Season 4 - Episode 9

To listen to an audio version of this post, visit www.covenantchurch.ca/podcasts/covenant-weekly.

I'm sure this is the last thing most of us want to hear about, but - let's be honest - this is a significant day in our world as one of the most influential global nations votes in the most divisive election of our lifetime. There is great concern about the landscape of the United States of America pending the outcome of their vote today. And the divisions within their nation have ripple effects far beyond their borders. Pierre Elliot Trudeau once described Canada’s life next to the United States as sleeping with an elephant. He said, “No matter how friendly and even-tempered is the beast ... one is affected by every twitch and grunt.” And the twitches and grunts of in the US today are having an impact on this side of the 49th parallel.

And, in a world where division and conflict is being highlighted - sometimes even encouraged by public figures - we are also heading towards Remembrance Day. The world has seen the effects of stoking fear, hatred, and division. We don’t need more of that.

As Jesus' followers, our call is to be agents and practicers of peace - of shalom - people seeking to bring healing not harm. We’ll be talking about that on Sunday morning. But to help us centre ourselves on what we are invited to be in the world, here is the Prayer of St. Francis in the Covenant Weekly for November 5, 2024.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.