The Malchus prayers

One of the defining aspects of this sorry mess is personalization.  Homosexual behavior is perceived to be just as much an integral part of some people’s identities as the ordering of life by Holy Scripture is for others and the cohesion of the institutional church is for still others.  The personalized character of the debate makes for emotional fragility and easy wounding.  Hence the crisis becomes pervasive and difficult to view objectively.  Also, this has been going on quite a while.  Even with an intellectual acknowledgement that it won’t last forever, at an emotional level it feels interminable.  All these factors, and more, contribute to the attrition.  The ongoing attrition exacerbates the sense of isolation, and a vicious cycle is set up. 

Conflict-avoidance is an integral part of my personality, and yet God has called me to this conflict.  Why?  I think He is trying to teach me the mind of Christ. 

I have a long way to go.

When Christ saw suffering, He was deeply moved with compassion and love, and then the miracles would take place.  There was a connection between the anguish of personal identification and His spiritual authority.  So it is with intercession. 

Following the San Joaquin convention, it quickly became obvious that the lawyers were sharpening their swords.  Anticipating a bloodletting, I asked God, How do I pray?  The scripture that came to me was the story of Peter cutting off the ear of Malchus.  Jesus did not stop his own blood from flowing, but he healed the cut caused by a would-be defender.  He healed the only other person who was physically wounded in his arrest and trial.   He also rebuked Peter:  Those that live by the sword shall die by the sword.

What happened to Malchus after the healing?  We don’t know.  It doesn’t matter if we ever know the result of a particular prayer.  We are simply called to pray.  Part of our call in this conflict is to pray for the healing of one another, especially our enemies. 

For the swordsman:

Have mercy upon us, Lord, for we are sinners.  Jesus, speak to _______ and teach him wisdom, we pray.

For the victim:

Have mercy upon us, Lord, for we are sinners.  Jesus, touch this wound and heal it, we pray.  Restore her ear to wholeness. 

For both:

Have mercy upon us, Jesus, for we are sinners.  In our pain, we have wounded one another.  Forgive us our sins.   Heal our wounds.  Place Your hand upon our ears and restore us to wholeness.  Speak to us, Lord, and open our hearts to receive Your words.  Amen.