A Prayer of Confession based on Luke 12:49-56 (lectionary reading for 14.08.22)

Forgiving God,

In our imperfection, we have prioritised the absence of conflict over the presence of justice.

We have stayed silent when we have had the opportunity to speak out, fearing disagreement more than sin.

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.

The prophets of the Old Testament criticised those who cried ‘“peace, peace!” When there is no peace.’ We know we can be tempted to do the same – favouring the comfortable status quo over the disturbance of the Holy Spirit.

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.

Too often, we have robbed your message of its transforming power – quick to present it as one of niceness, rather than one which comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable.

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.

Help us to live in the tension of the now and the not yet – safe in the promise of ultimate peace and rest, while learning to live with conflict in the present.

Amen.