Daily Prayers for April 9

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906 – 1945)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer studied theology in Germany and the United States and pastored a church in London before returning to Germany as a leader of the Confessing Church, which tried to resist Adolf Hitler. Though Bonhoeffer returned to Germany a pacifist, he became a resistance worker and was part of a failed plot to assassinate Hitler. But it was his evasion of the call-up for military ser-vice that led to his arrest. Perhaps he died because of his political convictions and not as a Christian martyr, but he would have said that there is no distinction between the two.

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you

as the day rises to meet the sun.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Come, let us bow down and bend the knee : let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Song “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”

Freedom, how long have we sought you : dying, we now may behold you.

Psalm 44:1 – 2, 9 – 10, 22, 25 – 26

We have heard with our ears, O God, our forefathers have told us : the deeds you did in their days, in the days of old.

How with your hand you drove the -peoples out and planted our forefathers in the land : how you destroyed nations and made your -people flourish.

Nevertheless, you have rejected and humbled us : and do not go forth with our armies.

You have made us fall back before our adversary : and our enemies have plundered us.

Indeed, for your sake we are killed all the day long : we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

We sink down into the dust : our body cleaves to the ground.

Rise up, and help us : and save us, for the sake of your steadfast love.

Freedom, how long have we sought you : dying, we now may behold you.

Exodus 18:13 – 27 1 John 5:1 – 12

Freedom, how long have we sought you : dying, we now may behold you.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “-Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end, all of his disciples deserted him. On the cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life, but in the thick of foes.”

Prayers for Others

Our Father

Lord, reveal to us all that makes itself an enemy to the life you want for us. Help us hunger so deeply for the freedom of all your -people that we risk walking among enemies who pervert justice. Reveal to us when we ourselves act as enemies to your kingdom of justice and peace. Amen.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.