A Prayer for Divine Love in the Wake of Charlie Kirk's Death

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O God, we can’t ignore the harsh reminder of our troubled times this week. On Tuesday, within hours, there was a political assassination in Utah followed by a mass shooting at a high school in Colorado, both motivated by hate.


We are such a divided people, with violence always at our collective fingertips. We talk about religion and faith and prayer. Such talk is so prevalent, but love seems so absent. Help us to remember, O God, who you are and who you call us to be. You are Love. Invoking your presence means invoking love’s presence. We pray to Love for love. Help us to love, O God, to be lovers of people. Help us to love one another, love the stranger, love even our enemy, loving them with a love that turns perceived foes into friends. May love for those on opposite sides be ever on our lips and in our hearts so that the walls between us might crumble.


Move our leaders, from the very top to the very bottom, to seek unity not division, harmony not harm, compassion not cruelty, love for all not favor for the few.


"I believe that love is the answer," O God. "I still believe that love will find a way." Help us to keep believing.


Amen.


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