Prayer for Peacemakers, 24 January
2017 Palestine
Pray for peace in this land, and for the people subject to violence
in its many forms. Pray for the same
peace within those working to make Palestine a better place and within
ourselves.
In Palestine, there is an endless cycle of
violence since early December when the USA administration declared the
undivided city of Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel. Adults and children
are arrested or detained and subjected to punishment and torture by the forces
of Israeli occupation. The Israeli
military breaks up peaceful demonstrations and protests with teargas, stun
grenades, rubber bullets and live ammunition. Schools will soon reopen after
the semester break, and children will once again face the fear and humiliation
of going through checkpoints to get to school, uncertain whether soldiers will
search their bags or close the checkpoints, making them late for classes.
Bedouin communities in the South Hebron Hills are facing the demolition of
their homes by the Israeli authorities.
We are invited to pray for Peace in this land,
and for the people subject to violence in its many forms. We also remember to
pray for this same peace within ourselves, keeping in mind what Deng Ming Dao
said,
“Only when peace lives within each of us, will
it live outside of us. We must be the wombs for a new harmony”
So we pray:
Dear God, we give thanks for places of
simplicity and peace. Let us find such a place within ourselves. We give thanks
for places of refuge and beauty. Let us find such a place within ourselves. We
give thanks for places of nature’s truth and freedom, of joy inspiration and
renewal, places where all creatures may find acceptance and belonging. Let us
search for these places: in the world, in ourselves and in others. Let us
restore them. Let us strengthen and protect them and let us create them.
May we mend this outer world according to the
truth of our inner life and may our souls be shaped and nourished by nature’s
eternal wisdom. Amen
-Michael Leunig
