I Have No Words

From the Book of Common Prayer:

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn

but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the

strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that

all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of

Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and

glory, now and for ever. Amen.

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Sunday Drive: Peace Prayer

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

                                                 -- Micah 6:8

The Peace Prayer, sometimes called the Prayer of St. Francis, exquisitely performed by John Michael Talbot.

The Lessons Appointed for Use on the

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany

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Sunday Drive: Peace Prayer

To honor the memory of Pope Francis

 

John Michael Talbot is a Grammy-award-winning Catholic musician and some kind of Franciscan monk.  His rendition of the Peace Prayer, which appears at the top of the sidebar of this blog, is a great favorite of your Head Trucker's.

In his funeral sermon for Pope Francis yesterday at the Vatican, Cardinal Re recalled the late pope's persistent concern for the poor, the suffering, and the outcasts of the world, on the model of his namesake saint.  This concern is at the heart of the Christian faith, as Jesus expressed it in Matthew 25:31-46, and is neatly summarized in what Catholics call the Seven Works of Corporal Mercy:

1. Feed the hungry
2. Give drink to the thirsty
3. Clothe the naked
4. Shelter the homeless
5. Visit the sick
6. Visit the prisoners
7. Bury the dead

(This Episcopalian thinks it would not be amiss to add "and comfort the living" to that last point.)

Whether you are a Christian or not, this is a handy checklist if you find yourself wondering just what you can do to make a difference in the world.  You don't have to save the whole world; just do what you can for those nearest you.  I believe that the smallest act of sincere kindness - even just a friendly smile - counts for something in the scheme of the universe. 

And God needs workers in other areas besides those seven.  Your Head Trucker thinks He would be better pleased if you spent just an hour a week on the phone with your lonely old Aunt Sally, who always talks your ear off, than sitting and squirming for an hour in a church service you can't wait to get away from.  Aunt Sally has a real hunger for human company, and it costs you nothintg but a little time and patience to give a needed lift to her spirits.  That is the sort of service with which God is best pleased.  But who am I to say?

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

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Prayers for Peace

The Water Lily Pond, Claude Monet, 1899

The last thing anyone needs is a war just now.  Or at any time.  If you've read today's headlines, I have nothing further to say about world events; but I will say that now is the time to pray for peace on earth.

You can always make up your own prayer, anywhere, anytime.  Or you can think peaceful thoughts embracing all the lands and peoples of this troubled world.  Or just be still inside, in holy silence and at peace with all mankind.

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed.

If you would rather do than think or pray, consider forgiving someone who has trespassed against you.  Or do an act of kindness that you don't have to do - give something you don't have to give - love someone who can't love you back - without any thought of thanks or reward.  If you can do so anonymously, so much the better.  All these are works of peace.

If you want a set prayer, here are several collections of prayers from all around the world, and many faiths.  It's always possible to adopt one phrase or sentence that is particularly meaningful to you and use it as a frequent repetition, if you like. 

• Episcopal Prayers and Thanksgivings
• Prayers for Peace
• Prayers in Times of War and Civil Unrest

But whatever you do, I entreat you - do it now.

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Sunday Drive: Peace Prayer

I am posting Sunday Drive a day early this week, in hopes of encouraging all my truckbuddies and visitors to take a little time out from the usual weekend routine to reflect on just what we are called to be and do in this bewildering life.

Today is All Souls' Day, known in the Episcopal Church as the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed, a twin feast of All Saints' Day. As Forward Movement puts it, "This is a good time to remember the unspectacular children of God: those whose Christian witness may have been weak or faltering, but who are still very dear and important to God and to us."

It is a good time to remember and give thanks for all those "little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love," done by those we love but see no longer, that have fostered, comforted, encouraged, and sustained us throughout our lives.

It is also a good time to recall, as someone has said, that "Though we cannot all do great things, we can all do small things with great love."  And that makes all the difference, doesn't it?

By sheer coincidence, this weekend marks ten years of M.P.'s residence in this little bungalow, and twelve years of our friendship, which has given us both abundant occasions to practice those not-so-small things - along with forgiveness and patient forbearance, as need may be - and for which we are very thankful.

Your weak and faltering Head Trucker has long been fond of the Prayer for Peace, so appropriate for the present age, which beautifully summarizes the actions of love and grace, and recalls to my forgetful mind my duties in this life.  Here it is movingly sung by John Michael Talbot: