Praying, Church of the Holy Sepulchre
1 John 4:19 – 5:4
There are no words adequate enough to describe the despicable events we witnessed at the Capitol one year ago today, much less deal with the emotions we all felt and continue to feel right now. Even now, the memories are vivid and the emotions are raw and traumatic. Lives were changed; lives were lost in the violence and chaos of that day. And we still struggle with the aftermath on ourselves and our country.
Yesterday’s Gospel spoke of Jesus calming the storm and I connected that miracle with the storm we are all experiencing in dealing with the pandemic. I suggested then that we are all in the same storm but in different boats, dealing with the pandemic in our own unique personal and family situations. Today we remember a different storm. But if we are to find any solace or hope, we must deal with this tragedy as one. As Americans and as Christians we are all in the same storm! We must join together – in reflecting on Scripture, in offering prayer. in trusting in the Lord and in hoping for a brighter, more peaceful tomorrow.
So take some time today to reflect on the words of today’s First Reading:
“This is the commandment we have from him:
Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,
and everyone who loves the Father
loves also the one begotten by him.
In this way we know that we love the children of God
when we love God and obey his commandments.
For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome”
And then pray in the words of St. Francis:
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.
A little something to lift your spirits!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR1Hk0FVi_k&list=LL&index=44
Have Faith! Have Hope! Be Love! Amen! Aho!