By Jackie Morfesis
Once again, unspeakable horror has touched the lives of innocents, their loved ones, the greater community, and the world. In response to the recent mass shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, – two statements have been made that, though they were made in the throes of sorrow and of course with good intention, are anathema to our faith and to the faith walk of others. One was made by the mayor of Minneapolis, and our own Archbishop Elpidophoros made the other.
During the news conference on the mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church, the chapel of their school, which claimed the lives of two children and injured fourteen other children as well as adults, Mayor Jacob Frey said: “And don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now, these kids were literally praying”. Archbishop Elpidophoros seconded these sentiments with his statement posted on his social media site: “How many more of our children must die, while all we offer are statements of grief and assurances of prayer, as the grim cycle of death, mourning, and empty gestures repeats itself?”
Again, these two statements fall right into the hands of the darkness. This is exactly what the darkness celebrates. Diminishing, discounting, and downplaying the power and meaning of prayer.
When our Lord was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, what did He do? He rested on and battled him with God’s Holy Word. Every single time. The Church Fathers, saints, and martyrs of the Orthodox Church tell us to “pray unceasingly” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The Jesus prayer instructs us to always keep the Lord in our hearts so that “Lord have mercy” are not words nor even thoughts, but a holy and sanctifying presence inside of us that is again, unceasing.
St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, tells us exactly what is happening. Spiritual warfare. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).
Again, to diminish, discount, downplay, and even outright criticize and attempt to nullify the power of prayer when every child, every family, connected to this Catholic school and church is faithful and holds prayer as their comfort, strength, and promise of hope, is not merciful or just. It is the very opposite. No one needs to be shamed for lifting anyone up in prayer. Nor dissuaded to do so.
Prayer is never and will never be as the Archbishop remarked, with hopelessness – just “all we offer.” It is at the very foundation of our faith life. It is our battle cry. Prayer heals the sick, delivers the broken, and fortifies us in our daily walk.
There is another point. Prayer and having concerns and working for change in our legal system, laws, and society are not mutually exclusive. If one prays that does not simultaneously mean one is neither supportive nor active in the community. We must not judge our brothers and sisters, assuming to know the fullness of their lives, actions, or hearts. In fact, the two often work hand in hand – we are fueled and covered by the fire of prayer to be disciples of Christ. To have mercy, to serve.
We have sorely politicized prayer. Prayer is now one more weapon that the darkness uses as a talking point of division. This should never occur. I can understand it occurring in the political arena, but I cannot fathom it happening at the ecclesiastical level. Yet it just did. We know the tongue betrays the heart.
Do not let the darkness win. Do not give the darkness power. Those innocent souls praying in what should have been a safe space were attacked unmercifully and, yes, demonically. It was not an example of prayer not working. It was a clear reminder, once agai,n that “the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). We are living as Christians in a broken world. A world that celebrates darkness and opposes the light, the Light.
This is where our hearts should go. Instead of politicizing prayer and using words that plant distorted seeds of doubt about its power, protection, and purpose, let us instead reaffirm the goodness and glory of God, and His Holy Word. Knowing full well that not only are our saints and martyrs who prayed during their persecution, but every soul taken from this world by nothing short of evil, is resting in His arms.
Υπάρχει παγκόσμιο, “βαθύ” λεγόμενον (Μασωνικόν ;;;), Κράτος, που επιτίθεται και απειλεί την Ορθοδοξίαν & τον Ελληνισμόν ;;;
The hierarchs don’t know how to react to tragedies such as this except by theological and academic means. They needed to head to the sound of the gunfire. The archbishop and metropolitan should have been at the hospital with prayers, food, money, and comfort for the whole pediatric staff instead of running their mouths. Set an example, brothers, get out from behind your Byzantine thrones!
We are all called to have mercy and serve as His disciples.
James 2:14-26 “””Faith Without Works Is Dead””. God gave us brains to figure out what needs to be done to improve this world. God is not going to run to save anyone, just because your pray. When you see fire engulfing your house, you run out. You can pray all you want, the flames will still consume you.
America is seeing its children being killed by guns, more than any other cause, even car accidents and cancer. How brainwashed can a people be, when they don’t realize, that guns have one purpose only. to kill. Even dumb animals avoid where they have been injured before. Why can’t we, here in America, that pride ourselves of having gone to the moon, can’t figure out what other countries have. If you want to save lives, never mind prayers. Outlaw guns.
If your simplistic logic is true then why don’t you propose to outlaw the use of all “guns” from ours and all governments? Why would we “intelligent” people allow government operators to use guns when we have proof that they abused this power unnecessarily killing millions all over the world – and in some cases domestically – in a series of failed military operations? Were these government operatives the ones that killed JFK and MLK among so many others? Bob, again, what is needed is sensible application of the second Amendment and not elimination. Our whole Constitution is the best effort in human history to limit the power of the government. And according to you we should throw this exceptional wisdom to the garbage and shoot the American experiment dead.
Thank you for your comment. You state two things – outlaw guns and also that prayer no power. I do see your concerns that I believe are shared by many. No child nor adult (including my cousin and great uncle) should be murdered, yes, with a firearm.
Yet – your words warrant this observation as well. No where in scripture does it tell us not to pray for prayer is the sword of the spirit and weapon against the adverse powers. Yet – you did – in the same breath where you cited scripture. Satan used these tactics against our Lord in the wilderness as my article states. Using God’s Word yet not following nor believing His Word. The same tactics used by the darkness on and through unprotected souls.
Also, my article states that prayer and advocacy are not mutually exclusive, nor did I say that we should not have “works”.
We must surrender our pride and not diminish the greatness or goodness of God. Seek Him. Though you deny this truth – God hears our prayers. The same God who breaks prison walls, delivers the broken, and is still a miracle working God, that God.