Today in our prayers for the people of Hungary.

Prayer for Peace

Carman Thompson

Oh, Lord Jesus Christ, prince of peace, we come to you seeking your grace this day.
We look to you as the source of peace we are unworthy of in our sinful humanity.
There are those, your children, who seem not to know love but only poverty, hate, and violence.

They seek to take the lives of the innocent, as well as those they believe have wronged them.
They would kill in the name of God and in the name of their own suffering.
We confess our unworthiness, holy Lord, for we have not prayed for them.
Unlike when you hung on the cross, we have not sought their welfare.
We have not considered them, sued for peace, or offered them words of peace and grace.
We have not confessed our complicity in their pain.
We have turned instead in surprise, sorrow, anger, and bitterness.
We have reacted in pride, not humility, and sought not peace but a sword.
Forgive us our sins.

We lay our souls before you now and seek the cleansing of your blood.
Let our hearts be washed clean of all rancor and bitterness.
Let us lift our eyes and see in our enemies the children of God.
Let us open our minds to understand their hate, and our hearts to feel their pain,
And let us sue for peace. Amen.