...the Holy Father hopes that prayers for an immediate cease fire between the warring sides, for humanitarian corridors to be opened in order to bring assistance to the suffering people, and for reasonable and responsible negotiations to begin to put an end to objective situations of injustice that exist in that region, as already indicated by Pope Benedict XVI at the Angelus on Sunday, July 16.
“The Lebanese have the right to see the integrity and sovereignty of their country respected, the Israelis the right to live in peace in their State, and the Palestinians have the right to have their own free and sovereign homeland. At this sorrowful moment, His Holiness also makes an appeal to charitable organizations to help all the people struck by this pitiless conflict”, the written statement said...
As I listened intently to our pastor read this letter in church this morning, out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of our Canadian flag waving proudly behind the translucent stained-glass window.
If ever there were a time to appreciate and use your gifts of freedom and faith, this is it.
26 comments:
Yes, all people of all faiths should pray for peace, as this is only a problem only God can solve. We are at an impasse in the world's situation where there is such a tangled ball of string that no one human agency can untangle it. It requires an ability and knowledge beyond what we can come up with. The world has tried, time and time again to satisfy all grieved parties involved. I wonder if this is the time that the scriptures say are the beginning of the time when it says that Jerusalem will be surrounded on all sides, and that this situation will be a stumbling block for all the nations.
So yes we must pray for a solution, if not what world chaos will ensue, with all sides thinking they are right and justified in what they are doing.
Ahhhh, Joanne's back. I trust you enjoyed your little vacation.
But, I'm sorry that I can't join you in your prayers.
I don't pray. I don't like god. I don't like the pope. I don't like the church.
I've got my reasons.
Glad to have you back Joanne.
I think everyone prays in their own way (even if they are atheists) for peace, but it will do little to solve the problem. One might just as well talk to the wind.
Also, the “Grand Inquisitor” and the Holy See should stay out of politics.
Hello, Joanne TB. Here are a few thought-provoking quotations:
On PEACE
from http://www.thinkexist.com
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. (George Orwell)
Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice. (Baruch Spinoza)
With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds. . . to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations. (Abraham Lincoln)
On PRAYER
from http://www.bartleby.com
*This one should interest Zac*:
Prayer does not use up artificial energy, doesn’t burn up any fossil fuel, doesn’t pollute. (Margaret Mead)
Prayer is not an old woman’s idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action. (Mohandas K. Gandhi)
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.
(Saint Francis of Assisi)
This prayer for harmony was famously paraphrased by Mrs. Thatcher on the steps of 10 Downing Street, 4 May 1979, after her first election victory: “Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error may we bring truth. Where there is doubt may we bring faith. Where there is despair may we bring hope”
I am not particularly religious (a Christmas Christian), but I believe that prayer works. As far as I know all religions have prayer in some form, and it may even pre-date religion.
Just putting your hands together, you can sometimes feel energy flowing. A well known prayer works as a mantra, calming your mind, and in that state you can send energy out into the world. I use the Lord's Prayer, because I learned it by heart growing up. I don't pray for things in my life, but I do try to send peace energy into the world. I've been doing this most days for the last few years.
I can't prove it works, but I can't prove it doesn't, and I think our world needs all the help it can get.
Amen!
Now, imagine if this creation, "God," were to be harbouring similar thoughts about you!
Trust me, he does. I have no time for the one you call "god".
Tango, in my estimation the one thing causing the most tension right now in the world is religion. Whether your flying planes into buildings because your god tells you to, or whether you displacing people off of land because your god tells you to or your limiting stem cell research because your god tells you to, it doesnt matter. I fail to see how it can resolve a thing.
Joanne, sorry for hijacking your thread here with my rant about god. I should have thought before I posted.
Wow! Zac!!! You are equating sending planes into tall buildings with limiting stem cell research???
One wants to destroy life; the other wants to preserve and respect it.
But, no worries. The God I know is not vindictive. He will not hold a grudge just because you haven't come to know him yet.
sorry for hijacking your thread here with my rant about god.
Highjack a plane; big problem. Highjack a thread; no problem.
That's good that the Pope is asking everyone to pray for peace. It's such a difficult situation that prayer is really the only thing that a lot of us can do. And I think it's also the best thing that a lot of us can do.
Steph, that's right. If people of various faiths join together in prayer, who knows? Maybe a miracle.
One wants to destroy life; the other wants to preserve and respect it
I was just mentioning some views from the fundamentalist side of all religions: muslim terrorists, fundamentalist christians in the US, zionist jews in the middle east.
But seriously, I'm smart enough to not debate stem cell research with you....I've learned my lesson thus far :)
Aw, Zac.. C'mon. That's one we never tackled before!!!
One day Joanne....one day.
That's o.k. Zac. I'm not quite prepared yet. ;)
"Also, the “Grand Inquisitor” and the Holy See should stay out of politics."
Damn, Benedict can't even engage in politics by calling for peace? Man, Red Tory's an atheistic hard-ass.
lol! Peter, I was thinking the same thing. I don't know if I totally agree with the Holy Fathers' world view, but it seems to me that asking everyone to pray for peace is something within his purview.
I was referring to the statement from the Vatican last week that got many fundamentalists riled up because it appeared to come down on the side of Lebanon in the current conflict.
RT - I agree with you that the Pope should remain politically neutral.
From http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=20532
«The Holy See condemned Israel’s attack on a “free and sovereign” Lebanon and “terrorist” actions by the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, as both risk the conflict growing into a conflagration with international repercussions, and strongly urged that sincere negotiations begin.»
That certainly doesn't sound like the Pope is siding with one side against the other in the current conflict.
Thank you for that, Gabby. You're right. As far as I can see he has been balanced. Perhaps Red could give us an example of what he is referring to.
This is an extemely difficult situation and even if your a Christian you can't just automatically give Israel the benefit of the doubt (the level of force they have used needs to be questioned).
Prayer for all involved in this conflict is important and helpful (and yes I agree if your faith isn't strong, don't bother praying!).
As disturbing as everything happening in the World is, you have to admit it's a very exciting time to be alive. God's plan will evolve, and as we pray for help and understanding, we need to continue to thank him for all the blessing's he has bestowed upon us.
Great perspective, Gerry! Thanks.
Gabby -- I suggest you read this to see what I'm talking about.
“In particular,” the statement continued, “the Holy See deplores the attack on Lebanon, a free and sovereign nation.”
Yeah, Red. The Pope should stick to praying for peace.
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