22/01/2021
You can read the full transcript of the reflection below.
Today we're thinking about hope for our world and I'm returning to some thoughts that we began with, you know, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refusing to worship the statue, and saying we're going to do what we believe is right, not what we believe you want. And maybe the greatest hope for our world is that we can catch hold of that bigger agenda of God's justice, God's mercy, God's peace, and try to live our lives like that.
And I want to read to you today a prayer, this astonishing prayer was found sewn into the clothing of a dead child at the Ravensbruck concentration camp. And its an astonishing prayer of love and mercy, even forgiveness, that was somehow written by this unknown Jewish person in the most unimaginable horror.
So the prayer goes, "Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but those of ill will. But, do not remember all of the suffering they have inflicted upon us: instead remember the fruits we have borne because of this suffering - our fellowship, our loyalty to one another, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown from this trouble. When our persecutors come to be judged by you, let all of these fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness."
I simply can't imagine how someone could write such a prayer and find such hope in such terrible, terrible darkness. But I believe it is that generosity of heart, that ability to forgive and to find mercy even out of such horror, which is probably the only hope for our world. So let us pray for hope in our world today, not just hope in this covid crisis, but hope that we might live in peace with each other and find ways of living with mercy and justice and forgiveness.
And if you have a particular hope or prayer for our world please write and let me know, and we are offering those prayers expressing those hopes here at Bishopthorpe and the Sisters of Whitby are praying with me.
Anyone who wishes a prayer to be said for themselves or others, can send this in to Bishopthorpe Palace, where the Archbishop will pray, with support from The Order of the Holy Paraclete at Whitby.
If you would like to send in a prayer request, please complete the online request here. You can also email: [email protected] putting ‘Prayer request’ in the subject line.
If you would like to write your request for prayer, please post to: Prayers, Office of the Archbishop of York, Bishopthorpe Palace, Bishopthorpe, York YO23 2GE.
Please be aware that names may be shared with the Sisters of the Order of the Holy Paraclete in Whitby and that personal responses may not be possible.
Other prayer requests can be submitted anytime here