Here's a plan for achieving peace in the Middle East:
Let's ask the patriarchs and saints to pray for us, especially Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, and Ishmael. Joseph the All-Comely (or patriarch),
Melchizedek, St. Sharbel of Lebanon, St. Rafqa of Lebanon, St. Ignatius
of Antioch, St. Isaac the Syrian, St. Ephraim the Syrian, St. John of
the Cross (he was half Arab), and whoever else you can think of would
also be a good ones to pray to.
It's time we took seriously taking Middle Eastern peace to prayer, and
asked for help from our righteous brethren ...
Lord, we pray for peace in the Middle East. We pray that love would
supplant hatred. We pray that truth would supplant lies. We pray that
understanding would supplant rhetoric. We pray that good will would
supplant suspicion. Raise up righteous leaders there, Lord, who can
execute justice.
Pray for us, Holy Patriarch Abraham, Friend Of God!
Pray for us, Isaac!
Pray for us, Ishmael!
Pray for us, Jacob!
Pray for us, Joseph the All-Comely!
Pray for us, Holy Melchizedek!
Pray for us, Ss. Adam and Eve!
Pray for us, St. Sharbel!
Pray for us, St. Rafqa!
Pray for us, St. Ignatius of Antioch!
Pray for us, St. Isaac the Syrian!
Pray for us, St. Ephraim the Syrian!
Pray for us, St. John of the Cross!
Pray for us, Ss. Cyril and Methodius!
Pray for us, Our Lady of Fatima!
Pray for us, Our Lady Queen of Peace!
Pray for us, Our Lady of Lourdes!
Pray for us, all you holy Arab saints!
Pray for us, all you holy Hebrew saints!
Pray for us, all you holy Slavic saints!
Pray for us, all you saints!
Ya rub er-'hamm! ("Lord, have mercy" in Arabic)
Excellent idea, Eric. It is only every week or so that I remember to pray seriously for peace in the middle east. The patriarchs are perfect intercessors, and I like that you include Ishmael. I have a son Ishmael and sometimes feel odd about naming him after the unchosen brother -- although in fact Bill named him after the narrator of Moby Dick -- and I have always had a fondness for Ishmael because of my son. Ishmael and Isaac have been at loggerheads from the beginning. Time to apply the remedy of prayer, seriously. I will join with you. Rae
How can you achieve peace in the Middle East without the intercession of both Ishmael and Israel? ;-) Not to mention the person responsible for the whole debacle: Abraham.