A Prayer for Ukraine and for All

 

“He shall judge between the nations,

    and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

    and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

    neither shall they learn war any more.” Isaiah 2:4

 

How long O God, until that day? When will swords and spears be changed into tools to grow food? Will we see the day when tanks and troop carriers are scrapped to build homes? Why aren’t we at the day when rockets are only used for exploring space and fireworks, where soldiers no longer need to serve, pull a trigger, push a button, in order to destroy another’s life as well as chip away at their own?

Honestly, we wonder if there ever that day will be. Even when we are not the ones to start it, how are we to react? Is there ever a time where responding to violence with violence is right? Is there ever a time when you sanction pre-emptive attacks and violence to protect the innocent, or prevent a worse horror than the attacks themselves?

I have no answers to these O God. I once thought I might, but I don’t. Today the news of war anywhere for any reason saddens me, as I consider the people on all sides. Is it ever justified?  Is it ever necessary, to be undertaken reluctantly because there really is no other way to protect others?  All I know is I want it all to end, that there be no need, no use, no thought of military or paramilitary or enemies or weapons or “shock and awe”. How can we with straight faces never mind calm hearts call such acts “peace-keeping”, or “freedom-bringing” or ‘restoring order” when we know they do exactly the opposite?

And so today we pray. We pray for the people of the lands called Ukraine and Russia as they are pulled into a war they don’t want.  We pray for a swift and easy end, brought about by your Spirit and wisdom changing hearts to retreat, resist the call to attack another, and to instead seek reconciliation that is just as well as peaceful.

We pray for the ordinary citizens who are trying to live their lives but now must run to bomb shelters hoping the warning was in time, hoping the shelter will hold. We pray for those who tend to the wounded even as electricity goes out, supplies run low, and their own homes are threatened. We pray for those who leaders send them into battle, while the leaders are protected while telling “their” soldiers that they must shoot, or drop a bomb, send a missile, or drone that will kill other of your beloved children. Protect their humanity, O God, that when this is finished, they still can find hope even in despair, repentance where it might be need, and a resolve to work so that no one else is called to do as they have done.

For the children who may become orphans, for the parents who may become childless, for the spouses who become widows and widowers, for all who’s loved one, friend, classmate, co-worker, neighbor loses their lives because of this reign of death - we hope for comfort and for peace to come back into their lives. 

Jesus tells us that blessed are the peacemakers- show us how to be peacemakers in this world. Give us what we need- humility? compassion? love? - to be your peacemakers until the day comes when no nation will raise a weapon against a neighbor, and no person will seek the death of others for political, ideological, or religious gains.

Help us. Forgive us. Show us a different way. Amen