Reinhold Niebuhr was an American theologian whose work was deeply influenced by the great political turmoils of the mid-20th century. He wrote following prayer in response to the Second World War; even though we have just marked the 80th anniversary of the ending of that war, its words seem as relevant as ever.Lord, we pray this day mindful of the sorry confusion of our world. Look with mercy upon this generation of your children so steeped in misery of their own contriving, so far strayed from your ways and so blinded by passions.We pray for the victims of tyranny, that they may resist oppression with courage.We pray for wicked and cruel people, whose arrogance reveals to us what the sin of our own hearts is like when it has conceived and brought forth its final fruit.We pray for ourselves who live in peace and quietness, that we may not regard our good fortune as proof of our virtue, or rest content to have our ease at the price of others’ sorrow and tribulation. We pray for all who have some vision of your will, despite the confusions and betrayals of human sin, that they may humbly and resolutely plan for and fashion the foundations of a just peace, even while they seek to preserve what is fair and just among us against the threat of malignant powers.
