A Franciscan Message

Blessing for Justice and Peace

May God bless you with discomfort…

at easy answers, hard hearts,

half-truths, and superficial relationships.

May God bless you so that you may live

from deep within your heart

where God’s Spirit dwells.

May God bless you with anger…

at injustice, oppression,

and exploitation of people.

May God bless you so that you may

work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears…

to shed for those who suffer from pain,

rejection, starvation and war.

May God bless you so that you

may reach out your hand

to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with

enough foolishness

to believe that you can make a difference

in this world, in your neighbourhood,

so that you will courageously try

what you don’t think you can do, but,

in Jesus Christ you’ll have all the strength necessary.

May God bless you to fearlessly

speak out about injustice,

unjust laws, corrupt politicians,

unjust and cruel treatment of prisoners,

and senseless wars,

genocides, starvations, and poverty that is so pervasive.

May God bless you that you remember

we are all called

to continue God’s redemptive work

of love and healing

in God’s place, in and through God’s name,

in God’s Spirit, continually creating

and breathing new life and grace

into everything and everyone we touch.

Source: “Troubadour: A Missionary Magazine,” published by the

Franciscan Missionary Society

Blessing for Justice and Peace

May God bless you with discomfort…

at easy answers, hard hearts,

half-truths, and superficial relationships.

May God bless you so that you may live

from deep within your heart

where God’s Spirit dwells.

May God bless you with anger…

at injustice, oppression,

and exploitation of people.

May God bless you so that you may

work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears…

to shed for those who suffer from pain,

rejection, starvation and war.

May God bless you so that you

may reach out your hand

to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with

enough foolishness

to believe that you can make a difference

in this world, in your neighbourhood,

so that you will courageously try

what you don’t think you can do, but,

in Jesus Christ you’ll have all the strength necessary.

May God bless you to fearlessly

speak out about injustice,

unjust laws, corrupt politicians,

unjust and cruel treatment of prisoners,

and senseless wars,

genocides, starvations, and poverty that is so pervasive.

May God bless you that you remember

we are all called

to continue God’s redemptive work

of love and healing

in God’s place, in and through God’s name,

in God’s Spirit, continually creating

and breathing new life and grace

into everything and everyone we touch.

Source: “Troubadour: A Missionary Magazine,” published by the

Franciscan Missionary Society

In the Wake of Violence and Hate

God,

In the wake of violence and hate,

May compassion flow;

May love be preached in word and action;

May hate be rejected;

May we temper our outrage with the Fruit of your presence as Spirit;

May we remember your call love neighbour and enemy;

May we reject evil, whilst at the same time having the wisdom to not add to it;

May we know you to be at work for good, even in the midst of heartache and suffering.

Centre us in your presence,

That we might be sacred ground for hope, peace, love and healing,

Even amidst trouble and strife.

As Christ, speak as Word we might know what to do and say,

And thereby do justly,

Love with mercy and kindness,

And walk humbly with you,

Immanuel – God with us.

In the wake of violence and hate we pray.

Amen.

– Poem by Rev John Humphries

Dear Lord, amid wars and turmoil, we seek Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Calm the hearts of those who fight and heal the wounds of those who suffer. Bring reconciliation where there is anger and understanding where there is hate. May Your Spirit guide leaders and warriors alike to choose the path of peace and justice. Help us to be instruments of Your peace in a broken world.

Prayerlift

In this troubled world we pray for peace,

Sovereign Lord,

prosper the work of those who preserve human rights

promote the pursuit of those who work for reconciliation and justice

direct us into the ways of understanding, reconciliation and respect

We remember those in times past,

who travelled away from home to face those who would oppress.

In their example, we see the presence of Jesus Christ

may we learn to break down fear and ignorance,

and build up peace, justice and freedom

We eagerly pray for peace,

in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen. 

Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace,
who are yourself our peace and reconciliation,
who so often said, “Peace to you,” grant us peace.

Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice,
and brotherly love.
Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace.

Enlighten our rulers that they may
guarantee and defend the great gift of peace.
May all peoples on the earth
become as brothers and sisters.
May longed for peace blossom forth
and reign always over us all.

Creator God
The world feels loud right now
and I am carrying more than I let on.
If you are near,
meet me here.
Bring your peace.
For the people I love who are struggling and grieving
Bring your peace.
For this world
where seas are rising,
war and violence continue,
and many are finding it hard just to get by
Bring your peace.
For the wounds carried in our communities
and in this land
Bring your peace.
Jesus,
you stood among fearful people and said,
“Peace be with you.”
If that peace is real,
let it find me now.
Bring your peace.
Not a peace that ignores what is hard,
but a peace that steadies me,
holds me,
and helps me find a way forward with others.
Bring your peace.
For me.
For those I love.
For all of us.
Bring your peace.
Amen

Prayer for Peace

God of Abraham and Sarah,

God of Hagar and Ishmael,

God of Isaac and Rebekah,

God revealed to us in Jesus Christ,

We bring before you the lands where our faith was born,

now shaken by escalating violence and deep uncertainty.

We pray for the people of Iran,

for the people of Israel,

and for all across the region living tonight with fear.

We pray for children woken by sirens,

for families seeking safety,

for those carrying grief, anger and anxiety.

Prince of Peace,

interrupt the cycle of violence.

Protect civilian life on every side.

Grant leaders wisdom and restraint.

Turn hearts from further destruction toward dialogue and de-escalation.

Call all nations to act with responsibility,

with care for human life,

and with respect for the obligations of international law.

Spirit of the Living God,

comfort those in Australia whose loved ones are in harm’s way.

Strengthen Jewish, Muslim, Iranian, Arab and Christian communities who may feel vulnerable or unsettled.

Guard us from antisemitism, from Islamophobia, and from every form of hatred that rises in times of conflict.

Make your Church a place of safety, compassion and steady hope.

May fear give way to understanding.

May violence give way to courage for peace.

May justice and mercy meet.

In the name of Christ, who is our peace.   amen.  

Light a candle, as a visible sign of the light of Christ, who is the light of the world.

Take a deep breath. Feel the breath of God that has given you life. Centre yourself and pray…

Loving God, we ask for your help in bringing about peace among all people. As Your children, we are bound to each other through our created nature.  Help us to see that our differences are not cause for conflict. Open our eyes and allow us to see our neighbours as our brothers and sisters. Bless our actions, that they may be the cause of peace and not injustice. Bless our lips, that they may speak your loving words in conversation with all people and be an avenue for change through prayer. Amen

For families in Iran living in fear, and for all who live under the evil rain of bombardment, may they find safe refuge.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For world leaders, that they stop the bombs and choose diplomacy over destruction and dialogue over retaliation.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For all those who are poor and vulnerable, who bear the heaviest burdens of war, may their cries transform our hearts. 
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the courage to see the face of God in our neighbours and to build a culture of genuine encounter.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For a lasting peace based on justice, mercy, and the sacred dignity of every life.
Lord, hear our prayer. Amen.