G-d alone is always faithful to His word

The below message was to be published prior to or during Hanukkah, and is now appearing with sincerity, if late.

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Our dear Jewish brothers and sisters,

As you and your loved ones come together to celebrate Hanukkah, we pray that the peace of the Most High will surround you in these troubled times. With the passing of years, the essential message of Hanukkah grows in significance: the few against the many. We can only imagine the implications for you personally. With deep concern we have witnessed anti-Jewish sentiment, the oldest hatred in the world, return again and again with a vengeance after any setback. In our prayers of blessing for your people, we find ourselves echoing the words of the psalmist and prophets as we appeal to the Most High to intervene on your behalf. The louder the voices of strife maligning you, the more we want to proclaim the promises of the Almighty to you, His dearly beloved and chosen people.

“The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)

G-d demonstrated this in the days of Moses, David through to the Maccabees and in our time. People, nations, institutions may make promises, but G-d alone is always faithful to His word.

Wishing you every blessing for Hanukkah,

Sister Anastasia Kennedy,

together with all the sisters from the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary