Timothy Radcliffe is a member of the community of Blackfriars, Oxford, and was Master of the Order of Preachers from 1992 to 2001. He is the editor of this soul-stirring collection of prayers and devotional pieces that can be used in worship services throughout the liturgical year beginning with Advent and moving through Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, the Ascension, and Pentecost. The stories of our lives are mirrored in the sweep of the Christian year. What happened in Christ's life takes us through every possible emotion:
"It stretches open our hearts and minds to identify with people who live all these moments now. Christ now is arrested unjustly and tortured by the police and soldiers all over the world. Christ today has his head covered with plastic bags and is beaten on his feet in torture cells everywhere. Christ is humiliated and mocked, and dies in millions of people. Christ today rises from the dead, in millions of small victories over injustice."
Radcliffe has gathered prayers and reflections from contributors from all over the world, and we are thankful for the international flavor to these pieces. Many of the selections honor those who live in poverty, disease and injustice, far out of sight and mind. This devotional resource brings them into our consciousness and our hearts as we pray for them and vow to take action to help them as best we can. Here is one prayer:
"Lord Jesus Christ, you proclaimed liberty to the captives, freedom to the oppressed.
We pray for all whose minds and bodies have been damaged by torture;
all who are enduring torture at this moment;
all who live in dread that they will be tortured again;
all who are plagued by guilt because of what they revealed under torture.
End their torment. Heal their wounds. Bring peace to their troubled souls.
"We pray for all who are responsible for torture:
those who break people out of a sense of duty, and those who cause pain for their own pleasure;
those who abuse their calling to heal by helping to inflict hurt;
those who order torture to protect themselves;
those who know the truth but keep silent because they are afraid;
and all those who believe that torture is none of their business because they cannot see it.
Melt hard hearts. Open eyes kept willfully blind. Grant your courage and your compassion.
"We pray for those who give themselves to exposing torture, fighting for its victims, seeking to mend broken lives. Sustain them in their struggle. Keep before us the vision of a world without torture, and grant us grace to work for its coming." (Roy Jenkins)
