““You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.”
Today I was greeted by an email I didn’t expect. The title was simply “a message from A New Liturgy”. They had me when they hit send. I open some emails as soon as I see them-this are one of those emails. (There is a larger story to why ovet at the website)
And so I began listening to a liturgy, about 20 mins long, on peacemaking. I was so convicted as Aaron spoke. He and other read through the be attitudes and I was stopped so fast. The kids zooming around and the other distractions began to fade away.
I realized—I am failing. I’ve fallen into the trap of “othering” and making my neighbor a stranger instead of turning my strangers into neighbors; recognizing the divine in them.
To go further there was discussion in the liturgy about praying for those that we don’t want to. The example was given about praying for Pelosi and her counterparts also likewise to pray for the President. I found myself unable to. I remained quiet at dinner - I failed. But I’ll try again right here…
Most Holy God, I thank for your your great mercy and compassion. I thank you for the countless blessings that you give me eyes to see. Divine Mother; I pray now those same blessings on our president and those that surround him. I pray for his family, for his advisors, and for those that have influence in his life that they grow to have eyes of compassion and mercy as you do. Forgive me for using excuses to harbor animosity towards those you call holy. Amen
— I’ll leave you with a prayer from the liturgy (among other places) May we all find the space to pray for those we can’t agree with and may that change lead us all to further seeing and hearing one another. —
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.
Amen.
**Find the liturgy here: https://www.aaronniequist.com/a-liturgy-for-peacemakers