We talked Sunday about contrasts in Samson’s life.  Unfortunately, I did not read the Our Daily Bread story from Saturday before today.  It was a good one to illustrate one of my points.  You can read it for yourself here: https://odb.org/US/2021/02/06/big-blue-light .  I also just got an email from some missionaries would reminded me of a famous prayer (one of contrast) that I have read before but is also a good application to my sermon.  It is a prayer from St. Francis who lived who lived around 1200 AD.  He prayed,

“Lord make Me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness joy.
O Divine master grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand.
To be loved. as to love
For it’s in giving that we receive
And it’s in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it’s in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen“

 

How is that for contrasts?