Friday – 29th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Luke 12:54-59 

Peace Be With You

Church of Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

Pope Francis at the end of his general audience last Wednesday morning announced a day of penance, fasting and prayer for an end to the Israel-Hamas war.   “I have decided to call for a day of fasting and prayer on Friday, Oct. 27,” the Pope said.

It will be “a day of penance to which I invite sisters and brothers of the various Christian denominations, those belonging to other religions, and all those who have at heart the cause of peace in the world, to join in as they see fit,” the Holy Father continued.

“Our thoughts turn to Palestine and Israel,” the Pope said. “The number of victims is rising and the situation in Gaza is desperate. Please, let everything possible be done to avoid a humanitarian disaster. The possible widening of the conflict is disturbing, while so many war fronts are already open in the world. May weapons be silenced, and let us heed the cry for peace of the poor, the people, the children.”

Brothers and sisters, war does not solve any problem: It sows only death and destruction, foments hate, proliferates revenge. War cancels out the future, it cancels out the future. I urge believers to take just one side in this conflict: that of peace. But not in words — in prayer, with total dedication,” he concluded. 

So let us take the time today in prayer and fasting, stepping aside from the cares of this world and calling to mind the suffering and death happening in Ukraine and Gaza, and focusing on the need for peace and understanding among all nations, all religions, all peoples.

Two peoples, one land,

Three faiths, one root,

One earth, one mother,

One sky, one beginning, one future, one destiny,

One broken heart,

One God.

 

We pray to You:

Grant us a vision of unity.

May we see the many in the one and the one in the many.

May you, Life of All the Worlds,

Source of All Amazing Differences

Help us to see clearly.

Guide us gently and firmly toward each other,

Toward  peace. Amen.

 

Rabbi Sheila Weinberg

Jewish Community of Amherst, Amherst, MA

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