Becoming an Instrument of God’s Peace
By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe
The gospel of Matthew records Jesus speaking of the wars and
rumors of wars that will come. We speak
often of these wars on a global scale and just as often neglect the root of
those wars. The root is a spirit of
strife and anger that rests in the hearts at the community, regional and
national levels. We are witnessing this
not only in our own country, but globally.
Unfortunately, many have
reacted with anger and bitterness which only breed more anger and bitterness.
We accomplish nothing but the breeding of more strife by
sitting over our coffee cups and grousing and blaming. The media breeds strife on a global scale,
but still accomplishes nothing.
We say, “What can I do?
I am only one person.”
Speaking through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord said, "So
I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap
before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no
one” (Ezekiel 22:30).
Are you willing to
be one person to stand in the gap against the spirit of anger and strife?
How should we stand? “He
has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but
to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8).
Personally, we must “let justice run down like water, and
righteousness like a mighty stream.” (Amos 5:24.)
It is time to humble ourselves and pray with St. Francis of
Assisi:
“But 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.”
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.”
Amen and again I say, Amen.
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