A sword will pierce through your own soul.

 

These words were said by the blessed prophet Simeon to Mary in the temple when Jesus was brought into the temple at just a few days old.    She probably didn't understand them fully when he had said them and likely for much of your lives you didn't understand it either.  But now we are beginning to understand the anguish of watching a world who hates Christ.  

 

Great wickedness has been coursing through the veins of our country for years but now it has boiled over.  But this should be of no surprise.  Even after God had wiped away all evil from the world through the flood, Noah's son, Ham, sought to displace him as head and mock his father Noah and shame Noah before his brothers.  Ham's family despised the Church and sought to displace it by becoming gods onto themselves and building a tower that they might be like God.  Imagine the sorrow of Noah and Shem and Japheth as they watched Ham and his kin reject the Church.  

It should be no surprise that the devil incites  such wickedness still today.  Greater does the world fall into chaos and Jesus statement is true, when the Son of Man returns will he find faith on the earth?  (Luke 18:8) And yet we also know the promise of the Lord, Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my Word will not pass away. (Matt 24:35).  This above all leads us to rejoice that he keeps coming to us and that we can see the wickedness of the world

 

As part of the body of Christ, let us not only see such great sin in the world in others but that we also be led to repent of our own sin. In so doing we will then not bear grudges or hatred toward others for their actions but rather we forgive one another.  Keep at the forefront of your mind that the blessed mother of our Lord was told that a spear would pierce through her soul as those around her would mock, ridicule, torture, and put to death her son and our dear brother, Jesus Christ. Nothing new is under the Sun dear children of God!

So yes, it should be no surprise that there is great distress in the world.  The Mayhem pierces the soul.  The Church is under attack, Satan would have it no other way.  The world seeks to create division all around us. Pray for those around you. Pray for those who insight violence and destruction. Forgive those who hurt you and seek to be at peace with them.  Especially go to church, where Christ distributes his gifts and keeps you in the faith, preserving you from the intoxication of hatred of others. And in so doing invite all, especially those who despise the Church, to hear this precious gospel of Christ our Savior.

There are so many things we can be doing at this moment.  Go to Church, visit with your pastor, and be in the word, confessing that faith to your family and neighbors.  A wonderful thing you can do daily is to grieve for this world as Luther says about the tower of Babel when those who built sought glory for themselves and despised the Church and her holiness. "The saints cannot behold the wickedness of the world without intense grief... Therefore let us, too, patiently bear these sad sights and the darts of Satan, which he drives into our hearts; for we should not expect our situation to be better than that of the holy fathers." (LW vol. 2, pg. 217)  Finally, Pray for yourself to remain in the blessed faith and pray for others that they may hear your words as kindness and love and desire to speak Christ into their lives.

 

We pray: 

 

Heavenly Father, God of all concord, it is Your gracious will that Your children on earth live together in harmony and peace.   Defeat the plans of all those who would stir up violence and strife, destroy the weapons of those who delight in war and bloodshed, and according to your will, end all conflicts in the world.  Teach us to examine our hearts that we may recognize our own inclination toward envy, malice, hatred, and enmity.  Help us, by Your Word and Spirit, to search our hearts and to root out the evil that would lead to strife and discord, so that in our lives we may be at peace with all people.  Fill us with zeal for the work of Your Church and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which alone can bring that peace which is beyond all understanding; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.