Jesus, Enter this Dark World again

December 31, 2025December 26, 2025 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

Massacre of the Innocents, Giotto, via Wikimedia Commons

Dear Jesus,

It’s a good thing you were born at night.

This world sure seems dark.

I have a good eye for silver linings.

But they seem dimmer lately.

These killings, Lord.

These children, Lord.

Innocence violated.

Raw evil demonstrated.

The whole world seems on edge.

Trigger-happy. Ticked off.

We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs.

Are we one button-push away from annihilation?

Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas.

But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night.

The shepherds were nightshift workers.

The Wise Men followed a star.

Your first cries were heard in the shadows.

To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame.

It was dark.

Dark with Herod’s jealousy.

Dark with Roman oppression.

Dark with poverty.

Dark with violence.

Herod went on a rampage, killing babies.

Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt.

You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.

Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day.

Won’t you enter ours?

We are weary of bloodshed.

We, like the wise men, are looking for a star.

We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.

This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.

Hopefully,
Your Children

Max Lucado, 1955-, Texas pastor and author, written after the Sandy Hook shootings, 2012
source: Christian Post

______________________________

Matthew 2:16-18

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious,
and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
who were two years old and under,

in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”

______________________________

Where is a dark place in your world where Jesus needs to enter anew?

Continue reading →

We ask for Good Tidings

December 23, 2025December 22, 2025 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

Angels Announcing Christ’s Birth to the Shepherds, Govert Flinck, wikimedia commons

Dear God:
The newspaper brings nothing new
only an old, old story of war—
more bombing, more shooting, more bloodshed.
One more family wailing a funeral song.
Against the backdrop of brutal images,
we hear the old, old story of an angel with good news,
who brought good tidings of great joy for all people.

Angel of Bethlehem, we long to hear your song again this day.

We want good tidings for countries in crisis.
We want good tidings for people who long to govern themselves.
We want good tidings for soldiers caught in webs of violence.
We want good tidings for all who grieve, and who see no end to grieving.
We want good tidings for terrorists whose actions spread fear and anguish.
We want good tidings for ordinary people who long to live in peace.
We want good tidings for children, who long to inherit a country
where peace has blossomed.

Jesus, our Savior,
you escaped Herod’s best-laid plans.
May your Spirit of peace be born again this year
in the hearts of all who work for peace. Amen.

Carol Penner, Canadian Mennonite pastor and professor
leadinginworship.com source
________________________________

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.

________________________________

In what ways is the coming of Jesus the best news that the world needs to hear?
Who is one person that you can share this news with?

Continue reading →

prayer for bleary-eyed parents

September 25, 2025 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

Mother and Child by Julius Gari Melchers, Art Institute of Chicago

O Lord, you who hold all things together,

help me. I pray, not to lose my mind;

you who calmed the tempest,

help me not to lose my temper;

you who promised rest to the weary,

speak a word of peace to my tired body;

you who healed the blind,

open my eyes to see your presence in the dark;

you who speak things into life,

help me to hear your small voice over the din of my own noisy mind;

you who welcomed the children,

take care of my own;

and you who promised to be with us always,

be with me now in my hour of need,

so that I may feel your tangible care.

I pray this in the name of Jesus, the Compassionate One,

Amen,

Prayers for the Pilgrimage

W, David O. Taylor, American theologian and Anglican priest

_________________________

Psalm 103:13-14

Just as parents are kind
to their children,
the Lord is kind
to all who worship him,
because he knows
we are made of dust.

Continue reading →

teach us to love what you have created

February 21, 2025 / Eric Mathews / 1 Comment

source

Our Father, God, Creator of all your different children,

teach us to love what you have created.

Teach us to see people one by one

and to acknowledge them as our Father’s children,

our brothers and sisters:

not to pigeonhole them;

not to hammer them into unnatural molds of our own making,

but to rejoice in our differences,

accepting people as they are

– different but of equal worth –

each one a part of God’s creation,

showing something of his love and glory.

Sybil Phoenix, 1927-, Guyanese born British community worker

The Westminster Collection of Christian Prayer

___________________________________________

Romans 15:5-7

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement

give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,

so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify

the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you,

in order to bring praise to God.

Continue reading →

Father we pray for Your peace on earth

June 13, 2023June 12, 2023 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

image

Father Almighty, we pray for your peace on earth.

For peace that is life-giving;

for peace that is love-bearing;

for peace that is true freedom;

for peace that is purposeful;

for peace that is prevailing.

Father, we pray for children in time of war;

they are so defenseless.

We pray for the old;

they are unable to escape danger quickly.

We pray for those with physical disabilities;

they are at the mercy of others.

We pray for women;

they are so vulnerable to abuse.

We pray for the innocent;

they suffer for the unjust desires of others.

We pray for those whose lives will be changed by war:

those who are blinded;

those who are burned;

those who lose limbs;

those who lose reason;

those who lose their peace of mind;

those who lose their health and strength for ever,

Father, above all we pray for those in anguish;

those whose lives will never be the same again;

those who have lost their loved ones;

those who have lost their lives.

Father, deepen our desire for peace;

restore our resolve for peace;

increase our intent to work for peace.

Will for us your peace, perfect and prevailing,

for your Son, our Savior Christ’s sake.

Pamela Wilding, English missionary to Kenya from 1967 to 2003

Prayers Encircling the World

__________________________

Isaiah 2:4

He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.

Continue reading →