pray for peace

Today's 1st Reading is from Jeremiah:

Let my eyes stream with tears
day and night, without rest,
Over the great destruction which overwhelms
the virgin daughter of my people,
over her incurable wound.
If I walk out into the field,
look! those slain by the sword;
If I enter the city,
look! those consumed by hunger.
Even the prophet and the priest
forage in a land they know not.

Have you cast Judah off completely?
Is Zion loathsome to you?
Why have you struck us a blow
that cannot be healed?
We wait for peace, to no avail;
for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.
We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness,
the guilt of our fathers;
that we have sinned against you.
For your name’s sake spurn us not,
disgrace not the throne of your glory;
remember your covenant with us, and break it not.
Among the nations’ idols is there any that gives rain?
Or can the mere heavens send showers?
Is it not you alone, O LORD,
our God, to whom we look?
You alone have done all these things.

I'm not taking sides. Personally, I don't think God takes sides so who am I to do so. But I am praying for peace. Someone asked me recently if, with all the chaos and destruction in the world, it's hard to have hope. My answer was, it's harder not to have hope. And so I pray for all the innocent civilians who have been impacted by the most recent chaos & destruction in the middle east. May they find peace, comfort and healing, and may the violence end.