Liturgy 085: Jesus

Locating Christ in Deportations, Missiles, and Military Parades

Lectio Divina

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea… And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Then Joseph took the child and his mother by night and fled to Egypt…
Matthew 2:1, 12–14

Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky

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Prayer

Oh Christ
King of Kings
born to a peasant girl
in a borrowed room,
you wore no
earthly crowns.

Before you could speak
you were a refugee
in a land your parents did not know.

When you came of age
from quiet life to Kingdom witness,
your life was taken
by tax-funded hands
and Roman spears.

Help me Lord

Not to take your Name
in vain.

On the streets of Iran,
Israel, and LA,
I hear the sounds of
weeping and rage.

Help me Lord

To mourn
with mothers
whose sons
are taken away.

Jesus — Rabbi, Savior, and King,
those who followed you
longed for a simple fix.

You led them
instead to the wreckage
where mercy refused to strike
and love stood its ground
without a sword.

I confess.

Every time I look,
your Kingdom feels far off.

Yet these
were the same conditions
in which you lived,
died, and rose again.

Maranatha.

May I be a maker of peace.
May I seek the face of God.
May I weep the loss of life.

May I remember you.

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Blessing

Dear Friend,
turn your devices off for 30 minutes today,
and be present to your soul.

May you navigate this world
in communion with God.

Whether you are
speaking or unpacking
creating or reeling…

May the God who is familiar
with terror and war at the hands of Empire
guide you to a love that is practiced
and costly.

May you walk in the way of love.

In the Name Jesus
the Nazarene.

Amen