Obama Hosts Easter Prayer Breakfast

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Thank you. Please, please have a seat. Well, it is absolutely wonderful to be here with all of you today. I see so many good friends all around the room. Before I begin, I want to acknowledge one particular member of my administration who I'm extraordinarily proud of and does not get much credit, and that is USAID Administrator, Dr. Raj Shah, who is doing great work with faith leaders. (Applause.) Where's Raj? Where is he? There he is right there. Raj is doing great work with faith leaders on our Feed the Future global hunger program, as well as on a host of other issues. We could not be prouder of the work that he's doing. I also want to acknowledge Congressman Mike McIntyre and his wife, Dee. (Applause.) Mike -- as some of you know, obviously, North Carolina was ravaged by storms this past weekend, and our thoughts and prayers are with all the families who have been affected down there. I know that Mike will be helping those communities rebuild after the devastation. To all the faith leaders and the distinguished guests that are here today, welcome to our second annual -- I'm going to make it annual, why not? (Laughter and applause.) Our second Easter Prayer Breakfast. The Easter Egg Roll, that's well established. (Laughter.) The Prayer Breakfast we started last year, in part because it gave me a good excuse to bring together people who have been such extraordinary influences in my life and such great friends. And it gives me a chance to meet and make some new friends here in the White House. I wanted to host this breakfast for a simple reason --- because as busy as we are, as many tasks as pile up, during this season, we are reminded that there's something about the resurrection -- something about the resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ, that puts everything else in perspective. We all live in the hustle and bustle of our work. And everybody in this room has weighty responsibilities, from leading churches and denominations, to helping to administer important government programs, to shaping our culture in various ways. And I admit that my plate has been full as well. (Laughter.) The inbox keeps on accumulating. (Laughter.) But then comes Holy Week. The triumph of Palm Sunday. The humility of Jesus washing the disciples' feet. His slow march up that hill, and the pain and the scorn and the shame of the cross. And we're reminded that in that moment, he took on the sins of the world -- past, present and future -- and he extended to us that unfathomable gift of grace and salvation through his death and resurrection. In the words of the book Isaiah: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." This magnificent grace, this expansive grace, this "Amazing Grace" calls me to reflect. And it calls me to pray. It calls me to ask God for forgiveness for the times that I've not shown grace to others, those times that I've fallen short. It calls me to praise God for the gift of our son -- his Son and our Savior. And that's why we have this breakfast. Because in the middle of critical national debates, in the middle of our busy lives, we must always make sure that we are keeping things in perspective. Children help do that. (Laughter.) A strong spouse helps do that. But nothing beats scripture and the reminder of the eternal. So I'm honored that all of you have come here this Holy Week to join me in a spirit of prayer, and I pray that our time here this morning will strengthen us, both individually as believers and as Americans. And with that, let me introduce my good friend, Bishop Vashti McKenzie, for our opening prayer. (Applause.)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• obama
• easter
• relition
• christian

[Savior20061]

@22nessa22 National Day of Prayer? Why would a Christian need a National Day of Prayer when they are supposed to pray everyday, or at least often enough that a NDofP would be pointless. In Matthews 5-6, people who pray in private rather than public are to be admired, because the person in public may be praying in public only "to be seen of men".

[jegtr]

i hope every nation's president to have the guts to speak about Christ, even if we doubt about him. Obama showed he has guts...Wake up u stupid people. I hope this could happen in my country too..

[22nessa22]

@ShockDoctrin ?? ewwwww ok

[ShockDoctrin]

@22nessa22 I like your profile pic, i want to kiss on your body and bite you on the ass and make love to you

[22nessa22]

@andreayaya lol yeah right hes the one that was against the national day of prayer and the plans flying acroos the pentagon because it was done by christians and in a speech he mokes the bible and says america wouldnt survive if everyone was a christian and lived by the bible.hes pro abortion pro gays.hes always so wishy washy ..hes weak..he just says what people wants to hear hes trying to get back in office again..dont be fooled.God only blesses people who stand of for what right

[22nessa22]

@ShockDoctrin what do u mean?

[22nessa22]

@MrBadlymage i wouldnt wish hell on anybody..but i do think its good what he he has did so many negative things kinda towards the christians like cancelling the day of prayer, not letting the plans fly over the pentegon, and also is one of his speeches he said america wouldnt be able to survive if we lived by the bible..hes just confusing with everything..its like are u for us or are u against..i guess it depends on how hes feeling that day

[HelloWorld1947]

@MrBadlymage-OK, so if every1 is entitled 2 their opinion, whats ur problem w/ my opinion? or r u 1 of those ppl who believes in political correctness and as long as the truth isnt being said then every1 can say whatever they want? Hussan is a hypocrite! hes not even a follower of Jesus Christ but a muslim in disguise. And me going to hell for stating my opinion? guess what nutcase u dont decide who goes and who doesnt, Jesus does OK. if u reply i will not read ur comment so dont waist ur time!

[andyboy102]

@DWOODPHD none here it seems either.

[MrBadlymage]

@HelloWorld1947 mabe you need to go to hell for what your saying...everyone is entitled to there own opinion and hes giving a prayer on easter what does that have to do with muslims in the middle east???? its the day of the lord not the day to hate...so your the sicko...