Prayers for peace

12/2/2025

‘When we know people whose lives are being destroyed and there seems to be no way of reaching them; when people are in impossible situations and there are no words to help them…hold them at the centre of prayer, where the divine Christ dwells, and expose them to the rays of his love.’ (Iain Matthew)

Friedensgebet (‘prayers for peace’) felt even more earnest this evening than last time I was here. As we entered the church, each person lit a candle and placed it on a silver cross before a figure of the crucified Christ. It felt like holding the suffering of the world before one who knows what it is to endure pain. The candle I lit barely flickered at first, as if struggling to spark itself into even the tiniest glimmer of a flame. Hope, too, can sometimes feel like that.

Those present reflected on certain parallels in German society today with those that preceded the rise of the Nazis so many years ago now. That was an unspeakably dark period in German history which, at times like this, still surfaces, smoulders and burns in the people’s collective psyche. I could feel their sense of concern and anguish about the forthcoming general election. Would Germany learn from its history, or would it find itself condemned to repeat it?

As we prayed, I recalled Iain Matthew’s soulful spiritual wisdom: ‘Feel the way to the wound that is in us, to the place of our need. Go there, take it, name it; hold it before Christ. Feel our way to the wounds of this world, to those people or situations in dire need of healing. Go there, take them, name them; and hold them before him. Go there, not to dictate to Christ what the answer should be or what he should do about it; but to hold the wound before him.’ Yes.

16 Comments

Alison Grant

13/2/2025 09:26:44 am

I don't share your faith, Nick. I think I'm agnostic. However, I'm glad people like you are praying for peace. The world needs it.

Nick Wright

13/2/2025 09:57:19 am

Thank you, Alison, for your honest and affirming response. I too am pleased that people like this dedicated group are praying for peace. They have met every week since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Heinrich Müller

13/2/2025 09:30:12 am

Nick, the reflections in this piece resonate deeply with the political undercurrents in contemporary Germany. As a historian, I often grapple with the weight of our past and how it continues to shape our present. The mention of historical parallels with pre-Nazi Germany is not unfounded: economic uncertainty, political polarization and the creeping influence of extremism are indeed causes for concern. However, I remain cautiously optimistic that our democratic institutions are more resilient now than they were then. I appreciate the emphasis on prayer and contemplation, yet I must ask: Is it enough? Reflection and spirituality have their place, but so does action. Germany must engage in rigorous discourse, challenge dangerous ideologies and educate its citizens to ensure that history does not repeat itself. Prayer can provide solace, but it must be accompanied by vigilance and tangible efforts to safeguard democracy.

13/2/2025 10:03:12 am

Hi Heinrich and thank you for sharing such thoughtful reflections. Yes, I too hope that Germany's democratic institutions are now more resilient than in the past. That said, I see signs of democratic values and institutions being challenged and eroded all over the world at the moment. I agree that prayer and action need to go hand in hand - a bit like pedals on a bicycle (if you will forgive the mixed metaphor). Prayer is action. It can inspire, motivate and empower - as well as provide solace - and faith can, and often does, drive other forms of action too.

Jan Rutter

13/2/2025 09:31:55 am

Great photos. What does the figure of the "crucified Christ" say to you, Nick?

13/2/2025 10:04:56 am

Hi Jan and thank you for posting that evocative question. For me, it says many things. Perhaps, as a starting place, that no matter who we are or what we have done, we really matter to God.

Lisa Thompson

13/2/2025 09:32:56 am

What a beautifully written and deeply moving reflection. It reminds me that prayer is not passive. It is an act of love, of intercession, of bringing those who suffer into the presence of divine mercy. In a world so consumed by anger and division, we often forget that there is power in simply holding others in prayer before Christ.

The imagery of the flickering candle as a symbol of hope is particularly touching. So often, hope feels fragile, barely there. But even the smallest light pushes back the darkness. The world needs more of this. People willing to pray, to weep for the wounds of the world and to trust that God sees and heals. Thank you for sharing this sacred moment.

