Bishop Gayle E. Harris of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts gave the invocation at Boston's Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast, co-sponsored by St. Cyprian's Church in Roxbury. The text of her prayer follows.
Almighty God, we gather to honor and to give thanks to you for the life, ministry, words of justice and face of Martin Luther King, whose witness pointed to the fear and ignorance underlying prejudice and bigotry that leave people at the door of society and church and deny God among us and in each of us.
Martin reminded us that a society based on discrimination robs the oppressor of their humanity and that society is impoverished by the denial of the gifts, talent and vitality of those oppressed.
Thank you for giving him a vision and message of deliverance and equality as found in his words: "I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered man have torn down, other centered men can build up."
On this day we remember Martin, a minister of the Gospel of Jesus, and your servant committed to peace and nonviolence; who was killed as he invited us to become a nation of greater justice, with equity and equality, and who was not an easy presence, just as Jesus was not an easy presence, speaking truth to power.
On this day when there is too much hatred and greed, let us become as Martin, instruments of peace and love.
There is too much pride and arrogance that keeps us at war; let us become as Martin, people of humility and service.
There is too much bullying and words of violence in our homes, schools, streets, political speeches and in foreign lands; let us become as Martin, those who have no need to bully or seek violence, but be faithful to trust you and your reconciling love.
Let us realize what Martin said: "that as we struggle for justice and freedom, we have a cosmic companionship...The God that we worship is a loving God, who forever works through history for the establishment of his kingdom."
Now as we partake of this meal from the bounty of your creation, O God, give us a hunger for justice and a thirst for peace. Amen.