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| From the Vietnam War: the fleeing of napalm bombing |
IN PICTURES DEPICTING the repeated falls of Jesus we see him surrounded by bullying soldiers who do their job in the service of the Roman Imperial Army. They spit at Jesus, hit him, stick out their tongues and scold him violently along the way.
Carol Penner has written a Prayer Against Violence for the Mennonites, who are a non-violent Peace Church. I can pray this prayer, asking for the conversion of our violent world and for my own conversion to the things of God's peace.
Perfect love casts out fear and so today we pray for your spirit of Love on our world.
Cast out the strapping of bombs to bodies.
Cast out the explosion of bombs in crowded places.
Cast out the tricking of children to carry bombs.
Cast out the desperation that leads people to terrorist acts.
Cast out the making of walls that divide and imprison us.
Cast out the firing of missiles and the bulldozing of homes.
Cast out the prejudice against people of a certain race or culture.
Cast out the political structures that perpetuate violence.
Cast out the hatred that produces fear.
Send down the courage to reach out in peace.
Send down the resolution to not return evil for evil.
Send down the creativity to find peaceful political solutions.
Send down the wisdom that politicians and diplomats need.
Send down the commitment to work together to end terrorism.
Send down the power of nonviolence to create change.
Send down the comfort and justice that victims need.
Send down the love that will end our fear.
We ask these things in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
