Father,

Thank you for bringing out the awareness of suffering of others in our world. Those who have less and need more. When we truly humble ourselves in front of you the image of Christ’s sacrifice appears and when we allow this image of the suffering Christ to mature within us, it becomes a bright flame. Once we meet the suffering Christ within us, we will then see him whenever we see people in pain. Feeling his suffering deep within ourselves, we feel compelled to give love, and as more and more love spills out of us, we become the first commandment- to love God with all our heart.

Help us Father, to love the world as you do. Help us to love our brothers and sisters as you love us. Help us reach out to those in need. Help us to spread love and peace where it is so much needed. Through the empathy that you instill within us, may we soothe every worry,

every fear, every seed of tumult with our neighbors and loved ones. May we truly understand that Peace begins with us, and that it is grounded in forgiveness and understanding. May the Bell of Peace sound out long and clear, to ignite the special compassion that you encoded within us, so that we may become the true peacekeepers of this world.

May we experience lifting of the Soul. May we in America and all around the world unite as one humanity. May we choose Peace today and know how to stand firm for it. Through the suffering of Christ, let us wake up and do right by eachother. “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4)

Let us truly love thy neighbor as ourselves.

May our world be better for it,

In Christ’s name,

Amen.