13/2/2025 10:05:49 am

Thank you too, Lisa, for expressing those reflections so beautifully.

Lilla

13/2/2025 09:42:51 am

Thank you, Nick, for such an inspiring and thoughtful blog!

This is a powerful reflection on the depth of prayer and the vulnerability it requires. The wisdom shared by Iain Matthew speaks to the importance of acknowledging both our personal wounds and the brokenness in the world around us, and then bringing them before Christ without trying to control the outcome. It's about trusting that He knows what healing is needed while we offer our heartfelt prayers.
This approach encourages humility and faith, recognising that sometimes, just being present in those moments of need is a profound act of surrender.
Thank you for sharing your experience and the spiritual depth of this unique moment.

13/2/2025 10:10:07 am

Hi Lilla and thank you for such encouraging feedback. Yes, I find Iain Matthew's approach and way of expressing these things deeply moving, inspiring and, at times, challenging. I really like how you express these things too. 'Being present in these moments of need is a profound act.' I totally agree.

Sofia Rossi

13/2/2025 09:48:34 am

Hi Nick. This piece reads like poetry. There is a gentle rhythm to it, a cadence of sorrow and longing, woven with the light of candles and the shadows of history. I am struck by the way hope is portrayed, not as a roaring fire, but as a flickering flame, hesitant yet persistent. The imagery of wounds held before Christ is evocative. I see in it a metaphor for art itself. The act of taking our pain, our fears, and transforming them into something sacred. Whether one believes in Christ or not, there is a universal truth here: we must face the wounds of the world, acknowledge them, name them and refuse to look away.

A haunting, beautiful meditation. Thank you for this.

13/2/2025 10:12:15 am

Hi Sofia and thank you too. You expressed that so beautifully. 'We must face the wounds of the world, acknowledge them, name them and refuse to look away.' Simple yet profound - and not always easy to do.

Klaus Richter

13/2/2025 09:50:18 am

I have lived long enough to know that history is a stubborn thing. It does not fade as quickly as we would like, and sometimes it comes knocking on the door again when we least expect it. The worries expressed here are not just poetic musings; they are real, and they are justified. I fought for a Germany that would never again allow hatred to take root. I have seen what happens when people look the other way.

I am not a religious man, but I respect those who find strength in faith. If prayer gives people the courage to fight for what is right, then let them pray. But let them also act. Germany must not sleepwalk into its past. We must remember, we must resist, and we must never let the darkness return.

13/2/2025 10:15:18 am

Hi Klaus and thank you for sharing so clearly, thoughtfully and action-provokingly, drawing on your own personal experiences too. I felt humbled as I read your words. Thank you for challenging and inspiring me.

Jamal Rahman

13/2/2025 09:54:23 am

Nick. While I respect the sincerity of this reflection, I must challenge its premise. The world does not need more prayer. It needs action. It needs people who will stand up, speak out, and refuse to let history repeat itself.

Yes, Germany is at a crossroads, and yes, the parallels to the past are unsettling. But change will not come from lighting candles or holding wounds before an unseen deity. It will come from grassroots activism, from political engagement, from educating people on the dangers of nationalism and authoritarianism. The power to shape the future is in our hands, not in whispered prayers to the void.

Still, I understand that for many, faith provides comfort in uncertain times. I only hope that comfort does not become an excuse for inaction.

13/2/2025 10:21:36 am

Hi Jamal and thank you for posing this important perspective and challenge. If I may challenge your premise too - the dichotomy between prayer and action - drawing on the words of German theologian, Jürgen Moltmann:

‘Those who hope in Christ can no longer put up with reality as it is but begin to suffer under it and to oppose it. Because I believe in eternal life, I shall be active for the life of the people. Because I hope in the resurrection, I shall take part in the revolt of the people against all deadly oppressive powers.’

As the Bible itself says, 'Faith without action is dead.' (James 2:17)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%202%3A17&version=NIV

So, on that point, I think we are in agreement!