House on fire – 9 September 2019

The Houses of Parliament sit in a sea of colour. The buildings are dark, with no hint of light at the windows. Is there life inside? As the sun goes down it seems as though the sky and river are on fire, and parliament will be engulfed in flame. This is a picture of end times: the end of the day, and maybe the end of so much more.

The picture is ‘Houses of Parliament in the sun’ by Claude Monet (1903), one of a series of paintings from a period in London (1899-1904). Most in the series were painted in cool colours, as Monet was captivated by London fog. This picture is an exception. In our troubled times, it is an encouragement to pray for those who serve in this building through their political leadership.

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Mark 3:24-25

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (The Message)

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.