Love, Peace and Reconciliation

I had planned to celebrate the World Day of Prayer again with my colleagues at work on March 18th. But the French government’s measures to protect the population from the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission decided otherwise.  

So, this morning I put away everything I had prepared except for three candles marked "Love-Peace-Reconciliation", as suggested by our Zimbabwean sisters. I decided to light them in my home, as an act of hope.  

Though confined for a week in my beautiful house with my family in good health, I do thank God. I thank God for all that is beautiful and good.  

Watching the movement of the flames of these candles, I pray for those who are fighting the COVID-19 in hospitals - the sick and the healthcare workers. I pray for those who are facing their illness at home and feeling more confined than ever. 

I pray for all those who create gestures of solidarity. I pray for all of us: 

• God of love, I pray to you for this suffering world. I see men, women and children in great pain. I see the tears of despair and I call for your help. 
• God of peace, more than ever I need your peace - the peace that only you can give. I pray that you invite yourself into those places where peace is no longer present, where hatred, violence and injustice have taken over.  
• God of reconciliation, I invoke you to help me live differently when this health crisis is over. Help me live reconciled with this planet that suffers so much from my neglect. Help me build relationships of peace, love and reconciliation with my neighbors. Help me denounce more clearly those places where justice is not known. 

• Oh God, breathe into me and into us your breath of life. Give us a little of your love, peace and reconciliation, so that we may all become your living witnesses! Amen. 

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Love and blessings to all of you! 
- Laurence Gangloff, WDPIC Chairperson