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A Prayer for America

lmighty God, covenanter with Abraham and Father of Jesus Christ,

Are you not also the One who called Mohammed? The One who is the hope of all spiritual seekers?

You are the God of history, in transit with all humanity toward still unmapped destinations.

You have often called to us when we declined to hear.

But you have sometimes seemed silent when we called.

You have taught us to say that you are the shepherd who sees us through the valley of the shadow of death and that we need fear no evil.

But you also called forth from the lips of Jesus on the cross, “God, my God, why have you forsaken us?”

We come before you today, together with sisters and brothers across our country, to seek your comfort and to cry out in grief.

Be with us as we struggle between pain and outrage, grief and anger.

Comfort those who mourn, bless our dead, touch gently the lives that have become open wounds crying out to you.

We give you thanks for the souls of those who have died, for all those their love and lives have touched; we thank you for the good deeds and blessed acts from fire fighters, police, rescue workers, and citizens; we give thanks for human solidarity, for the celebration of community and the human family, and for all times when love triumphs over death.

Open the hearts of our enemies to cleanse them of hatred, and open our own hearts to self-examination.

As we have sung to you to bless America, enlarge our imaginations to call down your blessings upon every nation and upon the best aspirations of every people, especially the poor, the downtrodden, the marginalized.

When our mourning is tempted to militarism, remind us that we Americans, a city set on a hill, a light to the world, want to be your blessing to all the world.

As the “R’s” of retaliation, retribution, and reprisal beckon us, teach us also the “R’s” of repentance and reflection.

Give us the spiritual courage to name the sins at home, as well as those abroad.

As we celebrate your grace and severe mercy upon us as Americans, stir us also to new ways of living; make us agents of true peace and economic justice throughout the world.

Finally, teach each of us, in this tragic hour, to number our days and apply our hearts to wisdom.

AMEN.

This prayer was written by Donald Heinz, professor of religious studies, for the university’s participation in the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance on September 14, 2001.