Thoughts after the Rubicon photo via flickr
One of the analogies used at the recently completed New Wineskins convocation was of Caesar in 49 BC, crossing Cis-Alpine Gaul and coming to the river Rubicon- slowing and stopping. It wasn’t a big river to cross. The act itself was really pretty insignificant. But, what it represented was potentially terrifying to the general, and monumental to his life and career. If he lead his 6000 troops across that small river into Italy proper, something expressly forbidden by Roman Law, he would bring all the wrath of the Roman senate and the legions lead by Pompei down on his head. But he did cross it. And the rest, as they say is history.
This was a wonderful analogy and an apt analogy and a sobering analogy. For some, myself included, it lit a fire under us.
But then- Gerritt Dawson, Pastor at FPC Baton Rouge, said something quite wise, I think a prophetic word. Satan’s arrows are craftily and skillfully wrought, and he will sling them with all the skill of a seasoned archer. Hitting each of us right where we are most vulnerable. He articulated where some of those areas were for him. He then read Ephesians six, vs 10 through the end.
It got me thinking about what that might mean for me- where was, am I weak. I know I tend to get pretty defensive and like to defeat those who oppose me, with little thought for them- only for winning. That is a weakness... I’m sure there are others.
God is sovereign. Jesus wins- he’s no pansy, and he brooks no opponents, he takes no prisoners, and commands obedience- a friend is preaching tomorrow on, ‘the demanding Jesus.’ He told me, “You know, those parts of Matthew we don’t like.”
Jesus says to love our enemies. Jesus says to pray for our enemies. In this coming season where those associated with New Wineskins will be accused of things that hurt, where our weaknesses will be exposed for the world to see. I came across the following prayer several years ago, and pass it on to you.
A prayer by St. Nikolai Velimirovic, a Serbian Orthodox bishop of the last century, who opposed Naziism and was eventually taken to Dachau. In this prayer he no doubt has in mind personal enemies, rather than national ones; the prayer is not intended as a guide for political and military decisions.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Enemies have driven me into Your embrace more than friends have. Friends have bound me to earth, enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.
Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms and an extraneous inhabitant of the world. Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath Your tabernacle, where neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul. Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
They, rather than I, have confessed my sins before the world.
They have punished me, whenever I have hesitated to punish myself
They have tormented me, whenever I have tried to flee torments.
They have scolded me, whenever I have flattered myself
They have spat upon me, whenever I have filled myself with arrogance.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Whenever I have made myself wise, they have called me foolish.
Whenever I have made myself mighty, they have mocked me as though I were a dwarf.
Whenever I have wanted to lead people, they have shoved me into the background.
Whenever I have rushed to enrich myself, they have prevented me with an iron hand.
Whenever I thought that I would sleep peacefully, they have wakened me from sleep.
Whenever I have tried to build a home for a long and tranquil life, they have demolished it and driven me out.
Truly, enemies have cut me loose from the world and have stretched out my hands to the hem of Your garment.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
Bless them and multiply them; multiply them and make them even more bitterly against me:
so that my fleeing to You may have no return;
so that all hope in men may be scattered like cobwebs;
so that absolute serenity may begin to reign in my soul;
so that my heart may become the grave of my two evil twins: arrogance and anger;
so that I might amass all my treasure in heaven;
ah, so that I may for once be freed from self-deception, which has entangled me in the dreadful web of illusory life.
Enemies have taught me to know what hardly anyone knows, that a person has no enemies in the world except himself.
One hates his enemies only when he fails to realize that they are not enemies, but cruel friends.
It is truly difficult for me to say who has done me more good and who has done me more evil in the world: friends or enemies.
Therefore bless, O Lord, both my friends and my enemies.
A slave curses enemies, for he does not understand. But a son blesses them, for he understands.
For a son knows that his enemies cannot touch his life. Therefore he freely steps among them and prays to God for them.
Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them.
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Frederica Mathewes-Green
blog 137
Saturday, 10 February 2007
