Reflection

“Our society needs both more personal responsibility and broader social responsibility to overcome the plague of violence in our land and the lack of peace in our hearts.”
–U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Prayer

God of peace,

Our hearts have been grieved by shocking displays of hatred and violence. We cannot make sense of how such destruction takes place, at the hands of people you called into being, that you know by name. As we continue to reckon with this senseless violence, which daily afflicts our families and friends and schools and communities, we pray for a greater sense of response-ability, which is the ability to respond, both personally and across our society. Make us each more aware of the power you have given us as agents of peace, who are equipped to respond by embodying peace and making real change. In defense of the victims of violence, and in the name of your peace, we pray. Amen.

Call to Action

Take time today to consider my personal responsibility in establishing peace in the places I work and live and play.