‘To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies.
Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.
When someone gives you a hard time,
respond with the supple moves of prayer for that person.’ ~ Luke 6:27-28 The Message
‘We are not easily reduced to prayer’ – Walter Wink*, theologian
‘Peace is the product of justice and love’ – Oscar Romero** who, for advocating this, was assassinated while celebrating Mass, March 1980, El Salvador
‘Let us not tire of preaching love; it is the force that will overcome the world. Let us not tire of preaching love. Though we see that waves of violence succeed in drowning the fire of Christian love, love must win out; it is the only thing that can.’ ~ Oscar Romero**
Writer’s note: In these genocidal times in so many parts of the world, I’ve been struggling with the widespread violence in thought, word, and action by individuals, the powerful, companies, and governments. The Passion of Christ has been profoundly real for me in new ways, and the most difficult thing as a Christian is trying to turn to find love in the face of so much horror and suffering. Well-known famous fellow pilgrims like Padre Pio, Teresa of Avila, Columba of Iona, and Oscar Romero, El Salvador, have influenced me deeply, as have others more akin to me. Ordinary, insignificant folk but still created and loved by God. My prayer comes from this space – the ‘thin place’ so often encountered between heaven and earth where we join with the Communion of Saints – those who have gone before us into eternal life opened for us by Jesus’s Resurrection.
Risen Lord, you promised to be with us and help us and give us Your peace.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
All of you sought and seek the Light of God.
All of you battled and continue to fight evil, injustice, corruption and lies.
Each of you wanted and want to spread the Love of God.
Each of you encountered and continue to strive to overcome hostility, oppression and the confusion brought by lies.
Please help me and each one of us to choose to step into
and be enfolded in the Light, Love, and Power of God.
Christ, Light of the World, you promise us your presence in the Holy Spirit to find our True Life.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Ruach – storm of God:
disturb us,
move us,
comfort us,
lead us,
prompt us,
inspire us,
to hope where there seems no hope;
to love where anger, despair, dehumanization and hatred swirl;
to encourage us where we seem to be so alone
and
out
of
sync
with what passes as power and success in the world;
to speak truth with love
in the presence of lies, hatred, anger and fear.
Lord, have mercy and enable us to do Your will.
In the stillness we name before You, the primal pain of so many in:
Ukraine,
Russia,
Israel,
Gaza,
South Sudan,
Afghanistan where the Taliban is to resume stoning women to death,
the Democratic Republic of Congo,
Chad,
South Africa,
Zimbabwe,
South Africa,
Australia,
Belgium,
Mexico,
the United States of America,
Venezuela,
and Argentina.
In these places and so many more people, animals, and the earth are suffering because of:
war,
natural disasters,
economic and political instability,
and injustice.
Lord, have mercy and enable us to do Your will.
We give thanks for those working and living their faith through caring, working for peace, justice, reconciliation, and reconstruction. Like the villagers in Rajasthan, India who have combined to build walls and trenches to stop rainwater drain-offs thereby filling wells and restoring agriculture after two decades.
We celebrate and remember the survivors of the Rwanda massacres between Hutu and Tutsis, who are finding ways to forgive and live together in peace.
Christ, we trust you to show us the way, however challenging it is,
and bring hope for the bitter divisions in our communities and countries.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Jesus the Christ, the wounded but risen healer,
use us,
use me.
Padre Pio, Teresa, Columba, Oscar, and all those in Spirit seeking to do God’s will –
help us.
Help me.
Holy Spirit, the Archangel Michael, and all the heavenly host,
protect us,
protect me.
Enable us to dare to be vulnerable
to be channels of God our Heavenly Father’s light and healing
for whoever
and whatever is broken,
including ourselves.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
*“Prayer and the Powers”, Walter Wink, 1990
**“The Violence of Love”, Oscar Romero, published by The Bruderhof Foundation, 2003