Prayer

We pause in these quite moments to center our hearts, thoughts and lives on you, O timeless God. Your movement in our lives is more vital than the blood in our veins and air in our lungs. We give thanks that we have the ability and the privilege to help transform this world into a place of love, peace and reconciliation.

God sometimes it is overwhelming. There is so much hate in the world. There is so much pain in the world. There is so much evil in the world, that at times it is overwhelming, immobilizing and drains our hope. We hear words of hate and destruction. We see bloated stomachs of starving children. We read of bombings of schools and hotels. We are inundated with so many images that it overwhelms us and we are left feeling hopeless and lost.

And yet, God, sometimes it is empowering. There is so much peace in the world. There is so much joy in the world. There is so much love in the world, that at times it is empowering, energizing, and ignites the deepest parts of our souls that we cannot help but sing and dance. We hear words of reconciliation. We see differences resolved. We read of people putting down their weapons. We are inundated with so many images that it empowers us and we cannot help but dance to the song you have placed in the world.

This is the world we live in; a world of paradox. This is the world you created and called “very good.” Just as there is much about this world we do not understand, so to there is much about you that we do not understand. But we give thanks for that which we do know that you have revealed to us through your Word, especially as it is embodied in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. And so we strive to be like Jacob who actively sought reconciliation with his brothers and neighbors. Embolden us to actively seek to reconcile the paradoxes we find ourselves in so that we might be able and willing to share the Good News that your grace surpasses logic and understanding. We join our sisters and brothers all sinners and saints as we pray.