A PRAYER FOR THE 20TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

A PRAYER FOR THE 20TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

(Though this prayer is for October 6th, I thought I would post it now as we prepare to debate the use of force against Syria. Prayer will be much needed in this discussion)

Psalm 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon—

    there we sat down and there we wept

    when we remembered Zion.

2 On the willows[a] there

    we hung up our harps.

3 For there our captors

    asked us for songs,

and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying,

    “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4 How could we sing the Lord’s song

    in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,

    let my right hand wither!

6 Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth,

    if I do not remember you,

if I do not set Jerusalem

    above my highest joy.

Dear God

We are here again

Sitting and weeping 

over so many losses

so many deaths

We cannot sing

We cannot eat

We cannot breathe

We cannot think

The fumes persist

gagging us

killing us

defeating us

Dear God

We are here again

Hanging up our harps

No songs in our hearts

What can we sing?

What can we say?

What can we pray?

Will the world listen

hear our cries

bury our dead

mourn our losses

Will our enemies see

that we are scared

hiding and hoping

that the rain of death cease

Will you, O God hear us

tend our wounds 

stand beside us

wreak vengeance 

on our killers

Dear God

We are here again

Remembering our past glories

when the children played

and the streets sang

No watchman needed on then wall

Restore us

Make us strong in the face of death

Renew our strength to confront our fears

Embolden us to seek your justice

Guide us to rebuild your peace

Vanquish those whose lust

for power and glory

Crush their bow

drown their tanks

silence their guns

Lead us out of the wilderness

of war

into the places of peace

Guide us from the valleys of hatred

onto the mountains of love

Show us the path away from the roads of evil

onto the avenues to Shalom

Amen