yrieithydd

Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou O Lord

This versicle and response really hit home at Evensong this evening. Peace seems further away than at any time in my life time. I realised this morning (during Fr Ian's excellent sermon) that how pessismistic I've become. I remember when the current intifada began 4/5 years ago praying, hoping that a way forward would be found soon. It wasn't; it dragged on. It's slipped from my prayers. Then there was '9/11' and since then the world has gone mad. We're fighting 'the war on terror' and terrorism is increasing. We're fighting for peace and we have war. We have forgotten that God is the only who can give us peace and who truly fighteth for us. We make it worse.

The collect was good too:
Almighty God,
who hast called thy Church to witness
that thou wast in Christ reconciling the world to thyself:
help us so to proclaim the good news of thy love
that all who hear it may be drawn unto thee;
through him who was lifted up on the cross,
and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen

Yes; that is our call. We're not living it very well at the moment. Factions and fighting; hatred and bigotry; arrogance and pride; hurt and condemnation; these I see in the media and in Anglican communion.

Reconciling the world to God?

Yes; God is at work in and through his Church. It mightn't get the attention of the press. Reconciliation and healing does happen. We might be messed up and mess up but God works in us and through us. I can see it at the moment at LSM. It's humbling and exciting and maybe even a bit scary.