Monday, November 16, 2015

Lord, have mercy...

Lord, have mercy.

 

“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed (Mark 13.7).”

 

Following the attacks on Paris, my Facebook page, just like yours, had comments to the effect: “I think this is the beginning of World War III”…The beginning of World War III…Rumors of wars…Nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom.

Sometimes it happens so remarkably, that it is hard to believe…that the assigned reading for the day coincides so incredibly with the events of the day. It reminds me of the call to “do theology” with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. It happened this week (assigned gospel, Mark 13.1-8).

This past Friday, I was on my way to help lead a retreat for 100 confirmation students, when I heard – on the radio – that 19 people, in Paris, had been killed in attacks by ISIS. By Saturday morning, that number had risen to 129…Wars and rumors of wars…200+ killed in an airline bombing attributed to ISIS…40-some in Beirut…Wars and rumors of wars. Do not be alarmed.

Really, Jesus? Are you serious?!

I am unsettled…I am disturbed…And, if I dare admit it, I am alarmed.

I am looking with my most-intent eyes to see where in the world is any evidence of “birth pangs” (Mark 13.8) out of which new life is promised, and I am hard-pressed to see any.

And yet…and yet…I hold on to what I confess…that the promise of life is eternal and permanent.

I hold on to what I know, Emmanuel – God with us.

I hold on to the cross of Christ and the empty resurrection-tomb…I hold on to new life in the face of death and horror (the promised birth of verse 8, perhaps, which my eyes – but not God’s – cannot yet see?).

And I hold on to what I have promised – to serve and to love all people in every situation.

And I choose that despite the alarm that I admit, I will not cease loving and serving.

I choose, I make the conscious decision to choose, to not allow my alarm to keep me from what I am (as you are) called to be about – loving and serving and striving for justice and peace in all the earth.  

 

I do not pretend to know what the right response is to this horror.

I do not pretend to know what must be done when there seem to be no sin-less options, and so I return, with you, to the worship that is part of the rhythm of my life and together we sing or speak (or whisper, or weep):

“In peace, let us pray to the Lord…

                Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above, and for our salvation (and the salvation of the world), let us pray to the Lord…

                Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world; for the well-being of the Church of God; and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord…

                Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord…

                Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort and defend us, Gracious Lord.

                Amen.”

 

…and I rub my eyes and wipe my tears and pray for the grace and courage to embody, in my life, the love of Christ with which I have been covered and in which I abide – hoping beyond hope that in my life, and in my living, there may be some small evidence of the birthing of the promised coming life…and I rest in confidence that when I do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirt intercedes with sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26).

 

 

 

p.s. Although, once I’ve preached a sermon, I do not listen to it again…Some have said that this past Sunday’s sermon may be worth a listen…if you’d like, go to the church’s website (www.stlukeselca.org)  and click on Pastor’s Sermon…Wars and Rumors of Wars on the home page.