Loma Linda Hooding Ceremony Prayer

I was honored to be asked to do the invocation for my medical school class' hooding ceremony tonight, a couple of days before our graduation on Sunday. Here is what I wrote and prayed:

Almighty God, we gather before you tonight a people full of gratitude for the many gifts You have bestowed upon us throughout these years of medical school. All good and perfect gifts come down from you, the Father of lights, and you have given us these gifts in sustaining us through many trials and many joys. You have imparted to us a great amount of knowledge and skill through the work of the teachers with whom you have blessed us here and for that we are ever-grateful.

As we begin our practice as physicians make us into doctors who would look to the example of Christ. Let us remember that He came as One not to be served but to serve, and let us do likewise. Let us remember His compassion as He wept for the friends and relatives of Lazarus who had died and let us have that same compassion.

Above any imperfect imitation, O Lord, let us look by your grace with faith to the gospel of your Son, our Lord, which is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. He became incarnate of the Virgin Mary and out of love for sinners humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, for our salvation. He displayed His victory over sin and death on the third day in His glorious Resurrection from the dead and reminds us that as we look upon the suffering of this world, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

All this we ask in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.