A Prayer for Justice, Healing, and Wisdom in a Divided Hour, September 8, 2025

Dear God of mercy and mystery, You who dwell in the tension between power and compassion, Between silence and truth— We come before You with reverence, Carrying the weight of a world shaped by courts, crises, and quiet suffering, And seeking Your guidance for ourselves, our leaders, and all creation.

We lift up the city of Los Angeles, Where “roving patrols” for immigration arrests have been upheld. O God, be near to the families who live in fear, To the workers who labor in silence, And to the children who wonder if tomorrow will bring separation. May justice be tempered with mercy, And may our laws reflect the sacred worth of every soul.

We pray for the halls of power, As the Supreme Court considers the request to cut $4 billion in foreign aid. May compassion guide our decisions, And may the vulnerable across the globe not be forgotten in the shuffle of budgets. Let generosity be our legacy, And may diplomacy be rooted in dignity, not dominance.

We hold in prayer the institutions meant to protect the public, As the Chief Justice allows the firing of a Federal Trade Commission member. O God, may independence not be sacrificed at the altar of control, And may truth and accountability remain the pillars of governance. Let our systems serve the people, And may integrity rise above partisanship.

We reflect on two decades under Chief Justice John Roberts, A time marked by a dramatic rightward turn in the Supreme Court. May discernment guide every ruling, And may the law be a shield for the vulnerable, not a sword for the powerful. Let justice flow like a river, And may the courts remain places of truth, not ideology.

We cry out amid the surge of COVID-19, As Americans struggle to access vaccines. O God, bring clarity to confusion, And compassion to policy. May science and care walk hand in hand, And may no one be left behind in the pursuit of health.

We lift up the voices of survivors, As the appeals court upholds E. Jean Carroll’s $83 million judgment. May truth be honored, And may courage be met with justice. Let healing rise from the ashes of harm, And may every person know they are not alone.

We give thanks for the renewed focus on prayer in public schools, As new guidance is announced. O God, may prayer be a source of peace, not division. Let it be offered freely, not imposed, And may every student feel safe to seek You in their own way. May reverence dwell in our classrooms, And may love be the lesson that endures.

We acknowledge the silent killer—high blood pressure— That increases the risk of stroke and dementia. O God, grant us wisdom to care for our bodies, And compassion to care for one another. May we listen to the quiet warnings, And respond with grace, discipline, and hope.

And in all these things— In every courtroom and clinic, In every sanctuary and school, In every act of courage and every cry for help— We ask:

May peace prevail. May love be our compass, May truth be our foundation, And may grace be the rhythm by which we live. Amen 💕✌️🙏