We confess that in times of tragedy we do not want to love our enemies. We do not want to grant them mercy. We do not want to acknowledge that You created them in the same way that You created us.
We are unwilling to accept that you love them in the same way that you love us. We want them to be judged more harshly by You than You would judge us.
As humans, we have confused and perverted the words "justice" and "revenge." We want revenge; we don't seek justice.
We want revenge: We want to be God - We want to be You. We want to make the ultimate decisions of others' fates. We think we know what should be done. They hurt us and the ones we love, after all.
You seek justice. You seek that the wrongdoers face consequences for their actions by other humans but that those consequences not be doled out in revenge. You are the only one capable of revenge because only You know the entire story.
Empower us to not only tolerate our enemies but to pray for them and to love them. Yes, God, I did say love. Even I do not want to love my enemies, but I pray that you guide me in a direction to where I will want to love them.
Our enemies have done terrible things. But we are only to carry out justice; not revenge.
When our hearts are hardened with thoughts of revenge, we pray for a softening that will lead us to turn to You and put judgement back in your hands. When hate fills our minds, we pray for love. For only in love are we freed from fear. And fear is the ultimate enemy that tortures us and causes us to hate and seek revenge.
We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ who with You and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever. Amen!
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