Grace and Peace,
I have shared previously that one of the joys of our pandemic inspired need to record video and audio for worship has been serving as the sound engineer (and I use that term very loosely) and the audience of 1 for our music recording sessions; this personal organ recital has led to an increased appreciation for that instrument and our blessing in having Jim Kreger as our organist.
The music for these next two weeks is both varied, fun, and inspiring. While editing the Sunday worship videos I get to revisit the music, and this week the selection includes hymn #593, Lord make us servants of your peace. The hymn text reflects the comforting prayer that we attribute to Saint Francis.
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we 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.
Amen.
Last week in the sermon it was pointed out that love, as understood in Scripture, is not an emotion as much as it is an action – Love is that inner quality that we express as acts of service towards the well being of others. Love is being an instrument of God’s peace.
The prayer calls us to respond to hatred, injury, and discord with love, pardon, and union. When we see others weighed down by doubt, despair, darkness, and sadness we are to offer faith, hope, light, and joy.
The prayer, and the hymn, suggest that it is in offering acts of service towards the well being of others that we receive our reward: “Lord, make us servants of your peace, to wake at last in heaven’s light.”
Sadly, the need to be instruments of God’s peace are seemingly unlimited. The divisiveness, the anger, and the name calling surrounds us and can overwhelm us. This bullying, in its many forms, is found in the workplace, on social media, and in our schools. Even seemingly small acts of bullying towards others, seemingly innocent actions or comments, are wrong and ultimately are the cracks in society, and the cracks in our relationships, that permit the evil one to permeate our lives and bring darkness rather than light.
The contrary nature of bullying is evident when we notice that the perpetuators of these heinous acts can view anger, hatred, threats, and violence as synonymous with strength; but we know that these acts are truly signs of weakness. True strength comes from offering love, faith, hope, and light. True strength comes from compassion and understanding.
Peace
Fr. Henry+
