For Sunday, October
31, 2021; Readings:
Micah 4:1-4, Psalm 85:7-14,* Thomas
Merton,** Matthew 5:43-48
[T]hey shall beat
their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation
shall not life up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore… [Micah 4:3b]
Turn, revive us,
nourish our joy. Show us mercy, save us Lord…”I, the Lord speak peace, peace to
my faithful people who turn their hearts to me…The Lord pours out riches, land
springs to life. [Psalm 85:7, 13, From The Psalter: A faithful and inclusive
rendering, Liturgy Training Publications (International Committee on English
in the Liturgy, Inc.), 1994.]
Peace is not
something you fight for. Perhaps peace is not, after all, something you work
for, or ‘fight for.’ Peace is something you have or you do not have. If you
yourself is at peace, then there is at least *some* peace in the world. [Thomas Merton, from Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander (Doubleday,
1966, p 181)]
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you…For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do
not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers
and sisters, of what more are you doing than others? [Matthew
5:44,46-47]
The Season of Creation originated in the Anglican Church of South Africa and was formalized in 2008. It is designed for us to explore our faith from a Creation perspective. For more information see: https://prayersofthepeople.blogspot.com/2018/10/prayers-of-people-in-beginning-1st.html. We use Biblical and other readings that pertain to the specific theme of each of the 7 weeks of the Season. Alternate readings used are posted with asterisk.Week III's Theme is:
Our World at Peace
*Psalm 85:7-14: Turn, revive us, nourish our joy. Show us
mercy, save us, Lord. I listen to God speaking: “I, the Lord, speak peace, peace
to my faithful people who turn their hearts to me.” Salvation is coming near,
glory is filling our land. Love and faithfulness embrace, peace and justice
kiss. Fidelity sprouts from the earth, justice leans down from heaven. The Lord
pours out riches, our land springs to life. Justice clears God’s path, justice
points the way. From The Psalter:
A faithful and inclusive rendering, Liturgy Training Publications (International
Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc.), 1994.
**A reading from Thomas
Merton — Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander (Doubleday, 1966, p
181):
Peace
is not something you fight for. Perhaps peace is not, after all, something you
work for, or “fight for.” It is indeed “fighting for peace” that starts
all the wars. What, after all, are the pretexts of all these Cold War crises,
but “fighting for peace”? Peace is something you have or you do not have.
If you yourself are at peace, then there is at least *some* peace in the world.
Then you share your peace with everyone, and everyone will be at peace. Of
course I realize that arguments like this can be used as a pretext for
passivity, for indifferent acceptance of every iniquity. Quietism leads to war
as surely as anything does. But I am not speaking of quietism, because quietism
is not peace, nor is it the way to peace.
Our World at Peace. Of course! Who doesn't want it? Yet the concept is exponentially
large and seems well beyond the scope of my abilities to achieve alone. It then
remains a mere concept, too big to be a goal, and reduced to a conversational
platitude. Or, is it? When you think of world peace how do you
define it? Is it merely the end of all war on the planet or are there other
considerations? A few formal definitions describe it as the absence of war, a
cessation of hostilities, and/or tranquility. Whole armies are deployed
ostensibly to end war ~ where am I in that? The words of Thomas Merton say
it clearly: peace is not something you fight for…fighting for peace…starts all the wars. Well,
when it’s put that way, it becomes even more clear that of course no army is
deployed for peace but for power and control, domination and subjugation. Tranquility,
though, sounds a bit more personal. But a day doesn't go by when my anxiety and
frustration levels aren't challenged by the local news, comments on social
media, and I am highly intolerant of the intolerance of others as my blood pressure
rises! And Thomas speaks to that also: Peace is something you have
or you do not have. If you yourself are at peace, then there is at least *some*
peace in the world. Ah, a small first step. Find peace within me, somewhere, breathing
deeply regularly, stepping away from the noise of all that disturbs a tranquil
moment. Listen for the birds, even when they’re fighting it calms me. The
laughter of children makes me laugh. Breathe deeply again. The world is still
there but I can find that small moment of inner peace, that still small voice
of God in Christ with the Holy Spirit quietly, steadily, holding me fast,
calling me to return often and take it out so that I can offer at least *some*
peace in the world. World Peace, it seems begins within me, at least in some ways.
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Merciful,
Saving Lord, revive our faith and nourish our joy, that the peace you speak overflows
our souls and leads us to share with everyone, especially with those we deem difficult
or unworthy. Guide us to remember Your ways and learn to pray with more fervor
for others than for ourselves.
O
God of Justice and Peace
RESPONSE: We turn our hearts to You
~
Merciful, Saving Lord, search the faithfulness of us all, especially those who lead in Governments
globally and locally. Quell the ego-, greed-, and power- needs that obstruct the
tranquility of all the Earth. Lead us to Your path where peace can grow and
spread beyond all barriers and borders. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O
God of Justice and Peace
We
turn our hearts to You
~
Merciful, Saving Lord, lay Your healing hand upon those weary of the pain, anguish, or
fears of this life, and hold fast to those who offer caring help. We now join our
hearts together to pray for those in need… add your own petitions
O
God of Justice and Peace
We
turn our hearts to You
~
Merciful, Saving Lord, lighten the darkness for those who grieve, as our loved ones
return Home to the eternal splendor and glory of new life in Christ. We pray especially
for… add your own petitions
O
God of Justice and Peace
We
turn our hearts to You
~
Merciful, Saving Lord, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials… add your own petitions
O
God of Justice and Peace
We
turn our hearts to You
~
Merciful, Saving Lord, bestow courage and confidence, in these trying times, upon those
anointed to call us to Your Holy Table for the spiritual renewal and fidelity
of faith, to serve the cause of peace in this world together. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
O
God of Justice and Peace
We
turn our hearts to You
The Celebrant adds: O Lord our God, pour Your riches
into our souls as we embody Your Presence within ourselves and as the instruments
of Your peace for all we meet. Teach us to bend the swords, spears, slings, and
arrows of rage and warring, into the tools that spring humanity toward the
Salvation and Glory of our inheritance from Christ. We ask through Jesus, our Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, our
Counselor, who together with You are One God, now and forever. Amen.
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