Prayers for Peace in Israel/Palestine

The news coming out of the Middle East this week is alarming on all fronts. At least 23 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed since Israel assassinated Hamas' military commander on Wednesday. As I write these words, and monitoring the events on the BBC News, the Israeli military have just given the British news service updated figures: A spokesman says that since the beginning of the operation, 550 missiles have been fired into Israel, 184 of which have been intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system. More than 600 targets in the Gaza Strip have been hit by the Israeli military. Such news brings to mind the scriptures: "an eye for an eye." There is another way.

While I have no authority to speak or influence  the leaders of Israel or the Hamas movement to cease their monstrous actions, I can and will be praying without ceasing for peace and good will amongst all parties. The President of the United States currently has his hands full on domestic issues; but that does not mean that other former Presidents, and other world leaders, cannot get involved trying to bring the parties to a table to negotiate some sort of peace.

Meanwhile, I urge all of my readers to stay up to speed on the events happening in the Holy Land. The BBC News has an excellent newsfeed which can be seen here. The following prayer was written by the Palestine/Israel Ecumenical Forum, an international, inter-church advocacy initiative for peace in Israel and Palestine.

God of faith, hope and love:  “You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  We turn to you in the midst of displacements and dispossessions, of land-grabs, house-demolitions, the Wall, Israeli settlements, humiliations at checkpoints, separation of families, restriction of movement and residency rights.  “Because you are near us we will not fear.”

God of faith, hope and love:  Creator of the universe, “heavens declare your glory and the skies proclaim the work of your hands.”  We believe in you as a good and just God for all.  Keep us steadfast and patient with our Muslim and Jewish brothers and sisters.  Thank you for your holy Word which is a source of life for all human beings and we pray it will not be used as a cover for injustice and oppression.

God of faith, hope and love:  “Lift up your hand O God, you are the helper of the fatherless and hear the desires of the afflicted and listen to their cry.”  Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide us and bring us to your holy mountain, to the place you dwell.”  Make Jerusalem - the spiritual core of our vision and life - open to all and shared by two peoples and three religions without exclusivity.  Only then will we see in Jerusalem “a new earth” and “a new humanity”.

God of faith, hope and love:  “You promised those who trust in you to dwell in the land.”  Help us to love and see your face in the enemy so we all can be liberated from hatred and injustices.  We pray the day will soon come when the occupation and violence will end, and we can live together as two peoples in this land, based on respect of religion, equality, justice, freedom and pluralism.

God of faith, hope and love:  “Surely you are our help, the One who sustains us.”  In the absence of hope you still give us hope and make us not give in to evil.  Help us continue with hope in a creative, non-violent, peaceful resistance, and keep those in authority in the ways of justice and of peace, “so righteousness will shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”  We commit ourselves to you who created every human being in your own image. 

God of peace, accept our prayers, for the sake of our suffering and risen Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Love One Another - Brian