October 4, 2019

Yesterday we talked about the inevitable loose ends of life. Loose-endedness particularly applies to relationships. Even the people we love the most, and the ones that love us the most will let us down. There will be gaps that are unfilled, leaks that intermittently drip, and expectations that are unmet. Sadly, some relationships exist in a state of disrepair or rupture.

God knows this. In Romans 12:18, St. Paul says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Of course we want to live at peace with everyone. But, I love the realistic caveat in that verse. Sometimes it just isn’t possible to live at peace. Sometimes the hurt is too deep. Sometimes we are just not up to the task.  And as we just said, God knows this.

When God moves us to pray for peace with others, we know that we are being moved in the right direction. Here’s a prayer for today, a prayer that thankfully recognizes that living at peace does not depend on us, but on the “grace of the Holy Spirit.”

“O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ  our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Proper 9 – BCP p. 230)