Some Thoughts And A Prayer For To-Morrow

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 94, 21 April 1945, Page 4

Some Thoughts And A Prayer For To-Morrow

By REV. CANON C. W. CHANDLER A CALL to prayer for the Conference of United Nations has been called for to-morrow. The conference itself is to take place, or rather to open, in San Francisco on Wednesday next. April 25, which is our Anzac- Day as well as being St. Mark's Day.

In New Zealand it will be a holiday, and if we were really sincere about prayers for world peace our churches would be filled from morning till night on that very day with people who had resorted thither for the express purpose of carrying on a ceaseless intercession on behalf of those who will be expected by us all to make momentous decisions. The occasion calls not so much for stereotyped prayers with their studied phrases, but rather for the spontaneous outpouring of our hearts to God for His help and guidance at a time when issues are being decided that will affect the lives of millions for many years to come.

We should pray especially that those who deliberate for us should be endued with courage and that the claims of our common humanity should take precedence over territorial considerations and questions of indemnity. These practical matters will have to be dealt with, but may they be dealt with as problems affecting the welfare of all and not the private advantage of a few. In many churches throughout the war victory has been prayed for. and that victory seems now to be imminent. It will be a victory of arms, and let us not lose sight of the fact that such a victory can easily be turned into defeat. Some of us have never been easy in mind about praying for such a victory. We have inwardly contended that God's mind does not need to be made up by us and that He judges the hearts of men more than the deeds of nations. To those whose cause is righteous the issue can never be in doubt, and God alone can decide as to the justice of our claims. Now that victory in battle seems to be decided, we can concentrate more definitely on issues concerning the peace treaty.

Victory Over Self Perhaps we should still pray for victory, only this time for victory over. self. Surely by now we can answer the question' of St. James from the depth of our own sad experience as to "whence come wars and fightings amongst us." Come they not even of our own lusts? We lust, and have not; we kill and desire to have, and cannot obtain. In short, they derive from tovetousness. Might it not, therefore, be a very good thing if the Decalogue were recited in every church on the morrow? We have worshipped other gods and set up idols; we have blasphemed and desecrated the Sabbath; we have lacked filial affection and have shed innocent blood; we have committed adulterous acts as between nation and nation, and have thieved and lied and coveted. And herein I refer mainly to our corporate and national sins. Anything less than utter contrition is to make a mockery of prayer. It is tantamount to asking for the loan of a hundred pounds or more from somebody whose proffered friendship we have spurned consistently. Such days of prayer as have been held during the war years have been progressively more poorly attended. Up to the time of Dunkirk our churches were overflowing. Since the tide has turned in our favour and the sense of urgency has been withdrawn, folk have heeded less and less the periodic calls to prayer. Thanksgiving Need we wait until an armistice has been signed or until peace has been declared before we render thanks to God for mercies bestowed which we haven't deserved, and for bringing us to this decisive hour? Thanksgiving, therefore, should take its proper place in to-morrow's observance. Let Us Pray O God Whose mercies cannot be numbered, and Whose ways are past finding out, look upon the nations with favour to-day, though not one of them is more than a drop in a bucket to Thee.

Bless, guide, help, inspire and endue with courage and humility those who at this time are meeting in council to deliberate upon all that affects the future welfare of Thy people—the people of the whole earth. Forgive our enemies, O God, as we desire to he forgiven. Re with those who mou.rn and with those who suffer for. righteousness' sake: with those whose fortunes have been blasted in the holocaust, of war, and with tired captives who have hardly the strength to use the liberty they have gained after years of grinding oppression.

Thou Who hast ridden upon the storm, and quieted the fury of the sea for our sake, 0 save us from being unmindful of Thy ever watchful care.

If Thou Iw.dst rewarded us according to our deserts, then hunger, 'want and. even death should be our portion, but Thou hast been merciful, and we praise Thy Holy Name.

Again we pray for those who shoulder our responsibilities. Give them breadth of vision and abounding love. May justice be tempered with mercy. O Thou Merciful One, and may we be saved from sowing the seeds of future wars through our blindness and hardness of heart to-day. Amen.