This week we’re using a variety of songs as aids to our prayers. Singing and praying often go hand in hand. These songs are peace themed, meant to help us pray for the peace of Jesus in our lives and in our world.
Today’s Bible reading and an excerpt
Read Hebrews 12:1 -13
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Today’s song and an excerpt
Song for Sophie Scholl, by Zatopecks Lyrics
“…this song’s for Sophie Scholl…
Aquinas in her hand and the white rose by her side
‘We will not be silent
We are your bad conscience
We will not leave you in peace’
The White Rose will not leave you in peace
Oh this song’s for Sophie Scholl, but I know it’s impossible
Though you died sixty years ago”
More thoughts for meditation
At age 21, Sophie Scholl and friends were “The Society of the White Rose,” an underground non-violent resistance group in Nazi Germany. They made and distributed leaflets opposing the atrocities of the Nazi government, calling on the Christian faith and conscience of the German people to resist. They called themselves Germany’s “bad conscience” and promised to not be quiet about the atrocities, When they were found out they were executed for treason.
The British punk band Zatopecks picked Sophie Scholl to be their icon, preferring to look to her heroic life for inspiration over against more sexualized versions of media icons, typified in the song by Marylyn Monroe (who, to be fair, had a much more complex and human existence in her lifetime than what was exploited from her).
Circle of Hope also looks to those in our transhistorical family of faith, like Sophie Scholl, who paved the way in their time for us to take steps of faith in our time.
Telling stories and singing (or listening to songs) about their faith bolsters ours.
This is what Sophie Scholl had to say about prayer in a letter to her brother Fritz:
“The only remedy for a barren heart is prayer, however poor and inadequate. As I did that night at Blumberg, I’ll keep on repeating it for us both: We must pray, and pray for each other, and if you were here, I’d fold hands with you, because we’re poor, weak, sinful children. Oh, Fritz, if I can’t write anything else just now, it’s only because there’s a terrible absurdity about a drowning man who, instead of calling for help, launches into a scientific, philosophical, or theological dissertation while the sinister tentacles of the creatures on the seabed are encircling his arms and legs, and the waves are breaking over him. It’s only because I’m filled with fear, that and nothing else, and feel an undivided yearning for him who can relieve me of it.”
Pray
Pray with Sophie Scholl: Remedy my barren heart. Relieve me of fear. May my yearning for you be undivided.
Want more? Go to the Circle of Hope Transhistorical Body blog for more stories of our loving, suffering Christian family