An Easter Prayer
Good and gracious God,
Our most glorious Creator,
As we greet the signs in nature around us:
Of Spring once again regaling us in bloom,
In the songs of returning birds and fields soon to be planted,
We give you praise for an even greater sign of new life:
the resurrection of your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
that we especially celebrate at this time.
The sadness and despair of his death
has given way to the bright promise of immortality.
For the Resurrection is our guarantee
that justice will triumph over treason,
light will overcome darkness,
and love will conquer death.
As we celebrate, we also dare to ask for your grace
that we may live the promise given to us,
by imitating the life of Jesus in reaching out to the poor,
the marginalized, the least among us.
As we strive to be neighbor to all those we meet,
We ask your special blessings each and every day
on our civil and religious authorities.
Working with them may we strive to become
a beacon of hope and justice in a world hungry for peace
and so in need of your love.
We praise you in this Easter season.
Change our lives,
change our hearts to be messengers of Easter joy and hope.
We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever. Amen.
Fr. Larry Snyder,
President of Catholic Charities USA
University of the Incarnate Word® 