Meditation for 1st March 2022
Peace & Power
So many people, all over the world, are watching with horror, disbelief and fear, the situation in Ukraine – the suffering of its people, the fleeing of women and children from their beloved country into neighbouring countries in search of safety and the killing of civilians and people in the forces on both sides of the conflict.
To most of us the invasion of Ukraine by the forces of its powerful neighbour, Russia, is incomprehensible. The seemingly unstoppable power of Putin takes us, as well as Ukrainians, to a place of uncertainty. There is talk of the possible mental instability of Russia’s leader and the unthinkable threat of escalation of this violence to a nuclear dimension.
What can be done? Is this all a terrible reminder of Man’s flawed nature and the corrupting effects of power?
In the bleak moments of this crisis there is one source of stability and reliability, of hope, of healing power – our salvation lies in the gift of Christ’s perfect peace.
The New Testament gives us so many verses on the importance of peace in our lives – that peace which comes from our Prince of Peace, central to Jesus’s message of love for all Mankind.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14, 27
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16, 33
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
Peter 3, 9-11
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
1 Corinthians, 14, 33
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 5, 1
I try to meditate on peace in my heart, peace for all people and pray earnestly for Christ’s gift of healing peace in the world’s conflicts, and especially at this time, for the Ukraine conflict.
In my attempts to try and understand the struggle for peace against the evil of misused power, I give below, for your thoughts, some of the quotes I have contemplated…
His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism:
Inner Peace
We can never obtain peace in the world if we neglect the inner world and don’t make peace with ourselves. World peace must develop out of inner peace. Peace starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.
Conflicts
Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts, differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; Through dialogue, through education, knowledge; and through humane ways.
Mahatma Gandhi:
The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.
Mother Teresa:
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other
Malala Yousafzai:
I truly believe the only way we can create global peace is through not only educating our minds but our hearts and our souls.
Albert Einstein:
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.
In his book, To Be A Pilgrim (1984), Cardinal Basil Hume, includes a section headed ‘War and Peace’. His thoughts, written nearly 40 years ago, seem so pertinent to our contemporary world in conflict:
The Church tries to preach love, reconciliation and universal brotherhood in a sinful world where individuals and states use aggression and violence to secure their purposes…
War has changed its nature. No longer is it waged between professional armies. No longer is it limited in its effects and in its toll of human life. Conventional as well as nuclear weapons now assume an awesome power…
The Church can be an important voice urging restraint, understanding and peace. We can use our abilities and resources to build bridges between unreconciled neighbours. We can help to reduce tension and build confidence…
The Christian pilgrim should pray for the peace of Christ, should work and struggle for it. The whole Church struggles to remain sane in a mad world.
Our Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby and Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, made a joint statement:
The horrific and unprovoked attack on Ukraine is an act of great evil.
Placing our trust in Jesus Christ, the author of peace, we pray for an urgent ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian forces.
We call for a public decision to choose the way of peace and an international conference to secure long term agreements for stability and lasting peace.
We invite Christians to make Sunday (27th February) a day for prayer for Ukraine, Russia and for peace. We also give our support to the call from Pope Francis for a global day of prayer and fasting for peace on Ash Wednesday (2nd March).
The archbishops provide for me an example of continuing the thought presented by Cardinal Hume – the Church can be an important voice urging restraint, understanding and peace. This meditation on Peace and Power concludes with the following prayer:
God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for all those who fear tomorrow, that your spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom,
discernment and compassion to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for your children at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen
