A Song of Peace

Since we are  closer to Canada than usual, the first of July was a celebration here. Why? It’s Canada Day.  Someone hung a Canadian flag by our common area. Then, someone replaced that flag with an American flag today in honor of Independence Day.

Most people are here in North Dakota only for a few weeks each year and will return to Brazil, Togo, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Spain, Uzbekistan, Paraguay, China, Mexico, etc. when these classes are over.

It seems to me, it’s natural to have a patriotic feeling for your nation of origin–whichever nation that happens to be. A sense of pride in what your country has done or accomplished. A sense of enthusiasm for the positive ideals your country has helped instill in you.

But, last night at a Catholic mass, I was really struck by the words of this song:

This is my song, oh God of all the nations,

a song of peace for lands afar and mine.

This is my home, the country where my heart is;

here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;

but other hearts in other lands are beating

with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine

My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,

and sunlight beams on clover leaf and pine.

But other lands have sunlight too and clover,

and skies are everywhere as blue as mine.

This is my song, oh God of all the nations;

a song of peace for their land and for mine.

This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth’s kingdoms:

Thy kingdom come, on earth thy will be done

Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him

And hearts united learn to live as one.

O hear my prayer, thou God of all the nations

Myself I give thee; let thy will be done.

May God’s resurrection power change us all into the likeness of His Son. May He bring peace to the nations.  May we open our eyes to the fields ripe for harvest. May He gather unto Himself from the ends of the earth those who are His.

I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every tribe, people and language standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

Salvation belongs to our God,

who sits on the throne and to the lamb.

…

Amen!

Praise and Glory

and wisdom and thanks and honor

and power and strength

be to our God for ever and ever,

Amen!

…Never Again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; he will lead them to springs to living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Revelation 7: 9-17

Praise be to God that we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken!