The Gospel makes us strong by . . .
- The comforting assurance that soothes our suffering;
- The stimulating energy that keeps us going through tough times;
- The love that God grants us unconditionally; and
- The connection with God and through God to all the peoples of the earth. For God loves them all, just as God loves us.
The mystery that is revealed to all of us is that we have brothers and sisters in Christ, even among those whose holidays and nations and values and faiths are different from ours. They appear foreign, even threatening, to us. It is not God’s plan to keep us apart in fear, but to gather us together in love. When we do come together we learn to see God more fully.
In 2016 I took a pilgrimage to eastern Turkey to seek out 1st century “cave” churches, some in a region called Cappadocia. They were small and simple places of worship chiseled out of solid rock. They contained two simple rooms. There was a dome where they sang hymns resonating in the rock above, and there was another room with a stone table and a hearth where I imagined they shared a meal.
That evening, as I was in my hotel room contemplating what I had seen in the desert caves, I was startled by loud-speakers blaring the Muslim call to prayer. The harsh Arabic was impossible to ignore. It annoyed me to be shaken from my Christian contemplation by this noise! Then, suddenly, it occurred to me that this was not an intrusion. Rather, it was an invitation, to pray. Then and there I prayed, grateful for this unexpected opportunity to be closer to God. I lifted my Christian prayer along with the prayers of my Muslim brothers. As I continued my journey through Turkey I stopped to pray every time I heard the loud speakers blaring the call to prayer.
When I returned to Asheville, I prayed less often throughout the day. I missed those loud-speakers that were once so annoying. But Asheville does have something that is just as annoying. Sirens blare unexpectedly from the fire station every day. It suddenly occurred to me that I could welcome those sirens as a call to prayer! When I pray, I remember my brothers in Turkey praying with me. This is my “siren” prayer.
Prayer:
Praise God!
Receive God’s blessing!
Have compassion!
God gives us grace!
Bring Peace!
God grants us Peace!
Share Love!
God Loves us all!
Amen.
