St Edburg's Church - Bicester

Keeping the faith in a time of crisis

 

When church leaders make no comment on current events, they are accused of remaining silent. When they do speak, others tell them to keep out of politics. It can feel like a no‑win situation.

 

I have not heard many comments from our bishops about the war now raging in the Middle East, following what many commentators describe as an ill‑judged and possibly unlawful attack on Iran by Presidents Trump and Netanyahu, and the predictable response that followed. Our own government has, so far, wisely chosen not to join in.

 

Christians have long campaigned against using force to settle disputes. There are principles for when a war might be considered “just”, yet in recent years some leaders have acted as if unaware of them. Their philosophy seems to be that might is right, and that it is acceptable to bomb another nation — innocent people included — “back into the Stone Age”.

 

Lord, save us from a world where that becomes the prevailing creed.  Have we had twenty centuries of Christian faith for nothing?

 

The situation in first‑century Palestine could be desperate too. For the women who went early to the tomb on Easter morning, it must have seemed as though their hopes had died with Jesus,  , that the courage he had inspired had been snatched away, that his mission had failed. So it was with astonishment and joy that they found the empty tomb, and Mary Magdalene encountered the Risen Lord — an experience that transformed her life and the lives of the disciples.

 

The Risen Jesus has changed our lives as well. Easter is nothing if it does not bring hope. Jesus overcame evil and death not by force, but by love — the love of God active in him. We believe that this love is active in the Church and in Christian lives today.  Lord, help us hold fast to this hope, and show the world, patiently and faithfully,  that the power of love is greater than the power of might.

 

At the time of writing, a ceasefire has been announced, though it is not yet clear what will follow.

 

Michael Kingston