Prayer Service on the Nonviolence of Jesus

Jerusalem/Jerusalem, if only today you knew the things that make for peace! (Luke 19:42)

Jesus, you wept over Jerusalem and its disregard of Samaritans and lepers, and you weep today over the escalating violence of racism and hate in our own society and world.
Jesus, in the face of escalating violence,
LET US ESCALATE LOVE

Jesus, you wept over Jerusalem and its humiliating occupation by the Roman Empire, and you weep today over the escalating violence of terrorism and humiliating occupation in your Holy Land.
Jesus, in the face of escalating violence,
LET US ESCALATE LOVE

Jesus, you wept over Jerusalem and its exploitation of the poor, and you weep today over the escalating violence of poverty in our own society and world.
Jesus, in the face of escalating violence,
LET US ESCALATE LOVE

Jesus, you wept over Jerusalem and its disregard of women and children, and you weep today over escalating violence against women and children in our own society and world.
Jesus, in the face of escalating violence,
LET US ESCALATE LOVE

Jesus, you wept over Jerusalem and its deadly use of weapons of violence, and you weep today over the proliferation of the weapons of violence, from handguns to nuclear bombs, in our own society and world.
Jesus, in the face of escalating violence,
LET US ESCALATE LOVE

Jesus, you wept over Jerusalem where capital punishment was rampant, and you weep today over the escalating use of capital punishment in our own society.
Jesus, in the face of escalating violence,
LET US ESCALATE LOVE

Jesus, you wept over Jerusalem where the forces of domination were everywhere, and you weep today over the escalating domination – all the ‘isms - in our own society and world.
Jesus, in the face of escalating violence,
LET US ESCALATE LOVE

A Litany on the Pebbles of Love

In the face of the boulders of disrespect for all who are different,
LET US BE PEBBLES OF RESPECT FOR THE DIGNITY AND DIVERSITY OF EVERY PERSON.

In the face of the boulders of having it always my way,
LET US BE PEBBLES OF MUTUALITY.

In the face of the boulders of tuning out others,
LET US BE PEBBLES OF LISTENING LOVE.

In the face of the boulders of grudges and retaliation,
LET US BE PEBBLES OF FORGIVING LOVE.

In the face of the boulders of using more than our share,
LET US BE PEBBLES OF SIMPLE SUFFICIENCY.

In the face of the boulders of violence against other species and the earth herself,
LET US BE PEBBLES OF BEAUTY AND RESPECT.

In the face of the boulders of violent entertainment,
LET US BE PEBBLES OF PLAYFULNESS.

In the face of the boulders of discrimination and exploitation because of race, age, gender, or sexual orientation,
LET US BE PEBBLES OF SOLIDARITY.

In the face of escalating violence, escalate love.

As participants take their pebbles - pray THE PEACE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS

Used with permission from The Institute for Peace and Justice, 4144 Lindell Boulevard, #408, St. Louis, MO 63108   P: 314-533-4445   E: ppjn@aol.com   www.ipj-ppj.org