The Collects offer us quite a few options for prayer. We can pray for the weather and for the land; we can pray for travelers—even astronauts; we have options for Saints, pastors, lay persons, ministries, commerce and industry…the list goes on and on. I know this because I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to the Book of Common Prayer (let’s be honest, I’m a nerd when it comes to everything). So, I took my nerdlike tendencies and searched for a suitable non-partisan prayer that would hopefully help during this week’s upcoming election process, and for the needs of our worldly context concerning COviD, unrest, isolation... I found one.
Page 258: For the Nation
“Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
It’s a perfect prayer in an imperfect time. 2020 has proven itself to be one of the toughest years of my life. COvID notwithstanding, other influences have made their mark as this year trudges on into the depths of shadow and the unknown. Add back the disease running rampant in our world and catastrophe takes on a new level. Someone the other day jokingly commented this, “I wonder what the season finale of 2020 will be? Surely it can’t get any worse…” I wanted to make them go outside and turn around three times and spit, or curse, or do something to take away the bad juju they’d unwittingly just given life.
I think the line I appreciate the most from the Collect above is, “Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance.” The word forbearance appears in scripture in a few different forms:
· hypomeno – to patiently endure (Matthew 10:22; Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13; Luke 2:43; Acts 17:14; Romans 12:12; just to name a few passages)
· epieikes – gentle, considerate (Philippians 4:5; 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 3:2; James 3:17; 1 Peter 2:18)
· makroqumia – patience, forbearance, fortitude, long suffering (Romans 9:22; 2 Corinthians 6:6; Galatians 5:22; 2 Timothy 3:10; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 3: 20)
Endurance is something to which the people of this world are becoming more and more accustomed. But the trek isn’t easy; many people have become tired of the climb, the uphill trudge through daily—and varying—desolate circumstances. I pray that we all will remember the prayer above, and that the divine forbearance given to us by our Creator will sustain us in the worst of moments. This election, this pandemic, this world…none of these are permanent. They are simply penultimate stages on the way to an ultimate plane: That place where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting. Have strength. Be patient. Love your neighbor. Love yourself. Love God.
And in the darkness that precedes the dawn, allow that forbearance to fill you with hope for the future.
Faithfully,
Fr. Sean+