Interfaith Day of Prayer – Prayer from Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright

 

  Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright

 

Interfaith Day of Prayer

May 7, 2020

 

 

 

Eternal God, we come to you on this National Day of Prayer to intercede on behalf of all of your creation here on Earth. We are a Nation of many faiths. We know that we are all equal in your sight and we pray not just for the citizens of this country. We pray for our world that needs your intervention.

 

There is a virus that has besieged us, a virus that is devastating the world which you created, a virus that is a silent killer and is invisible. We come to you making intercession, O God, because the virus is deadly and invisible but we know that you are a life giving God who is invincible!

 

We make intercession today on behalf of your people of every race, ethnicity and nationality. Our sacred scriptures say “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein.”  Our scriptures also teach us that we are made in your “image and likeness” and we therefore come to you today to ask your blessings upon all of creation.  

 

I come as a Christian minister and I come halfway through the month of Ramadan. I come on behalf of my Muslim brothers and sisters all over this world, not just in this nation. 

 

I come as a Christian minister on behalf of the Hindu, the Sikhs, the Buddhists and those on this globe who are persons of good will. The Apostle Paul in the scriptures we cherish urges us to “Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus.”  I pray that your mind might be in everyone on this earth. 

 

You are no respecter of persons. You love all of us equally and we ask that you would teach us to love in the same manner. Remind us, O God, that although we have arrogantly come up with the term “exceptionalism,” you don’t play favorites and we are all equal in your sight. Your love is for all of humankind made in your image. 

 

We also pray for an end to war, an end to conflict, an end to mistrust and hatred. Bathe this globe with the love of God. Let your love wash over the earth just as the virus called Corona is spreading over the entire earth. 

 

Your invincible love is stronger than any invisible virus so we ask you to bathe us in your love this day that we may love others as you love us. We pray this prayer in your name. Amen. 

 

 

Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright

Pastor Emeritus of Trinity United Church of Christ-Chicago, public theologian, educator, author, social justice advocate, musician, former Marine in the United States Army assigned as part of the medical team of President Lyndon B. Johnson, and co-founder of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Chicago.