Prayer for the feast of Christ the King

Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven

Through our lives and by our prayers,

your kingdom come.

Great Christ of all love,

            in whose cross all power and authority finds its ultimate end,

we come to pray now for those earthly powers

            which determine and dictate the lives of people.

We lay before you

            those powers which present as our governing authorities.

We pray for those who work in our government and the civil service,

            and for all others at a national and local level

            who hold their delegated power on behalf of us all.

We pray also for those governments around our world

            which have put aside any notion of appropriate representation,

            and whose actions are perpetrated from base motives.

May they see through you and in us a way of being human

            that respects the other, holds authority lightly but responsibly,

            and is ever alert to the temptation to selfish misuse of power.

Grant them eyes to see, ears to hear,

            and the courage to act with compassion and mercy.

Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven

Through our lives and by our prayers,

your kingdom come.

Great Christ of all love,

            in whose cross all power and authority finds its ultimate end,

We lay before you

            those powers which present as military might.

We pray for those in our armed services,

            for soldiers and generals,

            for peacekeepers and tactical forces

            for law-enforcers and legislators of law,

            and for all others whose power relies on the application of force.

We pray also for those armies and militia forces around our world,

            which have put aside any notion of appropriate force,

            and whose actions are perpetrated from base motives.

May they see through you and in us a way of being human

            that respects the other, holds authority lightly but responsibly,

            and is ever alert to the temptation to selfish misuse of power.

Grant them eyes to see, ears to hear,

            and the courage to act with compassion and mercy.

Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven

Through our lives and by our prayers,

your kingdom come.

Great Christ of all love,

            in whose cross all power and authority finds its ultimate end,

We lay before you

            those powers which present as economic might.

We pray for those in our banks and businesses,

            for those who have personal wealth,

            and for those who handle great wealth on behalf of others.

We pray also for those economic forces around our world

            which have put aside any notion of appropriate distribution,

            and whose actions are perpetrated from base motives.

May they see through you and in us a way of being human

            that respects the other, holds authority lightly but responsibly,

            and is ever alert to the temptation to selfish misuse of power.

Grant them eyes to see, ears to hear,

            and the courage to act with compassion and mercy.

Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven

Through our lives and by our prayers,

your kingdom come.