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Bible Readings, Prayers and Pledge to End Racism

Augustinians of the Midwest in the United States, and all who wish to share Augustinian Spirituality, are encouraged to mark the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21, 2008, as well as the United States' Martin Luther King Holiday, January 21, 2008, with prayer, reflection, witness and action individually, in their communities and in their ministries.

To assist, we offer these suggested Bible readings, prayers to end the sin of racism and some reflections from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on nonviolent direct action for justice:

• Recommended Bible Readings

  

  • Genesis 1:26-31 (God created humanity in his image)

  • 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (We are the Body of Christ)

  • 1 John 3:11-18 (Love must not be mere words)

  • 1 John 4:7-21 (Those who say they love God must love their neighbor)

  • John 15:1-8 (The Vine and the Branches)

  • John 15:9-17 (Love one another)

  • John 17:11-23 (That all may be one)

  
  
  
  

• Prayers for the Elimination of Racism

  To the Creator of all races and peoples, who loves each of us for our uniqueness, we offer our prayers of petition:

  
  
  
  

  For an end to discrimination in all its forms, we pray ...
          Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.

  That each person may be respected and valued as a child of God, we pray ...
          Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.

  That the Church may be a witness and a universal sign of unity among all peoples, we pray ...
          Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.

  That each of us may acknowledge our part in mistakes and sins of the past pertaining to discrimination and racism, we pray ...
          Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.

  For a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation among peoples who share a history of mutual mistrust, hatred or aggression, we pray ...
          Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.

  That the victims of racial prejudice may forgive those who persecute them, and that their persecutors may have a change of heart, we pray ...
          Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.

  That the Church will continue to strive to make every element of human life correspond to the true dignity of the human person, we pray ...
          Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.

  For those who have struggled in the past and continue to do so today for civil rights, economic justice and the elimination of discrimination based on race, we pray ...
          Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.

  For the conversion of the hearts and minds of those who allow another's race to influence their relationships and limit their openness, we pray ...
          Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.

  That we may work to influence the attitudes of others by expressly rejecting racial stereotypes, slurs and jokes and be affirming of the cultural contributions of every racial group in our world, we pray ...
          Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.

  That we may make a personal commitment to abolish social structures which inhibit economic, educational and social advancement of the poor, we pray ...
          Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.

  That we may work for decent working conditions, adequate income, housing, education and health care for all people, we pray ...
          Lord of all nations, hear our prayer.

  
  
  
  
  

  Almighty God, source of our life, we acknowledge you as Creator of all people of every race, language and way of life. Help us to see each other as you see us: your sons and daughters loved into being and sustained by your parental care. Keep watch over our hearts so that the evil of racism will find no home with us. Direct our spirits to work for justice and peace so that all barriers to your grace which oppress our brothers and sisters will be removed. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

  
  
  

  -- Permission is granted to download, duplicate and distribute these Prayers for the Elimination of Racism
  for use as an aid to prayer. Please credit the Augustinian Secretariate for Justice and Peace
  and www.midwestaugustinians.org/justpaxracepray.html.
  Include the words “Used with permission” if printed
  or otherwise publsihed.

  
  
  
  

• Take the Pledge Against Racism

  One initial action you can do is to take the online United Nations Personal Pledge Against Racism.

         » Click here to read the Pledge Against Racism and add your commitment

  
  
  
  
  

• Reflections on Nonviolent Direct Action for Justice

  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a leader in the struggle to end racism in the United States. He continually stressed the Christian values of brotherhood, reconciliation and love, while pressing strongly for equality of rights and opportunities for all. His most powerful weapon was Nonviolent Direct Action. We offer these excerpts from Dr. King's public speeches for your reflection:

  
  
  

  • Nonviolent direct action did not originate in America, but it found its natural home in this land, where refusal to cooperate with injustice was an ancient and honorable tradition and where Christian forgiveness was written into the minds and hearts of good (people).

    
    
    

  • The nonviolent approach does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it. It gives them new self-respect. It calls up resources of strength and courage that they did not know they had. Finally, it so stirs the conscience of the opponent that reconciliation becomes a reality.

    
    
    

  • Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon. It is a weapon unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the one who wields it. It is a sword that heals.

    
    
    

  • Nonviolence . . . is the method which seeks to implement the just law by appealing to the conscience of the great decent majority who through blindness, fear, pride or irrationality have allowed their consciences to sleep.

    
    
    

  • At the center of nonviolence stands the principle of love.

  Special thanks to Fr. Joseph A. Genito, O.S.A., Augustinian Justice and Peace. These prayers, suggested Bible readings and quotations from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are adapted from his Augustinian Justice and Peace e-newsletter.