This morning my heart grieves for those who have lost family and friends in the ongoing violence in Gaza. Having worked in refugee camps, I know the horrors that those whose lives are touched by war, face. This is not a question of who is right and who is wrong. I believe that none of us have the right to decide that another person’s life should be cut short. I believe God grieves when those who are made in the image of God kill and maim each other. God is a God of peace not of war. This type of death and violence is a distortion of God’s intention for all persons.
Out of my grief this morning I wrote this prayer which I hope you will pray with me:
God we enter into your tears today.
We weep with you for innocent lives lost.
Our hearts groan with grief for life distorted by death.
We do not know how to pray,
But your Spirit groans within us,
With sighs too deep for words.
When our needs burden us,
And the pain of our world overwhelms,
Your Spirit is here.
It breathes in all people,
In all places.
Lord may it breathe today
Peace in the midst of war,
Comfort in the midst of horror,
Life in the midst of death.
Amen.
2 comments
Dear Christine,
You always write such beautiful prayers and this one I especially love. I will join in prayer for the people involved in this conflict.
Thank you for blessing me each day.
Pace e Bene,
Katie Baier OFS
Thank you Katie. I had not meant to publish this today but the situation in Gaza and in so many other troubled placed in our world sits very heavily on my heart and I found I had to write it down and share it with others.