WATCHWORD:
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 Now one final thing; Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9
Meditation:
Whatever Is Unjust
Whatever is untrue, whatever is unholy, whatever is unjust, whatever is ugly, what if is of ill repute, whatever is vicious, whatever is cowardly, whatever is unfair — speak of these things, think of these things, write of these things, defend through violence of these things. Instill in the minds of others all these things.
I know that sounds harsh and unbending but it seems that these are the watchwords or the stocks in trade of the media, of our political landscape, of the lack of compassion and understanding between peoples. Discrimination, racism, sexism, socialism, and all other isms that subtly and not so subtly work their way into our awareness and falsely cling to narrow and literal definitions of “Christian” while forsaking the core of Christianity, love.
We’re seeing violence pop up in the midst of peaceful demonstrations. We hear leaders in government going off the rails and advocating unchristian sentiments. And you wonder how can this be a foundation for a better world?
Read again those verses from Paul. What happened to that kind of thinking and that kind of action; to dwell on the noble, on what is right, on what is true, and loving. How can we as Christians celebrate the goodness of God’s creation if our minds are filled with anger and hatefulness, and such ideas, thoughts and images?
Recently, with my friends, speaking of the latest violence at a political gathering, and the question was asked if it was an “Act of God”. People were killed and others were hurt. I sat there thinking about that. If we attribute acts of violence to God’s hand, then we have lost it! On the other hand, if we believe our Lord is Savior, and we emerge from that darkness safe in His hands, it is an act of His love. I believe our role is to pray for those who were harmed by the violence, including the one who inflicted it.
This morning I read again the Prayer of Saint Francis and wondered if in this environment one can survive being an instrument of God’s peace? Is it possible for truth to overcome error and falsehood, and hope and joy to overcome despair and sadness? The answer is yes. It is always yes. Any doubt we may have is dispelled through faith. When we pardon we are pardoned. When we love others, we are loved. When we forgive, we are forgiven and when we seek to understand, guess what? We are understood.
Gentle folk, we are called to do what is right, and what is true. We are to love mercy, and to be compassionate. We live in a state of grace and we need an attitude of gratitude to our Savior and Lord. It is the only way to peace, God’s peace. Amen.
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly father forgive us when we do not honor you. Open our hearts and minds to the way and the truth and the love that we are to share. Watch over us today, Lord and in the days to come. In Jesus name, amen.
