Dear Friends:
We awoke once again on Saturday, February 28, to the news that the United States and Israel are at war with Iran.
It may come as a surprise to those who know me that I am at a loss for words right now.
What I can say without fear of contradiction, though, is that in this case there will be, and indeed there has already been, great suffering across the entire region of the Middle East. And it could well be that as unscrupulous state and non-state actors seek to take advantage of the instability that will result, such suffering may spread far more widely.
War is always the occasion for prayer and lamentation, regardless of how one may feel about the righteousness of any particular cause.
While I urge us to pray for all persons, regardless of their religious affiliation, who are in danger across the region as this conflict unfolds, there are two groups who are often overlooked that I especially invite us to hold in our prayers.
In my former parish, we had a longstanding relationship with the Anglican/Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Christians whose churches, schools, and hospitals are served by the Diocese. I have had the opportunity to get to know many of these dear people, and I can tell you that they are among the most hard-working, humble, grace- and peace-filled people it has ever been my privilege to know.
They live every day caught in the teeth of a vise, as they are viewed with great suspicion and hostility by Hamas on the one hand and the Israeli Defense Forces on the other. Each day is a struggle to get to work, to get to school, to access medical care, and to buy groceries and supplies.
Yet they meet these challenges with courage born of great faith. In the days to come, their challenges will only increase. Please pray for them.
The second group I invite us to pray for is the tiny group of Anglican/Episcopalians in Iran. There are three small parishes in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. We can hardly imagine the pressure these faithful people face every day from the brutal Shiite fundamentalist regime. We can be certain, however, that this pressure will increase as this war continues. Please also pray for them.
I now want to share with you part of the letter Archbishop Hosam Naoum of the Anglican/Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East sent to his community yesterday.
These developments strike at the very soul of our Province of Jerusalem & the Middle East. Every single nation now engaged in this combat, and those bearing the brunt of the retaliatory strikes, resides within our ecclesiastical boundaries. Our brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Iran are currently enduring the terror of aerial bombardment; our members in the Diocese of Cyprus & the Gulf are witnessing the arrival of war at their doorsteps; and our faithful in the Diocese of Jerusalem—extending across Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria—face an unprecedented threat of military escalation.
In the face of such overwhelming force, we recall the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matt 5:9). Today, that calling feels heavier than ever before. When the “spirit of fear” threatens to consume our hearts, we must anchor ourselves in the “spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7).
First, I call upon the global Church to join us in urgent, unceasing prayer. We implore God to protect the innocent—the mothers, the children, and the elderly—who are caught in the crossfire of this “Operation Epic Fury” and the subsequent “crushing responses.” We pray specifically for a “sound mind” for the leaders of the United States, Israel, and Iran, that they might recognize the futility of this bloodshed and turn back from the precipice of a global catastrophe.
Second, we must offer each other the sanctuary of Christian love. I therefore urge our clergy and laity to be beacons of comfort. In a time of “regime change” rhetoric and military ultimatums, let our message be the unchanging promise of Christ’s peace: to build each other up (1 Cor 8:1), for our hope is not in the strength of armadas or missile shields, but in the Prince of Peace.
The final group I invite us to pray for are the brave men and women of our armed forces who are in harm’s way as this conflict unfolds. They place their lives, their safety, and their health at risk in the service of our nation, regardless of the righteousness of the cause in which they are asked to serve.
Indeed, as I write these words on Sunday morning, we learned that three service members have already been killed in action. I fear they will not be the last. We owe them our most profound gratitude and respect. Please pray for them.
Archbishop Naoum concludes his letter with this:
Finally, we must remain “Bridge Builders.” Even as diplomatic windows seem to slam shut, the Church must keep the doors of reconciliation open. We refuse to see our neighbors as enemies, whether they be in Tehran, Tel Aviv, or the military bases of the Gulf. I extend an urgent invitation to the wider Anglican Communion and all people of goodwill: Intercede for us now. The hour is late, and the danger is great. We remain “battered and bruised, but not defeated.” May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
I invite us to pray the following prayer every day until this conflict comes to an end.
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
God’s most abundant blessings to you and all the ones you love,
Lex
