Be Found on the Side of Love

Many years ago, Jim Wallis wrote about a time when the South African government canceled a political rally against apartheid. Desmond Tutu led a worship service in St. George’s Cathedral, and soldiers and riot police came in carrying guns and bayonets, ready to close it down. Bishop Tutu began to speak of the evils of the apartheid system, and how the rulers and authorities that propped it up were doomed to fall. He pointed a finger at the authorities who were there to record his words: “You maybe powerful, very powerful, but you are not God. God cannot be mocked. You have already lost.”

Then, in a moment of tremendous tension, the bishop seemed to soften. Coming out from behind the pulpit, he flashed his radiant smile and began to bounce up and down with glee. “Therefore, since you have already lost, we are inviting you to join the winning side.”  The crowd roared, and the people began to dance.

I love that story because the world around us often seems to be falling apart. We see poverty and violence all around us. There are gangs and drugs in our streets. Prejudice and greed seem to prevail. But God is not mocked. Those who have faith know that Love ultimately wins.

I pray that you and I would continue to be instruments of the Love. And in doing so, may we always be found on the winning side.

Our prayer today is the much beloved prayer of St. Francis. Let us pray:

Lord make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek so much to be consoled as to console, To be understood as to understand, To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.