This is the invocation I delivered today before the Governor of Louisiana spoke:
Most Gracious Lord, our God.
We come humbly before You with petition in hand asking for Your continued blessings upon our land.
In the Declaration of Independence our forefathers acknowledged You as the source of certain irrevocable rights, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. In the same sentence they acknowledged that You created all persons equal thereby distributing access to Life, Liberty and Happiness to all regardless of our personal biases. The founding fathers wished to above all establish a government here to defend these rights.
Scripture tells us O Lord that it is You who “changes times and seasons; removes kings and sets up kings; and gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”
As a dual-citizen of Heaven and the Great State of Louisiana, I come before you asking that you bestow wisdom and knowledge upon our Governor and all those who serve in office, regardless of the jurisdiction within their charge. I acknowledge as well Dear God, that all of us here in positions of leadership within our communities and our homes, also bear the responsibility to ensure Life, Liberty and the opportunities of Happiness to those you have placed in our care.
You Lord Jesus have told us that when we one day stand before You, if we have fulfilled the duties You prescribed to us as leaders we will hear You say, “I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”
If we are created equal, how can we expect Life, Liberty and Happiness from You Oh Lord, if we have not made sure that the same are available to all?
We pray Dear God that we do not find that our desire to be fiscally prudent should attempt to override the irrevocable right to Life, Liberty and Happiness you have bestowed upon our fellow citizens.
May we be found in the Last Day to have been good stewards of the freedom you have given us all.
Continue to grant us mercy, wisdom and favor as a parish, a state and a nation.
This we ask in Jesus’ Name,
Amen