The famous prayer for peace is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi (c. 1182 – 1226).

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love…”

In Prayers That Live (p. 9), Frank.Colquhoun contrasts the sorrows of this world with the believer’s testimonial intercession:

“It is a world where there is hatred: bitterness, strife, bloodshed; a world, where people suffer injury through injustice and oppression; a world, where discord reigns within families, communities, churches, nations; a world where doubt of God’s love and mercy and very existence leads to despair, the despair of those for whom life has no meaning, no purpose, no future; so there is darkness of the mind and spirit, and, with it, sadness of heart.

“In such a situation, we pray that the Lord may make us instruments of His peace. We are asking Him to use us in a ministry of compassion and healing, reconciliation and renewal, of encouragement, and consolation. We can exercise such a ministry only by being His instruments, and bringing into the life of mankind the positive qualities detailed in the prayer [of St Francis]. And the first and greatest of these is love.”

May we intercede for peace while abiding Christ. Then our prayers and our lives will be mutual petitions for peace.

JBW