Black Liturgies Quotes

“That we are worthy of a particular belonging that does not demand uniformity but understands and honors our stunning particularity.”
― Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human

“Give white people the courage to become honest about what they’ve stolen and what must be returned.”
― Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human

“Protect us from the myth of scarcity sold to us by white capitalism, which tells us we must fight for scraps because there is not enough.”
― Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human

“Surround our public leaders with wise counsel and a diversity of voices, that we would not elect leaders of arrogance and unchecked narcissism, however alluring their promises may be.”
― Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human

“Defiant God, If you were the voice of the prophets, then you remain a God who speaks against exploitation and oppression. Silence the lies in our minds that tell us our fight is futile. Let hope in our cause swell as we come together with a shared voice.”
― Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human

“For those who are feigning certainty God of uncertain souls, We are tired of pretending. For too long we have declared belief in things that grate against our very souls. We have recited creeds and doctrines, we have regurgitated facts and passages, all in hopes of placating the gnawing doubts that dwell deep within us. We have been manipulated and baited by song, story, and teacher into thinking there is a singular approach to the divine. Liberate us from the tyranny of spiritual certainty. Remind us that doubt is not a threat to faith; it is faith that has finally taken off its mask. Help us locate what of the divine feels clear and true to us. And help us to become honest about those things that will always remain a sacred question. Hold us close to you as we diverge from the path laid out by others, that we might find you in the unknown of the tall grass, the reeds, and even the wilderness—at home with mystery in your divine labyrinth. May it be so.”
― Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human

“We confess that we have grown numb to the beauty of this world. We have not protected what is good and true and enchanting. We have forgotten how to marvel at the mundane with the same gravity as we would behold the mountain or valley. We have not looked up to witness the miracle of our architecture. And in our self-hatred, we have failed to delight in and honor the faces we pass each day, including our own. Forgive us our inattention, and in your mercy remind us that we are so much more than our pain. Guide our gaze toward the beautiful. Amen.”
― Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human

“God of every ache, Help us to befriend our bodies. We confess that it is easy to turn against them as the source of our struggle. Awaken a compassion, a tenderness, toward the parts of us that are changing or hurting, remembering that our bodies are doing everything they can to protect us. That our bodies are fighting, are trying their best to hold back the pain and exhaustion. And with every ailing and unseen thing, guide us toward those capable of listening and perceiving when we are not okay, that we wouldn’t feel pressure to pretend or apologize or explain but could exist in the truth of what we need. Remind us that we are not a burden but a beacon to those who are so poorly attuned to their own bodies and needs that they have forgotten what self-compassion looks like. Hold us in love as we resist the demands of this world. May it be so. For queer bodies”
― Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human

“God of the void, I don’t know how to go on. This void is cruel and relentless, and I don’t want to figure out how to exist with it haunting every room I enter. And I blame you. I won’t apologize for that. But if you’re real, have mercy on me. Hold me up because I can’t. Or lay me down to sleep so I can wake up from the nightmare of emptiness. I know I’ll never be myself again, but whoever this is—this hidden grief that now occupies my selfhood—help me to meet them. I’m a stranger to myself. Ground me. Steady me. And whatever mystery the one I love met on the other side of breathing, let it be kind and safe and loving. Amen.”
― Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human

“INHALE: We honor this breath.
EXHALE: We behold the beauty.
INHALE: I deserve more.
EXHALE: I claim more.
INHALE: This flesh is sacred
EXHALE: I contain the divine.”
― Cole Arthur Riley, Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human