Not by Army - Homily Reflection 17th Sunday OT

In the days of the prophet Zechariah, Israel was a broken country.  The people felt helpless, “How do we bring our people together? How do we bring God back to his people?”

The Lord answered, “Not by an army, nor by might, but by my spirit.” (Zec 4:6)

These words pointed to the one born of the Holy Spirit. It was prophesy of the messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. It foretold of the one the disciples asked to teach them to pray.

And, Jesus taught them these words:

Hallowed be your name…Your kingdom come…Give us our daily bread… Forgive us our sins…Allow us to forgive

He taught petitions asking God to be glorified and asking for the coming of God’s kingdom. Jesus gave us these words to ask for our existence in dignity, for forgiveness and the ability to forgive.

Today, the loudest voices deny these petitions. Instead they promote a broken country like Israel in the time of Zechariah. Some call it doomed like Sodom and Gomorrah.

In that exists society’s anxiety; every day more hate and injustice are thrown at us. People are alone, agitated, and panicked. They feel a desperate need to do something. But, most feel helpless.

We are never helpless. Jesus taught us to pray! Ask him to teach us to pray together. It can make a difference.

In college, my daughter was in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Its members were from all over the United States and even the World.

For 4 years, she was to be asked to pray. The Protestant members lead beautiful spontaneous prayers; she felt her Catholic prayers would be inadequate.

I told her, “Don’t worry. Just pray, the God will put words in your heart.”

No one asked her to pray, until her senior year. She was so nervous; she opened her heart and prayed. These beautiful words came “Our Father, who art in heaven…” All the Catholic athletes joined her; so did everyone else. The only time in four years everyone joined as one voice in prayer.

That group of young people prayed for love of Christ. They were all different: sports, cultures, skin colors, accents, and even denomination. They came together in the prayer Jesus taught.

Things will change not by army, nor by might, but by the Holy Spirit of God.

It’s true we have problems in our country and the world. Problems caused by the pain of injustice. Pain is something that all of God’s living creatures try to avoid. Even plants try to avoid the pain of fire.

People always find some way to avoid pain; some by army or some by might and some by the Holy Spirit.

One is by army; conquer the pain of injustice with a fight. Fight injustice, oppressors, bad people, and many times anybody not like us. Attack, feel righteous and heroic.

Another is by might. People achieve might by having some power over someone else. Those hurting often use blame to achieve this power. Everyone is guilty; pain transfers by guilt.

The way to end the pain of injustice is the Holy Spirit; glorifying God, working for his kingdom, and working for equality and dignity of all. Pain is conquered by joining hands and hearts in prayer. With bowed heads and clasped hands, people cannot fight or point fingers. Erase pain by forgiving and asking for forgiveness. Open our hearts to our loving God, the source of justice, dignity, and the end of pain.

Open our hearts, ask the questions Abraham asked.

In our Police departments, sadly some own hateful hearts and should not be police officers. But, will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? What if there are 50 righteous people? Will you spare them?

What about the protests and actions of people? Sadly, some only want mayhem. What if there are five less than fifty innocent people? Will you destroy the whole because of those five?

What about our country’s leaders? “What if there are at least ten righteous persons there?" 

How will we bring our people together? How do we bring God back? Are we helpless?

We are never helpless. Never give us hope. Jesus taught us to pray! Do as Jesus taught, bow our heads. Clasp our hands, and join in one voice to pray to our God, ask for what we need.  We are raised through faith in the power of God.  

There are more people joined in prayer than are rioting in the streets. More are praying for those hurt than there are those who propose violence. Our prayers display God’s grace. Pray that by grace, hurt becomes the opportunity for healing. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Not by army, nor by might, but by the Holy Spirit, these words point to our savior, Jesus Christ, the one who brings life and forgiveness of all our transgressions.

My prayer as always is be good, be holy, and preach the gospel by the way you live and love. Amen.