Benediction Prayer for the Inauguration
January 20, 2015
Blessed are you, Gracious God, Source of all that is true and beautiful. You, who delight in all people, we stand in awe before you, believing that the spark of life within each person on earth is the spark of your Divine presence. Through your goodness to us, we live in this great State of Texas – some of us born and nurtured here by your grace and wisdom, some of us called from afar and delivered here through your mercy and compassion, each and all of us sustained here together in fellowship and solidarity by your loving and generous providence.
Bless us, as one people, with the courage to seek the common good for all members of our towns and cities, of our counties and state, of our nation and world. Deliver us as one people from selfishness and distrust that would foment fear and incite violence within our homes and in our communities. Instill in us, as one people, your spirit of integrity that we might do our part in diligently exercising our own personal responsibility for the betterment of our society.
Bless us, as one people with the desire for authentic freedom and justice as promoted by love of our neighbor and protected by the rule of law. Deliver us as one people from apathy and cynicism that would divide and scatter us into the shadows of isolation and moral listlessness. Instill in us as one people, your spirit of compassion that we might actively inconvenience ourselves to care for each and every human being in the reality of need, and not abstractly enshrine humanity in the emptiness of idealism.
Bendícenos, como un solo pueblo, con el deseo de libertad y justicia auténticas promovidas por el amor al prójimo y protegida por el estado de derecho. Líbranos como a un solo pueblo de la apatía y el cinismo que nos dividen y ahuyentan a las sombras del aislamiento y la apatía moral. Inculca en nosotros, como un solo pueblo, el espíritu de la compasión que nos incomode en el cuidado de cada persona humana en su realidad social, y no ver la humanidad en el abstracto y en el vacío del idealismo.
Gracious God, we entrust to you our Governor and our Lieutenant Governor, our legislators and our judges. Bless them as our public servants, in their responsibilities of government, with the courage to be humble in their sincere commitment to the unity of action required for the promotion of a just social order. Deliver them, as our public servants, from temptation to arrogance and dishonesty that would do damage to our development as one people in fellowship and solidarity. Instill in them, as our public servants, our spirit of confidence, that they might lead us in deed as well as in word in the direction set for the by your guidance for a better society marked by the dignity of human flourishing and concern for the poor who live in the margins of our society.
Bless them with wisdom and right judgment that they might, through their decisions, strengthen our state in the present moment with an eye toward the future development and peace for generations yet to come. Deliver our public servants from impatience with the complexities of government. Instill in them your virtue of prudence that they might see, judge, and act within the proper balance of eternal values and present needs for the sake of your peace. We ask all of this in your name.
Bendícelos con sabiduría y buen juicio para que puedan a través de sus decisiones fortalecer a nuestro estado ahora en el momento presente con la mirada puesta en el desarrollo y la paz para las generaciones por venir.
