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We’re in this together: Messages to inspire Chicago Police Officers
Keeping the Faith
Your Chicago Police Chaplains offer some words of inspiration from their favorite scripture to help Chicago Police Officers endure these challenging times.
Father Dan Brandt
“I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
This is one of my favorite scripture verses and is so apt today in light of the craziness of our world.
A very similar citation is found in another of St. Paul’s letters...that one to the Ephe- sians.
St. Paul, who wrote many letters to people who needed his wisdom 2,000 years ago, was an athlete. He writes about fighting the good fight, finishing the race and, most importantly, keeping the faith. These words come from his letter to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:7-8) His words are as applicable today as they were when he wrote them.
As you who are still engaged in law enforcement fight the good fight, I hope you’ll gain strength from the words of Scripture, whether the New Testament, the Old Testa- ment, the Talmud, the Holy Quran, or wherever you find spiritual inspiration.
And for you who are retired, who have “finished the race,” I hope you gain solace in the fact that you did God’s work for many years...and your reward will be great in heaven (Matthew 5).
No matter your employment status, I hope in the words of St. Paul, you’ll continue to keep the faith.
May God bless you and keep you safe and healthy in these unpredictable times. And may He continue to give you strength.
Rabbi Moshe Wolf
Why do we pray? Doesn’t G-d already know what’s good for us? Doesn’t He already know what we need? Are we somehow trying to convince G-d of the justness of our cause?
People often mistakenly believe that they should only pray for the “big things” like health and life. They don’t want to “bother” the Almighty with small things.
This is a two-fold mistake. First, G-d is infinite. He has the capacity to have an on- going individual relationship with every human being on the planet. G-d desires our prayers because He wants to bestow blessings upon us. He only wants our good — which is to make the most out of our lives. Prayer is one way in which we maximize our potential by drawing closer to G-d.
Second, G-d always welcomes our prayers. Come to Him with all your requests and needs; big or small, your prayers are always welcome. Every prayer puts one in touch with the Almighty.
Prayer is most effective when combined with effort.
We live in a world of “doing.” Prayer helps us to focus on what we need to do in order to succeed. Today “doing” means looking out for each other and helping each other.
Does G-d answer our prayers? Definitely! Sometimes the answer is “yes,” and some- times it’s “no.” And sometimes G-d says, “I can’t explain; you just have to trust me.”
I am enclosing one of my favorite prayers, Psalm 121:
A song of ascents. I lift my eyes to the mountains — from where will my help come? My help will come from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot falter; your guardian does not slumber. Indeed, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. The Lord is your guardian; the Lord is your protective shade at your right hand. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will guard you from all evil and harm; He will guard your soul. The Lord will guard your going and your coming from now and for all time.
Chaplain Bob Montelongo
We are living in a very difficult time. We have all read about plagues and epidemics and have always considered these a thing of the past. During the Black Plague, life was horrible. Even if you survived the plague, you were probably facing starvation. Villages were wiped out, and there was no one left to work the fields for food.
Today we are in the heart of a global pandemic, and our lives have changed. We have all been praying for our families, friends and each other. Most importantly we have been praying for our essential members of our society. Our first responders, doctors and nurses are out there facing this pandemic head-on. We have seen the value of grocery store personnel, delivery drivers, cooks and teachers surpass that of A-list actors, ath- letes and celebrities. May we never forget this truth of life.
I’d like to share this reflection with you that I found while looking for pithy wisdom. God bless you all, stay safe and don’t hesitate to call us.
Lockdown
A reflection by Brother Richard Hendrick, OFM Cap
Yes, there is fear.
Yes, there is isolation.
Yes, there is panic buying.
Yes, there is sickness.
Yes, there is even death.
But,
they say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
you can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
the sky is no longer thick with fumes
but blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi people are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the west of Ireland
is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today, a young woman I know
is busy spreading flyers with her number through the neighbourhood
so that the elders may have someone
to call on.
Today, churches, synagogues, mosques and temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary.
All over the world, people are slowing
down and reflecting.
All over the world, people are looking at their neighbours in a new way.
All over the world, people are waking up to a new reality.
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To love.
So we pray and we remember that
yes, there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes, there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness. Yes, there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness. Yes, there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul.
Yes, there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love. Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic,
the birds are singing again.
The sky is clearing.
Spring is coming.
And we are always encompassed by love. Open the windows of your soul
and though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
sing.
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