Yesterday, we had our annual Interfaith Blessing and Prayer for Peace, which we celebrate near the beginning of every school year at the University of St. Thomas. The service included great singing led by our choir, readings from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith, and a beautiful reflection by the University’s director of Campus Ministry.
The service also included a litany of petitions, to which our sung response was “O God hear us; hear our prayer.” I want to share the litany we prayed because it identifies so well many things that keep us from obtaining peace. (Perhaps you can think of others to add to your own litany of petitions for peace.)
For deliverance from words and deeds that provoke discord, prejudice and hatred, we pray…
For deliverance from suspicions and fears that stand in the way of reconciliation, we pray…
For deliverance from believing and speaking lies about other peoples or nations, we pray…
For deliverance form cruel indifference to the cries of the hungry and homeless, we pray…
For deliverance from all that prevents us from fulfilling your promise of peace, we pray…
And to share with you all the blessing with which we ended our service: May God bless you with peace. May God uphold you with grace. And may God send you into the world as messengers of hope.
Amen.
Creo en Dios! 