Prayer of the Week

My peace is my gift to you;
I do not give it to you as the world gives peace.

– John 14:29

We thank you, Loving God, for the gift of peace
that is a stillness in our souls, fed by the grace of your presence.

We thank you, Gracious God, for the gift of peace
that is the courage to live a life of nonviolence.

We thank you, Holy God, for the gift of peace
that is the disarming of weapons, the absence of violence,
and the transformation of swords into plowshares.

God of hearts and nations,
we whole-heartedly seek your peace
though we do not fully understand it.

Grace us with the courage of that other peace
as we struggle with fear and pettiness.

Grace us with the strength of that other peace
as we are tempted by racism, prejudice, and arrogance.

Grace us with the justice of that other peace
as we silently approve of unjust laws,
unbalanced power, and unaligned priorities

Even as we recommit our lives to the mystery of your peace,
we quietly acknowledge the places in our lives truly in need of peace.
Help us live your peace in our hearts and minds
as we struggle in word and deed
to make your gift of peace known throughout the world.

– Excerpted from the Spirit of St. Stephen’s Catholic Community’s Peace Canon.