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