The world is not healed, O God,
by correct ideas,
or intellectual nods in the direction of doctrine.
No, the world is healed when faith becomes a fire
that captures our hearts,
that consumes our lives,
and that moves us into actions of love and justice.
And so we pray for all people of faith in this community,
friends and family members,
strangers and newcomers,
that our faith may be expressed through actions
of love and welcome
of inclusion and celebration.
We pray for all people of faith in our nation,
leaders and followers,
those with much, and those with little,
that our faith may be expressed through actions
of generosity and unity,
of listening and respecting.
We pray for all people of faith in our world,
those who believe as we do,
and those who believe differently,
that our faith may be expressed through actions
of peacemaking and freedom-bringing,
of creation-caring and hope-giving.
Our world is not healed, O God,
when faith is just words, ideas or rituals.
But, when faith is put into Christlike action,
healing is not just a possibility – it is a certainty.
It’s just a question of time.
Amen.
