‘We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.’ 1 Thessalonians 1:2
Paul opens this letter with much thankfulness for the people of God grounded in the work of faith, engaged in labors of love, and remaining steadfast in hope. The members of this faith community participate in the reign of God through faithful action to uphold God’s mission to liberate, reconcile and transform a broken world. These believers realize that if they are going to be living witnesses, they must lead lives that matter. Their actions are the intentional and incarnational presence manifested daily to those searching for something to believe in and needing to see the love of Christ demonstrated through action.
Like you, I have watched the tragic events unfold in Ukraine over these last several days with despair and pain. One particular picture, though, captured my holy imagination as it exemplified resolve. While around them, buildings had been hit by shells and cars abandoned, there were a small group of approximately five persons led by an older Ukrainian woman who were kneeling in prayer in the town center. I am reminded this is what we do at moments like this, even in the middle of a battle for our very lives. The church lives out its witness with conviction! This woman joins a lengthy list of those whose faith matched their actions even at the risk of peril. Archbishop Romero, the El Salvadoran priest, put his life on the line for the sake of the cross, serving Holy Communion at gunpoint from soldiers as he stood behind the sacred desk, to the faithful in a small village under threat of death. Where did these faithful pilgrims find their strength in such terrifying situations? No doubt from the call of Christ, who also under duress, still demonstrated the intersection of faith and practice by praying for those who would persecute him.
The Christian life is a calling to lead a life that matters because of practices, such as prayer, which shapes daily living, especially in light of difficult circumstances. Prayer is a privilege, opportunity, and challenge to be transparent enough in our humanity to acknowledge we cannot go it alone. Prayer is a practice that invites us to share our most profound and most significant cares, concerns, fear, and joys with our Creator. Prayer intertwines our spirit with the Holy Spirit, who is our comforter, our helper, and foundational to our assurance that even in times of ambiguity, we can find solace in God’s certainty. Prayer opens our souls to remain steadfast of hope as we practice our faith in contexts that challenge our call to live lives as those who labor in love because of Christ’s faithfulness.
Let’s Commit to the Practice of Intentional Prayer not just at Lent but always.
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