I apologize for the long delay in sending anything out; Beliefnet has done a
little temporary belt-tightening and is only using previously published
material at present. The expectation is that we'll be back on a regular
schedule come January. Of course I write some other, longer pieces here and
there, but I usually only send out the short commentaries to avoid clogging
your mailbox. I haven't written publicly on the current crisis yet but
probably will next week. Frankly, it's just a whirl right now, and I'm going
to try to get the brain in gear first before mouthing off.
In the meantime I'd like to offer this prayer by St. Nikolai Velimirovic, a
Serbian Orthodox bishop of the last century, who opposed Naziism and was
eventually taken to Dachau. In this prayer he no doubt has in mind personal
enemies, rather than national ones; the prayer is not intended as a guide for
political and military decisions. But in thinking through such words we may
be more able to act justly rather than rashly and in hatred or bloodlust.
This prayer is included in my new book, "The Illumined Heart."
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Enemies have driven me into Your embrace more than friends have. Friends
have bound me to earth, enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished
all my aspirations in the world.
Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms and an extraneous
inhabitant of the world. Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an
unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest
sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath Your tabernacle, where neither
friends nor enemies can slay my soul. Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless
them and do not curse them.
They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world.
They have punished me, whenever I have hesitated to punish myself
They have tormented me, whenever I have tried to flee torments.
They have scolded me, whenever I have flattered myself
They have spat upon me, whenever I have filled myself with arrogance.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Whenever I have made myself wise, they have called me foolish.
Whenever I have made myself mighty, they have mocked me as though I were
a dwarf.
Whenever I have wanted to lead people, they have shoved me into the
background.
Whenever I have rushed to enrich myself, they have prevented me with an
iron hand.
Whenever I thought that I would sleep peacefully, they have wakened me
from sleep.
Whenever I have tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life, they
have demolished it and driven me out.
Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my
hands to the hem of Your garment.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Bless them and multiply them; multiply them and make them even more
bitterly against me:
so that my fleeing to You may have no return;
so that all hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs;
so that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul;
so that my heart may become the grave of my two evil twins: arrogance and
anger;
so that I might amass all my treasure in heaven;
ah, so that I may for once be freed from self-deception, which has
entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life.
Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows, that a person
has no enemies in the world except himself.
One hates his enemies only when he fails to realize that they are not
enemies, but cruel friends.
It is truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good and who has
done me more evil in the world: friends or enemies.
Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and my enemies.
A slave curses enemies, for he does not understand. But a son blesses
them, for he understands.
For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life. Therefore he
freely steps among them and prays to God for them.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
********
Frederica Mathewes-Green
www.frederica.com
