People's Prayers: Prayers of the People: Our World at Peace, 5th Sunday in the Season of Creation, '17 Yr A

For Sunday, November 12, 2017, 5^th Sunday in the Season of Creation,Readings: Micah 4:3-4, Psalm 85:6-14*, A Prayer**, Matthew 5:43-48

For information on the Season of Creation click here: http://prayersofthepeople.blogspot.com/2017/10/prayers-of-people-in-beginning-1st.html
Season of Creation Week 5's Theme is: Our World at Peace

Created by Soviet artist Evgeny Vuchetich, presented to the UN in 1959,

by the Gov’t of the USSR to symbolize man's desire to put an end to war,

and turn means of destruction into tools to benefit mankind.

It is located in the North Garden of UN Headquarters, New York City.

...they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more...and no one shall make them afraid. [Micah 3:3b, 4b]

*Turn, revive us, nourish our joy. Show us mercy, save us, Lord. I listen to God speaking, "I, the Lord, speak peace, peace to my faithful people who turn their hearts to me." [Psalm 85:6-8]

**...As we honor the graves of our neighbours may we face those we fear, cry justice for the oppressed, tell of love without end: may peace flourish till the moon fails. [Rosemary Power]

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...for God makes the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have...And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, of what more are you doing than others?" [Matthew 5:44a, 45b, 46a, 47a]

Love my enemies? Maybe a question parallel to another that Jesus posed is: Who is my enemy? How many of us really think of having personal enemies? If honest, most of us can easily and quickly name those we dislike intensely, whether we know them or not. Pointing toward those who hold unfathomable political, religious, and social views, and/or those whose observed intolerance makes my blood pressure rise and my head want to explode. Of course it is then that I catch myself exhibiting very high levels of intolerance for others' intolerance! But still, I must love them. Perhaps I'd rather begin to "love" an enemy of my country - or at least pray that they go away and do no more harm - than be confronted with flesh and blood enemies of my self-righteousness that I am required to love.
Rosemary Power in her A Prayer** calls us to account saying we are all guilty when We build barriers to hide what we fear to see, we draw lines in other people's hearts, we trample underfoot what others hold dear, we wear wounds unhealed with anger, we defend ourselves from other people's rights. And that all happens whether or not we are fully engaged or distractedly dismissive, or even simply living in blissful ignorance. Too often we are proud of our piety in Church and then head outside for the rest of the week with the same old un-peace-like attitudes as if putting aside the costume and mask we wore on Sunday morning. Or if Church is not a regular occurrence, we still roll along in the guise of "Good Christian." Jesus tells us if you love only those who love you and if you greet only your brothers and sisters, of what more are you doing than others? We, as Christians, are called to a higher standard beyond doing just enough to satisfy our sense of "good." But when is "just enough" ever really enough?
We must aspire to be loving and peaceful within ourselves reflecting the love of Christ, as well as we truly can, in what we think and what we do. If we do not sincerely try, then complacency, hatred, violence, and fear only escalates and will kill us all, if not in body, certainly in soul. I know that I must consciously work on reconciling my Christian intentions with my thoughts and actions, little by little, peace by piece. Loving my enemies doesn't mean standing by and allowing viciousness and injury to go unchecked and unpunished, but in seeking peace, I can take a deep breath and find ways to genuinely act and care for those less fortunate, as I am able. And perhaps more importantly, I can diligently pray for myself and especially for those whose motives, actions, and mindset I do not understand, learning how to conjure love, lest I allow my own anger and frustration to feed the whirlwind of destruction. Oh LORD, this is the hardest thing You ask of me. Dear God, grant me Your Peace to give and retain, to plant and to embody, to be constant in the pursuit of putting our world at peace through love.

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ Almighty All-Knowing God, You created each of us as bearers of the seeds of peace to one another and our world. Turn us from the fear and anger that divide us, and revive our faithfulness to You in our everyday thoughts, words, and actions. Nourish our joy for service to this Earth and all Your people, especially those we name as our enemies.

Lord of Mercy and Hope

RESPONSE: Let us embody Your Love and Peace

~ Almighty All-Knowing God, save us from these days of distressing political turmoil, distrust in one another, and increasing violence everywhere. Send Your Holy Spirit to breathe through us, that we may find courage and strong yet calm, rational, and peace-filled voices within ourselves. Give us the words to speak to, and inspire, all who hold power on our planet, in our nation, and in our hometowns, to turn the swords of today into tools of justice, harmony, and stability. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Lord of Mercy and Hope