Prayer for Peace

Fr. Peter Vasko of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land passes forward this message:

Salt Films, Inc. recently offered the following prayer for peace:

We see Hezbollah move to consolidate their regional influence by inciting Israel, and manipulating the resulting death and destruction for their anti-Israel, religious extremist agenda. Lord God, may it stop.

We see Israel’s disproportionate and indiscriminate military actions, meting out devastation without regard for civilian life or civilian infrastructure. Lord God, may it stop.

We see our own government’s failure to mediate, refusing to speak to enemies, enemies whom Christ calls us to love and pray for. Lord God, may it stop.

We see the situation in Gaza deteriorate as all eyes are looking to the north. Lord God, may it stop.

We see Israelis and Palestinians and Lebanese living and fleeing in fear, anger,  hatred, terror, hunger, loss and anguish. Lord God, may it stop.

We see your peace and grace in other places, other communities, other parts of our own lives. In the Middle East, help us begin to feel the assurance of these things, which remain unseen. Help us begin to live into that assurance, becoming agents of your transformative power. Lord God, may we begin.

Now if everyone — anyone – does this and really means it…