10-30-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
October 30, 2023
For this week’s prayer, I draw upon the words of Ann Weems, who wrote a poem/prayer entitled “I No Longer Pray For Peace.”

On the edge of war, one foot already in,
I no longer pray for peace:
I pray for miracles.

I pray that stone hearts will be turn to tenderheartedness,
And evil intentions will turn to mercifulness,
And all the soldiers already deployed will be snatched
out of harm’s way,
And the whole world will be astounded onto its knees.

I pray that all the “God talk” will take bones,
And stand up and shed its cloak of faithfulness,
And walk again in its powerful truth.
I pray that the whole world might sit down together
and share its bread and wine.

Some say there is no hope,
but then I’ve always applauded the holy fools who never 
seem to give up the scandalousness of our faith:
That we are loved by God… 
that we can truly love one another.

I no longer pray for peace:
I pray for miracles.