Dear Friends
If sunlight is the best disinfectant,
President Biden’s speech for the ages this morning, was like shining a high
intensity LED flashlight on what happened before and after the 2020 election,
January 6th, and for the past year. Some will say, of course, that his
words will divide us further. But if we don’t know how large the wound is, how
can we know and feel the urgency to treat it? And trying to heal the soul of our nation
without holding the persons responsible, who ripped the wound open wider (which infects and
continues to poison the blood stream of our country and civility in general) is
irresponsible.
Of course my mind then goes to the fact
that today, as it was almost forgotten last year in
the shock of what we were watching on television, is the Feast of the
Epiphany, a day filled with references to light. “Arise, shine, for
your light has come…” are the familiar words of
the first lesson from Isaiah at the Eucharist, but these words from Revelation
are appointed for Evening Prayer today: “And the city has no need of sun
or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the
Lamb”. The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring
their glory into it”.
That leads me to timely words from today’s Forward Day by Day
meditation: “When our days are rift with conflict and turmoil, let us
remember that God’s light shines on each of us equally. God became incarnate
for all of us as we continue to fight for mercy, justice and peace.”
Let me end with a prayer which my father prayed with
me and my sisters each night as he put us to bed. I have added one phrase for the
current perils and dangers we face:
Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee O Lord, and by thy great
mercy, defend us from all perils and dangers of this night (and for
those still simmering in our country right now); for the love of thy
only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
John
P.S Thankful (and proud) to hear our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's powerful prayer at the candlelight vigil on the Capitol steps and hear John Meacham's voice in the president's speech!
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