By Archbishop Fred Hiltz
Micah 4.1-4; Psalm 67; Luke 1.26-33
A prophet’s vision, a psalmist’s song, an angel’s message – what wonderful readings for United Nations Day!
This year marks the 80th Anniversary of the establishing of the UN. Its founding charter, signed by 51 nations came into effect on October 24th, 1945. Today 193 nations are aligned with the 5 Pillars that define and shape its work:
* Protecting Human Rights
* Delivering Humanitarian Aid
* Upholding International Law
* Maintaining International Peace and Security
* Supporting Sustainable Development and Climate Action
As a founding member of the UN, Canada is renowned for its significant contributions: drafting of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, more recently drafting the UN Declaration of The Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the outstanding leadership in the delivery of humanitarian aid and in peace-keeping missions throughout the world.
The UN theme for 2025 is “The Future We Want, The UN We Need”.
Urging all peoples of the world to recommit to peace, human rights and sustainable development, and the care of the Earth, Secretary General Antonio Guterras has said, “this is no time for timidity or retreat,” Just a couple of weeks ago he implored Israel and Hamas to fully abide by The Ceasefire and Hostage Release Deal, calling it a “desperately needed breakthrough that must mark the beginning of the end of this devastating war”.
Today the work of the UN and especially its Security Council is upheld in prayer. As candles are lit we pray “kindle in all people the true love of peace and guide with thy pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth.” (Prayer for Peace, BCP)
This is prayer borne of the prophet’s vision – nations not lifting up arms against others, all peoples living unafraid for they are at peace one with another. (Micah 4:3-4)
It is borne of the psalmist’s song – Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for you O Lord judge the peoples with equity, and guide all the nations up in earth. (Psalm 67)
It is borne of an angel’s message to Mary of Nazareth speaking of the Child she had been chosen to bear – he will be called the Son of the Most High. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there will be no end. (Luke1:32). He is the Holy One of whom Isaiah had spoken centuries before: “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually and there shall be endless peace…he will establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from this time forward and forevermore. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
In the face of so much parading of military might and arrogance in the world, so much rhetoric and horror of war, so much utter destruction of so many peoples’ homelands, so much suffering, so much grief, so much despair, we pray.
I have always thought that the hymn “Let there be light” is a prayer that people of many faith traditions could embrace. Written by Canadian Francis Mina Wheeler Davies, it opens with the grace of invitation:
Let there be light,
let there be understanding,
let all the nations gather,
let them be face to face.
and then with holy opportunity:
Open our lips,
open our minds to ponder,
open the doors of concord,
opening into grace.
It continues with the energy of holy protest:
Perish the Sword,
perish the angry judgements,
perish the bombs and hunger,
perish the fight for gain.
Then with quiet of holy remembrance:
Hallow our love,
hallow the deaths of martyrs,
hallow their holy freedom,
hallowed be thy name.
And then with the spirit of holy yearning:
Thy kingdom come,
thy spirit turn to language,
thy people speak together,
thy spirit never fade.
All of these themes – invitation, opportunity, protest, remembrance, yearning are wonderfully drawn together in the last verse:
Let there be light,
open our hearts to wonder,
perish the way of terror,
hallow the world God made.
I can think of no other hymn so fitting for United Nations Day.
So let us pray as we sing – “Let there be light” (572, Common Praise).