Reflection by pastor Shawn:
In the last week or so, I have found two prayers particularly striking, and so I share them here with you:
First, a prayer from the prayer book, "Love Your Neighbor", written and illustrated by Sergio Cortes. (For the full book, see http://tinyurl.com/y2elnbe4 )
"God, hear our prayers.
We pray for those who persecute our neighbors.
God, please transform their hearts.
Stop them from transmitting their brokenness to others.
We pray that the spirit of peace and love will fall upon them.
Remind us that as you want to set the oppressed free,
you also want to set the oppressor free through your son Jesus Christ.
Help us lift our anger to you instead of directing it towards others.
Fill us with compassion and strength when we think of the enemies of our neighbors.
In Jesus’ name, amen."
Second, this prayer was prayed during the Prayers of the People during last Sunday's worship service at Congregation of the Good Shepherd.
"Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake. Help us to be people who seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you. Give us courage to stand alongside those who are marginalized and to see You in those whom are different to us. Christ Jesus, by your Gospel we realize that what counts above all is compassion. Grant us, then, hearts full of goodness. God of peace, you love and you seek out every one of us. You consider each human being with an infinite tenderness and deep compassion. Teach us to see and love others how you do."