with renewed vigor for a warless world, a better distribution of wealth, and a brother/sisterhood that transcends race or color. Amen.
God, grant that we wage the struggle with dignity and discipline. May all who suffer oppression in this world reject the self-defeating method of retaliatory violence and choose the method that seeks to redeem.
***
God, help us as individuals and as a world to hear it now before it is too late: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and God's justice and all these other things shall be added unto you." Amen.
God grant that as we go out and face life with all of its decisions, as we face the bitter cup which we will inevitably face from day to day, God grant that we will learn this one thing and that is, to make the transition from "this cup" to "nevertheless." Amen.
Freedom, Freedom, Let it Ring (MLK song for Children)
Lyrics by Jackie Woodson; sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"
Freedom, Freedom, let it ring,
Let it ring, said Dr. King
Let it ring from North to South
Let it ring from house to house
Let it ring fort everyone
All arcross the nation.
Let it ring for black and white,
Let it ring both day and night
Let it ring for young and old,
Forever may it songsring bold
Freedom, freedom, let it ring,
Let it ring, said Dr King.