HANDS

Jesus, let my hands always serve You nobly,
active in my life, clasped in prayer
or relaxed at rest.

I commit their every move to You.
When they falter and fail,
I offer You the suffering of my harm to others
or the pain or humiliation to myself.

I salute Your majesty in the countless good works
of all the hands of humankind, now,
and every moment of this day.

I commend to You the working hands
of all Your creatures, even when they serve,
not knowing You or not dedicating
their daily accomplishments to You
Who made them possible.

Accept the tribute of our hands:
the precious hands of tiny babies,
the mischievous hands of laughing children,
skillful hands of artists and engineers,
sewing hands, digging hands,
rough and grimy hands, dextrous hands
on keyboards and violins, aged arthritic
aching hands on walkers, calloused hands,
manicured hands, crippled hands,
broken tired hands, and the hands of priests
raising the Host at altars
somewhere in the world this moment.

May all our hands reach out lovingly
to other hands,
and in so doing all be lifted up together
to be grasped by Your nail-pierced bleeding hands.

Hold us then forever, Jesus,
Lord and loving Master,
in the encompassing clasp
of Your eternal love and the strong tenderness of Your saving hands.
Please never ever let us slip away from You.

Amen

(c) 1984 Donn B. Murphy

Next Prayer
Prayer Index
Website Home

dbm at nowstar.net