Christian Reflection and Prayer

Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has
come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with
you to keep you from sinning.”
The people remained at a distance, while Moses
approached the thick darkness where God was. —
Exodus 20:20–21

What is our reaction to all this darkness? How do we react
to the fear, the confusion, the sheer terror of not knowing
how things are going to turn out? Do we keep our distance
from God? Or do we get closer to Him?

Many people are tempted to keep their distance. Going
through dark periods can make us feel abandoned or
rejected by God. But Moses teaches us an amazing lesson
in these verses — God is in the darkness! Dark times are
not the time to turn away from God – they are precisely the
moment to draw closer to Him.

In Psalm 91:15, God said, “I will be with him in trouble.”
God is with us in our most troubling times. It’s up to us to
grab hold of Him and let Him carry us through.

When God created the world, first there was darkness and
then there was light. First there was night, and then there
was day. If you find yourself in a dark period right now, don’t
be afraid. Do as Moses did and keep walking forward in faith.
If you persevere, in that dark place is precisely where you will
find God – and then there will be light.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

Verse

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift,
is from above.  James 1:17

Voice

Tell me then, how is that you are rich? ... The root and
origin of it must have been injustice. Why? Because
God in the beginning did not make one person rich and
another poor. He left the earth free to all alike.
John Chrysostom

Prayer

Lord, keep us from speaking of love while hoarding the
gifts you have given us. Make us full of discontent as
long as there are brothers and sisters living and dying
in hunger. Amen.
Common Prayer

How many more people need to die, how many more
children deprived of a father or mother, before our
conflicts are settled and people can live in peace and
security, while devoting their energy to building better
lives?


How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?

Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head
Pretending he just doesn't see?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

DO YOU HAVE THE ANSWER?