A few Sundays ago as I sat in church, the choir had chosen as its meditation song, a piece titled Heal Our Land. Every time this hymn is sung my eyes become full because if for nothing else, it describes the situation in our beloved T&T.
The lyrical content describes exactly how true patriots feel about our country. It describes almost in detail the ills of the society and calls on God to heal this land which is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. A closer look at our behaviour during the Carnival season tells the story of a truly broken land. Put this together with 300 police officers on suspension, public officials on criminal charges, and the heinous murders we are witnessing, also tell the story of a broken land.
The amazing thing about this hymn is that its genesis goes way back centuries ago as recorded in the Old Testament in 2 Chronicles 7, verse 14, and reflected God’s promise to Solomon. It reads: “And if my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land.”
Does this seem familiar to what’s happening in T&T today? There is need for all to come on board and pray for deliverance; pray that the malady which now stalks our land can end; pray that our people will turn back to God and begin once more to love their neighbours and help to heal our broken land.
Let us for a moment ponder the lyrics of the hymn and pray that we can use it to make a difference in our country. (See Box)
And this Carnival time is probably the right time to make a call for all Catholics to sit up and take note of the dire need to heal our broken land, so that love, harmony and peace will once more blanket this land we all love so much. But it has to be an all-encompassing job, taken to heart by priests and laity alike.
As good Catholics, the focus has to be in rescuing our land and converting it into a community of love and peace.
Vernon Khelawan
Heal Our Land lyrics
Verse 1
If my people will humble themselves,
Humble themselves and pray.
If they seek my faith and humble themselves
And turn from their wicked ways.
I will hear from Heaven and forget their sins,
I will hear from Heaven and heal their land.
Chorus
Lord, heal our land, Father heal our land,
Hear our cry and turn our nation back to You,
Lord heal our land, hear us O Lord and heal our land
Verse 2
Lord we bow our knees, we humble ourselves,
Humble ourselves and pray,
Lord, we seek Your face and humble ourselves,
And turn from our wicked ways.
Father in Your mercy forgive our sins,
Father in Your mercy come and heal our land.
Verse 3
Heavenly Father, we thank You for life,
We ask You Lord to guide and guard us,
We bring all murderers, kidnappers and bandits before you.
We ask for conversion in their lives,
Forgive our country for any sins committed,
Lead us all back to truth and righteousness.
• Vernon Khelawan is media relations officer of Catholic Media Services Ltds (Camsel), the official communications arm of the Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain. Its offices are located at 31 Independence Square. Telephone: 623-7620.