I offer this weekly #LetUsPray as a way to stay anchored amidst the turmoil of the day. For paid subscribers (and last-minute worship planners), I also offer some liturgical resources and sermon prompts based on the week's readings from The Revised Common Lectionary and/or The Narrative Lectionary. Each offering is written on Wednesday and published on Thursday, allowing me to focus on current events or issues.
Where to start? Honestly, I have had so many thoughts and reactions over the past week. Listening to the mental gymnastics the politicians are using to justify the attacks on Iran, seeing the complexity of reactions of my Iranian friends who are carrying both relief and wariness, and thinking about generational repercussions that have been put into play, I am exhausted.
As I have been discerning where to direct my energy, I have been thinking a good deal about my response as a Christian during this time. Far from a follower of a militarized, conqueror version of Jesus, I simply lean into the difficult challenge he makes to us all: love your neighbor. This is not an easy task to accept, nor is it a welcome lens with which we view our "enemies" of the day, yet this is our calling.
It is in these times when it is so tempting to turn inward or lash out that I am forced to turn to prayer: to comfort, to encourage, and to challenge me to be the human that I believe God intends. This week's prayer focuses on one of the attributes that I deeply believe Jesus modeled for us and calls us to embody, especially now: Empathy.
For Empathy During a Time of War #LetUsPray
Let us pray —
God, we know empathy will not win this war — but it will instigate a future of peace Empathy will not topple regimes — but it will liberate collective imagination Empathy will not destroy weapons — but it will disrupt our tendency toward violence Empathy will not solve generational hatred — but it will open us up to generational healing Empathy alone will not guarantee peace — but without empathy, peace is not possible
God, during this time of war when our government wants us to choose destruction over discourse nationalism over faith and mercilessness over empathy grant us the courage to choose Your way.
When empathy is too difficult to mine from within — God, grant Your people grace When empathy causes chasms of conflict — God, grant Your people persistence When empathy solicits reactions bound by hate — God, grant Your people fortitude When empathy makes clear the holy within our enemy — God, grant Your people reassurance When empathy becomes exhausting and overwhelming — God, grant Your people rest
And God, embolden Your people to live a life of unapologetic empathy in a world that would prefer it if we didn't
