Saint Martin's Cloak

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Soldiers who have seen combat have no problem remembering their mortality. They've seen it with their eyes, touched it with their hands and inhaled it into their nostrils. For those in a combat zone, every day is Ash Wednesday ; the dirt on their faces is real and not a ceremonial embellishment. Those driving daily through the streets of Atlanta or the highways of Kansas can maintain their illusions of immortality; those driving the streets of Baghdad or the highways or Al Anbar province cannot. Soldiers don't need reminding that they live in the valley of the shadow of death. What they need is the confidence to walk through the valley to the other side, not paralyzed by fear but armed with courage to accomplish life's tasks. The author of Hebrews shows us the way: Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary,...

Jean-Jaques Rousseau coined the term " Civil Religion " in The Social Contract in 1762. There's not much in Rousseau's discussion of civil religion that will commend itself to the Christian mind. He wrote in another era, socially, religiously and intellectually. His approach to Christianity is dismissive and his approach to civil religion is reductionist and cynical. Rousseau does say one thing, however, that resonates in today's religious environment: Now that there is and can be no longer an exclusive national religion, tolerance should be given to all religions that tolerate others ... (Rousseau, Social Contract, Book 4, Section 8). Rousseau believed that all states had religious foundations. To counter the strife of religious intolerance, Rousseau proposed a lowest common denominator form of religion that he called "civil religion," to be imposed by the power of the state. He advocated for civil religion not because he believed it to be ...

His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan offered a prayer at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington last week, and then spoke at a related event later that same day. Bono received most of the press for his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast, but I think that King Abdullah's remarks are equally - if not more - significant. The future of our planet depends on Islam living in peace with the rest of the world, in a community marked by religious freedom and tolerance. Unfortunately, only those Muslims unwilling to do so get the headlines. Their road leads us inevitably to a century of armed conflict. The hope for peace lies with those Muslims who, like King Abduallah, can envision living in a pluralistic society. King Abdullah said: At this point in history, our service to God, our countries and our peoples demands that we confront extremism in its myriad forms. To overcome this common foe, we must explore the values that unite us, rather than exaggerating the misunderstand...

God of all nations and all people, This morning you bless us with gifts of life and food, laughter and music, wisdom and inspiration. Despite our many differences, you have gathered us around these tables in true peace and community. We thank you for your grace and for the labor of those who have made this morning possible. Pour out your grace upon us, that your perfect peace might reign in every heart and every home and every land. Fulfill the deepest hopes and dreams of those who founded this nation to be a beacon of freedom and justice. Enable each one of us to fulfill our calling in this world. Where we are ignorant, enlighten us. Where we are prideful, humble us. Where we are weak, strengthen us. Where we are broken, heal us. We thank you for all those who lay their lives on the line for the sake of others, and for all our partners in the cause of peace. Sustain and protect all who labor with us this day to give the world a taste of the good things that we have experi...