We gather here today grateful for this wondrous world you have created and have allowed us to help maintain as your partners and agents on earth. It’s truly a great creation. And we care for it, God. We not only love and enjoy all that is right with the world, but our souls tremble and our hearts ache when things are not right.

God we have to admit that most of what is not right has to do with human choice and human conduct. We sit here today worried in particular about violence in the world. A world that you, dear God, long to, strive to, call us to, bring peace.

This week we are stung and sorrowful at another senseless episode of violence involving young adults in yet another school. We have heard about killings and brutality elsewhere in the world. We have heard about bombings and wars and upheaval in many places and threats of more violence hangs in the air.

God, dear God, we know that this is not right. We know that this is not how You want the world to be. It is shameful to admit but we have not been the best of partners for You. Sometimes we are saddened to admit we are the only partners that you have. But the truth of the matter is, as St. Augustine said long ago, “God without us will not as we without God cannot.

Guide us please to understand, to get, that You are dependant upon us to work toward the peace you long for. Guide us, please, to understand, to get, that we are dependant upon You to accomplish and bring about that peace.

Teach us to be your blessed peacemakers in the world today.

Hear us now as we pray in name of the Prince of Peace. AMEN