by Vince Schueler
Oh God of mercy, justice and truth
You who have raised up nations in Your name
And have brought them low
Hear our prayer of atonement
We who in our arrogance and pride
have placed ourselves above your holy order
and have exalted ourselves above all nations, call your name
We have plundered the earth’s natural bounty
to preserve our comfort, wealth and safety
in a measure far greater than our share.
We who have abandoned you
to worship the idols of hatred and contempt, hear our prayer.
Our divisions increase in number as
we fuel the fires of resentment in our furnace of disparity
and with bellows of fear and distrust we heat to white hot
what holds us together in law and harmony.
Forging asunder
Blue and red, rural and urban,
Muslim, christian, jew, white, black and brown
Immigrant or native, legal and illegal
Traitor – Patriot, Us – Them
Oh merciful one
Save us from our failing institutions and leaders
Who bend truth to serve their desires, not Yours
and who have made selfishness a virtue.
Protect us from those who have betrayed us,
as we have betrayed them, in our surrender
to the demons of distraction, indifference and despair
Open our eyes to what we have become
Let us not turn away in disgust and shame
Or strut away in affronted anger
Or run from our creation in fear
God of justice mercy and truth
Bring us back into unity with You and Your one law of love
Bring us back to your holy presence
Fill us with your mercy and love
Provide sweet balm for our callused callousness
and quench our heat with Your love
Direct our thoughts and actions to those that will mend our bonds
And return us to your divine center
New Testament Version
Jesus – we have really screwed this country up,
Help us with your love.
May 20, 2017