confess that we have ridiculed
the absolute truthof Your Word
and called it pluralism. We have
endorsed perversion and called it
an alternative lifestyle. We have
exploited the poor and called it
the lottery. We have neglected
the needy and called it selfpreservation. We have killed our
unborn and called it choice. We
have neglected to discipline our
children and called it selfexpression. We have abused
power and called it political
savvy. We have coveted our
neighbour's possessions and
called it ambition. We have
polluted the air with profanity
and pornography and called it
freedom of expression. We have
ridiculed the time-honoured
values of our forefathers and
called it enlightenment. Search
us, O God, know our hearts
today; cleanse us from every sin
and set us free in the Name of
Your Son, the Living Saviour,
Jesus Christ. Amen."
In Practice
In our media age we are
surrounded by slogans, sound-bites,
spin doctors and pressure groups,
each weaving a sophisticated web
of opinions, statistics and
darkness-dressed- as-light. It can be
all too easy to strike back, think
negatively and begin to despise
those we feel are against us. Jesus
challenged us "Love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you."
It is by grace we have been saved
and with grace that we should treat
others. But let us recognise that,
sadly, we ourselves will be
increasingly the subjects of
intolerance, when many in the
media, press and parliament attack
Christian views or simply do not
understand. As Paul reminds us in
that letter to Timothy: "in fact,
everyone who wants to live a
godly life in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted"
Perhaps the most important prayer
we can offer for ourselves is that, in
all we are and do, God would
enable us to be 'full of grace and
truth', particularly as we reach out
to those living in our parishes, or in
the workplace, or at the day centre.
In a needy and confused world we
need, more than ever, to be out
there being salt and light in a world
that has lost sight of its values.