BONFIRES - A PRAYER
17/08/2023
God, toxic fumes fills the air of my city
Sectarian vitriol rising
We pile pallets of hatred upon hatred
And dehumanise
Blackening the smoke off bonfires
As our badness suffocates cultural rights
We incinerate flags
Flags that symbolise nations of people
People all equally loved by you
Jesus sacrificing himself for the world
Every flag
God forgive.
And God,
Before we point fingers
In self righteous arrogance
Send your Spirit to search us
To see the toxic vitriol
And ungodly divisions
Within your Church
Between Churches
Blasphemous schism
God forgive our intolerance
The impoverishment of "love thy neighbour"
The absence of relationship
That Jesus’ good news models
God forgive us.
God, start with me
Interrogate
Investigate the Northern Irish DNA in my soul
Thran
Holier than thou infallibility
Devil’s speed to judge, exclude and damn
God, if words could kill
I would need a licence
God forgive.
God, be faithful and just to forgive
Give us empathy and compassion
Wisdom to deny self
Courage to carry our cross
To love our enemies,
Do good to those who hate us,
Bless those who curse us.
Pray for those who ill treat us
Purify our cultural rights
To be about joy in our celebration
And not fear in the hearts of others
God forgive us.
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