Tomorrow is the International Day of Peace. We will recognize it with a Prayer Vigil for Peace in our own Church Parking Lot at 7pm. Candles will be lit and prayers for peace will be shared from different faith traditions. The International Day of Peace has been observed since 1981.

In the spirit of peace, salam, shalom I share this reflection on Luke 17:5 by Safiyah Fosua:

Extend a Hand

If I really had faith the size of a mustard seed,

What would I do?

Would I wave a hand to hurl Mount Kilimanjaro into Lake Victoria
Just to prove that I could?

If I really had mustard-seed faith, what would I do?

Would I start by extending a hand of peace
To the church across the street
Whose sign says something different from mine?

Would I start by extending a hand of peace
To the Ol' G that terrorizes the old people down the street?
Or to the grizzled homeless man who sits on the corner with a sign?

Would I start by extending my hand of peace
To those who brawl on schoolyards
And to those who brawl on battlefields
In search of a future with hope?

Maybe I could begin by just taking my hand of peace
Out of its hiding place
Long before the moment
That I cup my hands to receive Communion.

O, Lord, Increase our faith!