In ‘God’s Spirit and the Church Say: “Come!”‘ Saint Pope John Paul states: “Man can indeed exclude God from the scope of his life. But this does not happen without dire consequences for humankind, human dignity. You know it well: alienation from God carries with it the loss of those moral values ​​that are the basis and foundation of coexistence. A pseudo-culture that triggers narcissism replaces the culture of God.

Where there is evil, there is good. John Paul II: “The Holy Spirit is the gift that comes into man’s heart together with prayer. In prayer, He manifests Himself as the gift that “helps us in our weakness.”

               ‘For we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words’ (Romans 8: 26). 

Therefore, the Holy Spirit not only enables us to pray but guides us ‘from within’ in prayer: He is present in our prayer. He gives it a divine dimension (Origen, De Oratione, 2: Page 11, p. 419-423) Thus,

               ‘He who searches the hearts of men knows what the mind of the Spirit is. The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God’ (Romans 8: 27).

Prayer through the power of the Holy Spirit becomes the ever more mature expression of the new man, who, through this prayer, participates in the divine life. 

Let us unite in prayer for change, a prayer shared by Jim Winkler, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches. Bless you, Jim.

               “We confess that we have not loved you with our whole hearts nor with all our minds. Neither have we loved our neighbors as much we love ourselves and those who look like us.

               Instead, we have divided ourselves based on false distinctions of skin color and systematized those differences to permit lighter-hued peoples to exploit those with a darker hue. Racism is a sin. We know that with your forgiveness comes the responsibility to forego privileges based on lies, theft, cruelty, murder, and slavery.

               Give to those who benefit from systemic sin the strength and resolve to make atonement, to rectify injustice, and to walk humbly alongside you.

               Release the privileged from the imprisonment of false stereotypes. Grant them the vision to see their sisters and brothers as your children and not as ‘others.’

               Give to those who benefit from white privilege the courage to renounce their entitlement and to accept that God’s justice requires not only societal change but alternations in the lives of each person.

               Make us instruments of truth and transformation. It is to you we turn for renewal. It is to you we turn for restoration. Lead us to the hour when we will end racism and heal the nation.

               May you, O God, our God, bless the houses of worship of our land that they work together to build the beloved community.

               Amen!”

That They Work Together …

               God’s Spirit says to the Church, “Come!”

               The Church says to God’s Spirit, “Come!”

               God’s Spirit and the Church say, “Come!”

Change starts in me.

 

Jim Winkler has extracted the prayer from United Against Racism, ©New York: Friendship Press, 2018, p. 39. The book can be purchased through NCC’s publishing arm Friendship Press on their website at store.friendship-press.org.

Read more …

 

With every good wish to you, I am,

 

Sincerely yours,

Building the Bridge Foundation, The Hague

 

Abraham A. van Kempen

Senior Editor

 

*‘Christian Zionism … Enraptured Around a Golden Calf’ (2nd Edition)

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