Service for Unity, in connection with the Jewish people
Thursday, November ,3rd, 2022
Meditation
Daily prayer in the life of the people of Israel: strengthening God’s action on the universe
During his childhood and adolescence, Jesus participated in synagogue worship, the essential element of which is the blessing, a deeply rooted prayer if ever there was one. Jesus came from a people who knew how to pray, whereas the Hellenistic world made fun of prayer or considered it useless. In Judaism, on the other hand, men are trained in prayer from childhood.
Ultimately, prayer is the work of the heart. Just as man works the earth to obtain food and nourish his body, so, through the work of prayer, we nourish our spirit. The idea of work also implies the participation of my whole being, my thoughts, my emotions and my body, sometimes the swaying of the body during prayer. …
Jewish prayer is thus about reinforcing God’s action on the universe, not, like more recent prayers, about bending it in the direction of human needs. It is the key to determining the relationship between the universe and man. It is essential, therefore, to pray. It is essential to bless.
By Serge Jacquemus, pastor of ‘Union de Prière’, in Charmes (France)
Intercessions
(To be adapted according to each place)
R. Amen, amen, blessed be the God of Israel
Or another chorus.
1.Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who mourned because of the violence between Cain and Abel,
–we pray to you for peace in the Holy Land, this land where you have chosen to come and join us in our humanity
2.Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who made possible the reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers,
-for any contempt for your people Israel, forgive us
(silence)
-we pray to you, Father, to make fraternity grow between the Jewish people and the nations.
3.Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who brought Israel out of Egypt and made your people free,
-give your joy to the Jewish people, and keep them faithful to your covenant.
4.Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who united the twelve tribes of Israel around the Torah,
-give peace to the Jews who believe in Jesus.
5.Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
you who sent your Son Jesus to save us,
-pour out your blessing on Christians who are of Jewish descent.
6.Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
Father of Jesus Christ,
–bring together in unity all Christian churches.
7.Loving Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
– you have given the Jewish people the promise of the coming of the Messiah,
– you have given the Church the expectation of the expectation of your son’s return.
– in the Holy Spirit we say with the whole Church: “Maranatha, come Lord”.