Last week was the Week of Prayer for World Peace, and given the situation in the Middle East at the moment, this is very timely. But, of course, it is always timely to pray for peace! Throughout human history there have always been wars and conflicts. At the moment I am doing some study on the Trojan War (as part of a BA in Classical Studies), and the Iliad is Homer’s astounding epic poem about that famous war over Helen, whose face “launched a thousand ships” (although it was much more likely to be about access to trading routes along the Dardanelles). In Aotearoa New Zealand, we know that area because of Anzac Day, and the horrors of WWI. The Black Sea is also of current concern in the war between Russia and the Ukraine. Our world needs peace!

It is interesting to note that our school motto, “Blessed are the pure in heart,” is followed immediately by “Blessed are the peacemakers.” These two beatitudes (from a list of eight) are part of Jesus’s teaching on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). Conflict, war, violence, and injustice are the opposite to what the Kingdom of God is about, yet politics and religion (and economics) have sadly been responsible for so much of this in our world.

If you are interested, the Diocese has a webpage on the Week of Prayer for World Peace, which contains prayers, resources, and videos with a special focus on the situation in Israel and Gaza. Some of the events would have happened last week, but the rest might be informative or helpful in terms of praying for peace in our world.

Dr Gillian Townsley
Chaplain

St Hilda's Motto
BEATI MUNDO CORDE. Blessed are the pure in heart (Matthew 5:8)

St Hilda's School Hymn - Blest are the Pure in Heart

Blest are the pure in heart,
for they shall see our God;
the secret of the Lord is theirs,
their soul is Christ’s abode.

The Lord who left the heavens
our life and peace to bring;
to dwell in lowliness with us,
our pattern and our King:

Still to the lowly soul
he doth himself impart,
and for his dwelling and his throne
Chooseth the pure in heart.

Lord, we thy presence seek;
may ours this blessing be;
give us a pure and lowly heart,
a temple meet for Thee.