The power of prayer in times of bad news 

In the light of recent terrorist atrocities, Peter Coates believes that praying to the father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the most effective way we can respond to all the bad news we are currently hearing

I am having to lie on the floor with back pain so I thought I would take the opportunity to write to you about the news. In many ways the news is the opposite to prayer which is a type of psychotherapy which improves your mood. We can’t seem to escape the news, but could we not have the option of prayer instead? You can see daily prayers at
http://www.universalis.com/lauds.htm

In the face of murder say this: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You trust in God, trust also in me’ John 14:1
 
Or say this: ‘Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, for he has visited his people, he has set them free, and he has established for us a saving power in the House of his servant David, just as he proclaimed, by the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times, that he would save us from our enemies and from the hands of all those who hate us…’ Luke 1:67
 
Murders are problems beyond the visible material world, problems which cannot be solved by science. These are problems of the spirit; dysfunctions of healthy spiritual values which link us together, like equality (no fear or wish to dominate, be superior or humiliate), justice, truth, kindness, faithfulness, charity, joy, peace, patience, mercy, self-control, hope and modesty. Evil is blind to the good in others
 
The nature of God is spirit: The mystery of the Father who gives rise to reality, the Son who is the perfect man, even forgiving his enemies, and the Spirit who is in us and gives life as history confirms the truth in Jesus. Thus the Word of God remains ineffective without the intervention of the Spirit. It’s amazing that the Trinity comes together in each of us. Opposing world views, which give rise to conflict, are resolved in a deeper, bigger and eternal truth which Mahatma Ghandi called Satyagraha. (Ref: From Violence to Wholeness; Pace e Bene Franciscan Nonviolence Centre)
 
The life of the Trinity is the only life. If I contemplate the murders in the news I am contemplating spiritual death which pushes me to despair. Better to contemplate the Holy Spirit which is the good in me and in other people
 
Jesus tells a parable about a widow and a judge to illustrate that we should pray continuously and never lose heart; Luke 18:1. Jesus also teaches that the Trinity will make a home in anyone who avoids sin and does the will of the Father; ‘Anyone who loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make a home in him’; John 14:23. Such a person will slowly be brought closer to Christ who is the ideal man

The church teaches that the Holy Spirit reproduces in each of us our own individual heavenly image and joins us together as one people in Christ. Redemption means the restoration in us of that divine image (Ref: The Holy Spirit, Lord and giver of life; prepared by the Theological-Historical Commission for the Great Jubilee of the year 2000)
 
The Holy Spirit is the non-violent power of freedom from the force of evil. No-one is excluded unless they exclude themselves
 
The image above is courtesy of https://pixabay.com

 
Dr Peter Coates is a part-time Consultant Haematologist at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn. He is also secretary of Kings Lynn Churches Together and a member of St Henry Walpole’s Catholic Church in Burnham Market.
 
this article previously seen on Network Norfolk 

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