Liturgy 060: Peace on Earth and Nothing Ever Happening When I Pray

🕊️ A Prayer and a Blessing for Peace in a World of Violence

☕️ Lectio Divina

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God saying:

Glory to God in the highest heaven
and peace on earth…

— The Gospel According to Luke

Tuesday night at the Bible study
We lift our hands and pray over your body
But nothing ever happens

— Sufjan Stevens

🪴 Prayer

Oh LORD
my thoughts
and prayers
for peace
run hollow

This year has been marked
with images of Palestinian children
bleeding out on the streets of Gaza

This week in Wisconsin
candles are lit and
prayers are prayed
but the mothers of
Erin West and Rubi Vergara
weep without consolation

LORD
I have not yet fully grieved
the shootings in Atlanta, Dallas,
Orlando, Uvalde, and Vegas

We gave money to
churches in Ukraine
2 years ago

What did the angel mean?

When she announced peace
to a world of Caesar’s armies,
what did those Shepherds feel?

For all those years
without change thereafter
did they deconstruct
their faith?

LORD I pray
For angelic visitation
For steadfast hope
For stronger faith
For space to rejoice the Christ who grieves

Give me courage
to seek the Child in the Manager
to seek the Prince of Peace

At the very least
may I be
a person of peace
forgiveness
and solidarity
with those who mourn

And I will ponder in my heart
the things Mother Mary did
when those Bethlehem Shepherds
visited her with joy

Come LORD Jesus
Hallowed be Thy Name

🕊️ Blessing

May you be an agent of peace
May you rejoice with those who rejoice
May you mourn with those who mourn
May you join the arc towards justice and beauty
May you seek the Christ child born into a world of violence