Day 2
A prayer against violence
O Christ who is our hope.
We bring you our broken lives, our broken hearts, our broken thoughts.
We are sorry that we have not lived up to your vision for your world:
We are sorry that some in our society:
wrongly claim and misuse power and privilege
think “violence is sometimes OK”
think that sometimes a woman “asks for it”
think “a man’s home is his castle” with his own justice system
accept that men and women will always battle against one another.
These ideas cripple our relationships, our families, our churches, our workplaces and our nation. These ideas create a place where power can be abused and violence can grow.
And we are sorry for the times when we have been blind to the trauma of others or been simply passive to another’s plight. For the times we have not been good Samaritans. Not good neighbours.
We acknowledge and confess our failures.
For offenses against others and for offending you, Lord Jesus, we are sorry.
Merciful God, we humbly admit that we need your help
Grant us, by your grace and Spirit, to live more courageous, kinder and peaceful lives.
To be more like you, Lord Jesus in what we think, what we say and what we do.
Help us each to be the change that this world needs to end family violence in our generation.
Amen
