pray for peace

Today’s Gospel reading is from Matthew and features some place names that have become quite familiar of late …

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But he did not say a word in answer to her.
His disciples came and asked him,
“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
He said in reply,
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He said in reply,
“It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish.”
And her daughter was healed from that hour.

I heard a whole report on BBC news last night about how the refugee camps iin Sidon (filled with Palestinian refugees for the past 50 years and now Lebanese fleeing the conflict) had been bombed repeatedly over the past days. And so I continue my prayer for peace and ask you to join me.

God of Peace, we ask with great faith that the bloodshed of innocent lives stop everywhere, but most especially in Lebanon and Israel. Heal their divisions. Comfort the afflicted. And may peace prevail on earth. Amen