Prayer for July 8, 2025: Peace, Love, and Hope for all Beings.

Dear Divine Presence of Justice and Mercy, we address you today, burdened by the weight of sorrow, the sting of injustice, and the yearning for peace that transcends geographical boundaries.

In Texas, we mourn with the people who have lost lives due to the devastating floodwaters, whose soil remains soaked with grief. We remember the children of Camp Mystic and the families who endured the anguish of delayed assistance. We lament the missed opportunities, particularly the eight years of unanswered pleas for a flood warning system. May this tragedy inspire a profound commitment to safeguarding life, and may those who mourn be enveloped in solace that no storm can erase.

The global community is also affected by the imposition of new tariffs on copper and other commodities, causing market unrest. As trade tensions escalate and uncertainty spreads, we implore our leaders to guide economic policies that prioritize not only profit but also the well-being of all, particularly the marginalized and unheard. May cooperation prevail over coercion, and may justice serve as the arbiter of every transaction.

We extend our prayers to the men deported from Asia and Latin America to South Sudan, a land foreign to them, fraught with peril and dislocation. Despite the complexities of their stories, we must never lose sight of their humanity. May mercy guide our judgment, and let every nation remember the sanctity of the stranger.

We grieve the atrocities unveiled in the recent Israeli report, which exposes the systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war by Hamas on October 7. For the victims whose voices were silenced, the survivors who bear invisible wounds, and the world that must now confront the truth—may justice emerge not in vengeance but in healing. Let us never become insensible to suffering, and let us honor the dignity of every soul violated by violence.

In a world characterized by scarcity and dependence, we express our gratitude for the unwavering resilience of Guyana, the sole nation that self-suffices in food production. This remarkable achievement serves as a testament to the potential when stewardship and vision converge. Let every nation draw inspiration from Guyana’s accomplishments to ensure the nourishment of its people. May food security become a shared global aspiration.

For all beings—the bereaved and the elated, the powerful and the vulnerable, the visible and the invisible—may peace prevail, love guide, and hope endure. Amen