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PRAYERS
from Sal y Luz

Beginning and closing your gathering with a prayer will establish your intentions and hopes, and focus your time together on its truest purpose. You may use some of the prayers suggested here, or develop your own.

Blessed Jesus, You and your family were displaced when King Herod sought to kill you. Today we remember the millions of people displaced in Colombia by the war. Today we pray for those uprooted from their homes and villages by guerrilla forces, paramilitary and military armies and for those who are marginalized because of the color of their skin. Give the displaced a place, Lord, at your earthly table in Colombia and give them a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Amen
Merciful God, keep us all mindful of community members, leaders, wives, husbands, and children unknown to us, who are disappeared, killed and threatened each day due to on-going conflict and violence. Keep us steadfast as we work for your peace and your justice for all Colombians. Renew in us hope that your justice will one day roll down like mighty waters upon all of creation through Jesus Christ, our Prince of Peace. Amen
Lord of Life, You made us in your image to reflect your light and your truth. Thank you for the many departed friends involved in peacemaking in Colombia. Bless our ministries of peacemaking. Inspire us through their witness. Comfort with your grace all who mourn and bring us all at last to that day when we stand in your presence with your saints in light eternal through Jesus Christ, our Prince of Peace. Amen

Gracious God, You call us to turn our swords into plough shares, and to wage war no more. Bring a swift end to the armed conflict among the various parties in Colombia. Give our national leaders wisdom and compassion that they may seek justice, dignity and peace for all Colombians. Amen

Creator God, You make people part of your family. Bless the family of the Peace Sanctuary Churches and the family of the Sal y Luz communities; help them and us to embrace our common blessing in serving you and in serving each other. Thank you for opening our eyes to the gifts you give us in each other. Continue to build bridges between us. Amen
Jesus, "Peace be with you," you said to your disciples when you came and stood among them--locked as they were into their bewilderment and their fear. Breathe your Spirit of Peace into our troubled hearts, our full-of-fear world. Enter into our turbulence, our disorder and our discord. Bring your peace, your serenity, and your harmony. Calm us, still us, open us up in order that we may be channels of your peace to those in need of that Life-giving river. Amen
(from Wisdom Is Calling edited by Geoffrey Duncan)

Lord Jesus Christ,
Make us instruments of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let us sow love,
Where there is injury, let us offer pardon;
Where there is discord, let us build peace.
Oh Divine Lord, You taught us that those
Who work for peace are called the children of God.
Help us to persist in establishing justice and truth
As firm and lasting foundations of peace.
Lord, You offer us peace as a gift and as
A responsibility that we must realize with your help;
Give us the grace to reach out toward peace,
Help us have attitudes of peace,
That our words be words of peace,
That we realize works of peace,
And that we may build the peace that we
And our nations need. Amen.
(Source: Viacrucis. Colombian Catholic Conference.
National Secretariat for Pastoral Social.)

Salt and Light prayer from Uruguay:
Matthew 5:13-16

"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but if thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may seek your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
Prayer of Confession:
God, you placed me in the world to be its salt.
I have been afraid of committing myself, afraid of being stained by the world.
I did not want to hear what "they" might have to say.
And my salt dissolved as if in water.
Forgive me, Jesus.
God, you placed me in the world to be its light.
I was afraid of the shadows, afraid of poverty.
I did not want to know other people's struggles.
And my light slowly faded away.
Forgive me, Jesus.
God, you placed me in the world to live in the community.
Thus you taught me to love, to share in life,
To struggle for bread and justice,
Your truth incarnate in my life.
So be it, Jesus. Amen

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