Please, God, More of This

Please God, whose name we all know, can we have more of this?

 

I’m sure there were many prayers said on this bus. But coupled with prayers: action. People doing the right thing. Answering prayers because the god they worship helps make them decent human beings.

 

Please, God, make us men and women of faith and action. That is what this world needs.

 

Let this kind of action replace the action where Christians pray for mosques to close and celebrate when they chase Muslims out of their neighborhoods.

 

Let this kind of action replace the action where hijackers of the Koran believe killing the innocent is the will of Allah.

 

Let this kind of action replace the action where Christians kill people at Planned Parenthood clinics to protest abortion.

 

Let this kind of action replace the action where nations turn their backs on men, women, and children fleeing economic hardship, terrorism, and death.

 

Let Christians not forget the lessons the Savior taught in Luke (6:27-38):

 

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

 

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

 

And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

 

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

 

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

 

For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

 

And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

 

And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

 

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

 

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

 

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

 

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

 

Jesus urges us to act, not to be acted upon. He urges us to love our enemies, to do good, hoping not for reciprocity – but for nothing. It is good that those we love act reciprocally. But if enough of us act in this manner, knowing perhaps our enemies will not, how much better would that world be?