2009 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Day 2

Christians face to face with war and violence

On Day 2 the churches will pray for an overcoming and end to war and violence. We pray that as disciples of the Prince of Peace, Christians in the midst of conflicts can bring about a reconciliation rooted in hope.


Scripture

Isaiah 2:1-4, They shall no longer learn war.
Psalm 74:18-23, Do not forget the life of your poor forever.
I Peter 2:21-25, His wounds have healed you.
Matthew 5:38-48, Pray for those who persecute you.


Meditation

War and violence are still major obstacles to that unity willed by God for humanity and are the result of unhealed division which exists inside ourselves, and of the human arrogance which prevents us from recovering the real foundation of our existence.

Korean Christians long to put an end separation between North Korea and South Korea and to see peace established elsewhere in the world. The instability which prevails represents not only the pain of the one remaining nation in the world which is still divided; it also symbolizes the mechanisms of division, hostility and vengeance which plague humanity.

What can bring an end to this cycle of war and violence? Jesus shows us the power which can stop the vicious cycle of war and violence. To his disciples he teaches the renunciation of violence (Matthew 26: 51-52). Jesus reveals the truth about human violence. Faithful to the Father, he dies on the cross to save us from sin and death. Jesus' violent death marks the beginning of a new creation which nails human sin, violence and war to this very cross. He teaches the reestablishment of God's creation, hope and faith in the final coming of new heavens and a new earth. This hope encourages us to persevere in the search for Christian unity and in the struggle against all forms of war and violence.


Prayer

Lord, who gave yourself on the cross for the unity of all humankind, we offer up to you our human nature marred by egoism, arrogance, vanity and anger. Reach out to us with compassion and take care of your people, so that we may enjoy the peace and joy integral to the order of your creation .May all Christians work together to bring about your justice. Give us the courage to help others to bear their cross, rather than putting our own on their shoulders. Amen.