Day Eleven - 40 Days of Prayer - Jose Luis Casal

“The tongue of the wise distills knowledge…” Proverbs 15:2 (New Revised Standard Version)

“The tongue that soothes is a tree of life; the barbed tongue, a breaker of hearts” Proverbs 15: 4  (The Jerusalem Bible)

Over the last months the political debate in our country has reached a very dangerous level. Disrespect, verbal attacks and angry rhetoric are becoming more frequent every day. Lack of civility has become normal and unfortunately this behavior may reach the doors of our churches. Our General Assembly usually deals with difficult and sensitive issues. This year some of the discussions will not be easy because there are levels of disagreements on the interpretation of issues like ordination standards, abortion, war, justice and form of government. Should we be afraid of the discussion? Should we avoid the discussion? We know that is impossible so instead of becoming discouraged and being reactive to the issues with which we have to deal, let us be positive and pro-active setting a new tone for the discussions. 

We have the opportunity to model a different behavior while we debate our differences. Maybe God is providing this wonderful opportunity to emphasize the values our Lord Jesus Christ practiced during his life: love, respect, truth, honesty, patience, humility and kindness. During the debates, God may also offer us the opportunity to practice the basic principles found in our Directory of Worship, using confession, forgiveness, prayer, reconciliation, discernment, unity and praise. 

This is the opportunity to send a clear message to our country, so that like the early church, we may have “… the favour with all the people.” Acts 2:47  (Authorized King James Version). 

I invite commissioners, General Assembly staff and general participants to pray together…

Oh Lord, give us a Civil Tongue

Leader: Lord, we are aware that our tongue may be “a tree of life” as well as “a breaker of hearts”.  Help us to have the tongue that distills knowledge and love.

People: Oh Lord, give us a Civil Tongue

Leader: Lord we want to learn to respect our brothers and sisters and avoid the temptation to demonize them because they do not think the same way we think. 

People: Oh Lord, give us a Civil Tongue

Leader: Lord, help us to defeat the temptation of considering the other side as non-Christians or heretics. Never allow our tongues to put them down or diminished their value as human beings. 

People: Oh Lord, give us a Civil Tongue

Leader: Lord, remind us every day that we are our brother’s keeper. Do not permit that our tongues keep silence when we see injustices and discrimination against them even when we have differences and disagreements.

People: Oh Lord, give us a Civil Tongue

Leader: Lord, help us to learn that your holy temple has been built of stones of different sizes but with the same texture. We hope the love of Jesus will be the texture that creates the cohesion we need to be the holy temple in spite of our differences.

People: Oh Lord, give us a Civil Tongue

Leader: Lord, help us to remember that our tongues should be a fountain of blessing to edify our brothers and sisters. Help us to see your face and to discover your holy presence on those who think different from us.

People: Oh Lord, give us a Civil Tongue

Leader: Lord, help us to discover the truth and righteousness that dwells in the context of hospitality, civility and respectful love.  Help us to remember that holiness and justice are not in contradiction with love and compassion.  

People: Oh Lord, give us a Civil Tongue

Leader: Lord, help us to understand that if our position does not prevail it doesn’t mean that your presence and your word have abandoned the church because your word stays forever. 

People: Oh Lord, give us a tongue that may be a “tree of life”.

Jose Luis Casal
General Missioner
Presbytery of Tres Rios