Patrick Comerford
We are in Ordinary Time in the Church Calendar, and the week began with the Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity (Trinity XIX, 15 October 2023).
I stayed up late last night, watching the by-election results, especially in the Tamworth constituency, early this morning. But I am awake now, and before today begins, I am taking some time for prayer and reflection early this morning.
The Week of Prayer for World Peace began on Sunday, and so my reflections each morning this week are gathered around this theme in these ways:
1, A reflection on the Week of Prayer for World Peace ;
2, the Gospel reading of the day in the Church of England lectionary;
3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary.
A Week of Prayer for World Peace:
The International Prayer For Peace:
Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth
Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust
Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace
Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe
Day 6, Peacemakers: For those who hold to their belief in peace with justice in often difficult situations:
Although the people living across the ocean are, I believe, all our brothers and sisters – why are there constant troubles in the world?
– Shinto
Praying for my peace, which is your peace, our peace.
As we all know, peace is not just the absence of war, for our peace is shattered by all kinds of violence physical and verbal: a sharp word can make us feel insecure, an angry look may make us feel weak or worse still aggressive, all kinds of violence is war on the other.
And this kind of war creates the division, a division of them and us. And division of course is a major source of conflict internal and external. This separation between the other and myself breeds the violence within me.
So I pray for the sake of myself, my own peace of mind, so that I myself am at peace, and offer that peace which is love and learn to love my neighbour as myself.
That is my prayer for my peace … your peace … our peace.
– Jehangir Sarosh, Zoroastrian
History says ‘Don’t hope
On this side of the grave.’
But then once in a lifetime
the longed-for tidal wave
of justice can rise up,
and hope and history rhyme.
So hope for a great sea-change
on the far side of revenge.
Believe that a further shore
is reachable from here.
Believe in miracles
and cures and healing wells.
– Rabbi Nico Sokolovsky (Jewish)
O Great Spirit of our Ancestors, Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, respect, and be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mind. Let us learn to share all the good things that you provide for us on this Earth.
– A Native American Prayer for Peace
… When we stand together, we are strong enough to fundamentally alter the existing socio-political reality … Because where there is struggle there is hope.
– www.standing-together.org Jewish & Palestinian citizens of Israel in pursuit of peace, equality, and social and climate justice
O Allah, the Sustainer of Harmony and Justice, we beseech You for peacemakers, virtuous and just.
In times of hardship, they hold firm to their belief, working tirelessly for peace, bringing solace and relief.
Bless those who strive to bridge divides, with compassion and understanding that resides. Grant them wisdom, clarity, and fortitude, to spread harmony, in every neighbourhood.
O Allah, shower them with Your boundless grace, as they strive to create a harmonious space. Protect them from harm, both seen and unseen, and let their efforts flourish, fruitful and keen. Ameen.
– Islamic
Luke 12: 1-7 (NRSVA):
1 Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered in thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 3 Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.
4 ‘I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. 7 But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.’
Today’s Prayers: USPG Prayer Diary:
The theme this week in ‘Pray With the World Church,’ the Prayer Diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), is ‘Helpline to women in need.’ This theme was introduced on Sunday.
The USPG Prayer Diary today (20 October 2023) invites us to pray in these words:
Let us give thanks for the Delhi Brotherhood Society, its Women’s Helpline programme and the many other initiatives the Society coordinates across Delhi.
The Collect:
O God, forasmuch as without you
we are not able to please you;
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
The Post Communion Prayer:
Holy and blessed God,
you have fed us with the body and blood of your Son
and filled us with your Holy Spirit:
may we honour you,
not only with our lips
but in lives dedicated to the service
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Yesterday’s Reflection
Continued Tomorrow
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
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