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Prayer for Peace
Peace for Jerusalem, a Symbol of the all-embracing
Shalom
Already the Prophets Isaiah and Zechariah announce repeatedly
that the nations will gather, united, in the heart of the city of Jerusalem,
on Mount Zion. God's presence is the source of the living peace to the
ends of the earth.
"Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among
you, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on
that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell among you, and you
shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And the Lord will
inherit Juda as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.
Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord; for he has roused himself from
his holy dwelling" (Zech. 2:10-13).
Shalom, God's peace, is our joyful tidingss since the holy spirit descended
on the day of Pentecost upon Mount Zion, the center of the first christian
community. Psalm 122 exhorts the faithful: "Pray for the peace of
Jerusalem!" (V. 6).
Let us pray together for God's peace in the holy city of Jerusalem and
the whole world!
O God, grant your peace
to your holy city of Jerusalem
and the whole world!
Root it deeply into the hearts
of all humankind,
as your godly peace is the peace
that the world cannot give.
Your peace liberates all those
who are caught in the nets
of physical or psycological violence,
whether perpetrator or victim.
We are powerless as we witness
the many forms of violence and injustice
either in war, society
or even our individual lives.
O God, fill the mighty
with your Spirit of love and justice.
Help us also contribute
to your kingdom of peace
by learning and acting in accordance
with the peace and welfare of human beings
and of the creation that surrounds us!
We pray to you, O God of love and faith!
We praise you and thank you for eternity.
Amen.
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