Daily Prayers for May 15
On May 15 each year, many -people gather for International Conscientious Objector’s Day, holding vigils, protests, seminars, and campaigns to draw attention to conscientious objection. A conscientious objector is someone who refuses to serve in the armed forces or to bear arms in a military conflict. This refusal is based on moral or religious beliefs. It is also noteworthy that May 15 is celebrated as Israel’s independence day and lamented by Palestinians as “Al Nakba,” meaning “the day of catastrophe.” We remember on this day the conflict in the Middle East. And we also celebrate conscientious objectors known as the Israeli Refuseniks.
O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you
as the day rises to meet the sun.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Come, let us sing to the Lord : let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.
Song “Lamb of God”
The Lamb has conquered : let us follow him!
Psalm 76:1 – 4
In Judah is God known : his name is great in Israel.
At Salem is his tabernacle : and his dwelling is in Zion.
There he broke the flashing arrows : the shield, the sword, and the weapons of battle.
How glorious you are! : more splendid than the everlasting mountains!
The Lamb has conquered : let us follow him!
Numbers 17:1 – 11 Luke 7:18 – 35
The Lamb has conquered : let us follow him!
Fourth-century martyr Maximilian said, “I cannot enlist, for I am a Christian. I cannot serve, I cannot do evil. You can cut off my head, but I will not be a soldier of this world, for I am a soldier of Christ.”
Prayers for Others
Our Father
Lord, grant us courage to stand firm by the tenets of your kingdom — to seek peace and pursue it, to hunger and thirst for righteous-ness, to uphold the cause of the voiceless, to worship no other God before you. Amen.
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you;
may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;
may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;
may he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.
