We regret there is no Thought for the Week on 5th October. Its place in the newsletter is taken by an account of the General Assembly of Synod of Bishops in Rome.
21st September 2014
How do You Read the Newspapers?
Last week I was reading about the horrific beheading of David Haines. As I read it, it was impossible now to think about what he was thinking and feeling during the last moments of his life. I quickly said a prayer for him.
Then of course, there were all his family and friends. Again their grief is unimaginable. They too need so much prayer. But awful and terrible as all this undoubtedly is, it is but one part of a far greater tragedy that is unfolding. Thousands have been killed already. Thousands more have become refugees, as they flee for their lives. It is more than we can comprehend.
Finally my mind wandered to those responsible for all this, those fighting for the creation of the Islamic State. I confess I don’t begin to understand what causes people to turn to such violence. What hatred and anger there is in their hearts. But just as I prayed for their victims, I now found myself praying for them, that their hearts might be softened and they might turn away from the terrible path they were following.
The truth is I might well have forgotten what I was doing, if it wasn’t for the fact that I suddenly became aware of what I was ACTUALLY doing. Rather than just reading the paper to find out what’s been happening, I was actually using it as a way of praying. And with this in mind, I continued to pray about the various events happening in our world. It wasn’t just intercessions prayers, as in the case of David Haines, but also sometimes prayers of thanksgiving at all the good things that were happening too.
Newspapers are very much a window to the world: God’s world. Why is it we so often look at that world, with just our own eyes, forgetting to see things as he does? When we do, our heart quickly turns to prayer, which both opens up this world to his presence, and reminds us how much we need to walk along his path.
For that is the way that leads to true happiness and peace.
