That We All May Be One

In the age of Donald Trump, when violent, bullying and abusive language and behavior seems increasingly encouraged and accepted across our nation, I invite you to join me in embracing Franciscan Richard Rohr’s “Center for Action and Contemplation” in making these vows of non-violence…come what may!

Practice: Vow of Nonviolence

Years ago, the Center for Action and Contemplation staff, volunteers, and friends were invited to say this vow together at an outdoor mass on the Feast of John the Baptist. Today I renew my commitment to nonviolence and invite you to make this vow your own as well.

Recognizing the violence in my own heart, yet trusting in the goodness and mercy of God, I vow for one year to practice the nonviolence of Jesus who taught us in the Sermon on the Mount:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons and daughters of God. . . . You have learned how it was said, “You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy”; but I say to you, Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way, you will be daughters and sons of your Creator in heaven. (Matthew 5:9, 43-45)

Before God the Creator and the Sanctifying Spirit, I vow to carry out in my life the love and example of Jesus

• by striving for peace within myself and seeking to be a peacemaker in my daily life;
• by accepting suffering rather than inflicting it;
• by refusing to retaliate in the face of provocation and violence;
• by persevering in nonviolence of tongue and heart;
• by living conscientiously and simply so that I do not deprive others of the means to live;
• by actively resisting evil and working nonviolently to abolish war and the causes of war from my own heart and from the face of the earth.

God, I trust in Your sustaining love and believe that just as You gave me the grace and desire to offer this, so You will also bestow abundant grace to fulfill it. [1]

These vows start very helpfully by acknowledging the violence in our own hearts. As our own frustration builds, on a seemingly daily basis, it is easy to begin returning evil for evil, snarky comment for snarky comment, half truths for fake news. We must look within, find that peace which passes all understanding, and let our words and actions flow from that place.

It may then be possible to accept suffering without inflicting it upon others, practice non- violence in word and deed, live simply and centered, while at the same time taking bold action to resist evil whenever and wherever we find it.

I make these promises today.

Will you join me?

This entry was posted on September 23, 2017 at 3:02 pm and is filed under Blogroll, Church Life, Ecumenical, Emergent Church, Interfaith, Justice and Peace, Politics, Politics, Religion, Scripture, The Episcopal Church, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.