A prayer from France

Disarm them: we have already got used to the extreme violence that is the sinister daily bread of Iraq, Syria, the Holy Land, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Eritrea and Afghanistan. This violence dominates us right now. Who does not see that in turn it could arouse in us endless violence and a gradual descent into fear or despair?

Disarm them: so that among them prophets arise, prophets who shout their outrage, their shame to see the image of man, the image of God, so disfigured and that their conviction that by acting in this way they definitely dig their own grave.

Disarm them, allowing us, if necessary, because it is necessary, to take steps to protect the innocent, with determination. But without hatred!

Disarm us also: France, the West, of course without justifying such an outburst of revenge, history explains many things. Let us, Lord, listen to the prophets guided by your Spirit. Let us never despair of trying to understand, even if we remain confused by the extent of evil in this world.

Disarm us: keep us from closing ourselves off behind closed doors, behind deaf and blind memories, behind privileges that we would not want to share.

Disarm us, just like your beloved son. Whose internal logic is the only one that can be a response to the events affecting us: "No one takes my life, it is I who give it."