Dear People of St. David’s,
I pray that you and yours are well and that you have taken time to pray over the evil that has erupted in the Holy Land this week. The pictures, videos, and firsthand accounts are heartbreaking. I can barely make myself follow what’s going on. I’m trying to use it as a time of prayer to ask for God’s intervention. For me to renew my own commitment to living in such a way that my life, with God’s help, will push back against the force of evil.
This past Sunday at the Adult Forum, I was asked to speak about the second article of our baptismal covenant. We are asked, “Will you persevere in resisting evil, and whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?” We answer, “I will, with God’s help.” It’s the understanding that in our faith we believe that there is evil at work in the world. Some of it is a subtle force that leads us away from God, a force that whispers in our ears to make a choice and live in ways that are contrary to God’s desires for our lives. The other force for evil is us. We, as individuals and communities, act in ways that are contrary to God’s desires for our lives and for the life of the world. These are forces that we face throughout our lives, and no one is immune.
Thankfully, we are not alone. We have a power at work in us that can bring light to the darkness in the world and to the darkness that touches our lives. God is always with us. As a first step in resisting evil, I invite you to pray. Pray that the power of evil at work in the world and in our lives be rolled back, overcome, blocked, and for God to change hearts. Pray for God to restore peace and common good; for God to reveal a way forward that shuns violence, murder, and destruction. Ask God to give you the insight and to resist evil in your own life.
We humans have a strong predilection for seeking our own way before God’s way and few have the ability to choose the good every time. God will change our hearts and minds if we ask. God’s goodness and love will rise up in us to do the right thing and to live as God’s light for others. We may not be able to have a direct effect on what’s going on in Israel alone, but as light always spreads in the darkness, the goodness and light in our lives will make a difference with God’s help.
We mourn, lament, and lift up the families and communities affected by evil and pray for God to intervene. May we also have the courage to pray that God will show us our part in resisting evil, even as we invite God to empower us to be God’s change in the world. Now is the time.
Grace and Peace,
The Rev. W. Frank Allen
Rector