This past week we sang a song at our evening praise that so fits the mood I have this Christmas and perhaps the mood of our country. The lyrics say:

We long for you O Lord.

We long for you, O Lord.

Come make us one with You in love.

We long for you, O Lord.

Holy Savior Lord of Glory, come today in mystery.

Let us share your Life and loving.

Till you come in majesty!!

We long for an end to war, we long for an end to the factions expressed between political parties, policies of immigration, warring tribes and different factions of religion.So many people want to simply live in peace we continue to livein an environment of violence.

One of my heroines is Malala Yousafzai, a young Afghani teenager, who said to the United Nations several years ago:“So here I stand —one girl among many. I raise up my voice not to shout, but that those without a voice can be heard. Even if there is a gun in my hand and my attacker stands in front of me, I would not shoot him. This is the legacy of change I have inherited from Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi Jee and Mother Teresa. This is what my soul is telling me. One Child, One teacher, on pen and one book can change the world.”

We continue to use the same strategies of violence, weapons and war to try and bomb the world into peace. It doesn’t make sense. When will enough be enough? Until all are safe, no one will be safe. Until all lives are valued, there will be no peace. We need to stand in a loving, compassionate, powerful and non-violent collective way. Peace will only happen when new leaders call us to a way of life that we know works. Where all are protected, not just the strongest. A softer, gentler way. A way that the song speaks of

“Come make us one with you in love, we long for you, O Lord.”

Clare Carr, OSB, Prioress

We invite you for a special Taize Prayer Service on December 31, 2015.

Click HERE for details.

See the Christmas Liturgy Schedule through Epiphany HERE.