Queridos amigos,

As we continue our Lenten journey, I want to encourage all of us to be in a spirit of prayer that peace would come to the Middle East, Ukraine, Russia, and other parts of the world that are in war-torn situations. Here in the United States, we have become hurt by the war of words on many matters. As followers of Jesus, we are called to deal with one another in loving and peaceful ways.

Jesus shared in his Sermon on the Mount:

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

Let us join in prayer for those in power to be moved to work for peace. Pray for innocent people who have lost loved ones, their homes, or their lives and have been displaced. Pray for our military and for those families who have lost their sons and daughters in this recent conflict. Pray for peace in our conversations, even when we do not agree. For we are all children of God standing in the need of prayer.

For me in recent days, the story of the woman at the well found in John’s Gospel, Chapter 4, and the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23 have been meaningful scriptures that shape me to have a heart of peace and not a heart of war.

I leave you with this. Jesus said in John 14:27:

I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace that I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

I am grateful to be your bishop and to be on this journey with you.

Bendiciones,

Gracia y paz,

Obispo David Graves