Psalm 13
John 6:35-40
How Long?
Sometimes life and
liturgy come together in beautiful synergy – the readings of the day fit
perfectly with the events in the world that week.
This is one of those
weeks as the country joined together in sorrow and lament over the horrific
events in London. Not terrorism this time, but nonetheless terrifying.
You may remember the
disaster movie from the 1970s – Towering Inferno? In the movie they were able
to rescue most of those trapped in the tower block from the roof; and
extinguished the fire by blowing up the water towers on the roof and flooding
the building with water.
Sadly, truth is more
brutal than fiction; the fire raged too quickly, too fiercely; it was night;
there was conflicting advice; and as a result many people perished – and many
more lost everything.
Those who lived in
Grenfell Tower, and those who live in similar dwellings are raising their
voices to cry out: How Long?
How many more
tragedies must happen before the rules on high rise properties are changed?
How much longer, must
those who are poor, continue to live in unsafe properties?
How long will it be?
The Psalm asks God
for answers: how long must we wait? How long will we feel alone? How long must
we watch as innocent lives are taken? And not only asking those questions – but
daring to give God an ultimatum: “Look at me!! answer me!!! Otherwise I will
just give up”.
The Psalms! In them
there is always an answer to our deepest longings.
The psalm speaks into
the questions that are being asked not only by the survivors, the bereaved, the
other residents in similar places, but also by others who see the injustice and
inequality so obvious in the stark contrast between the wealth of Kensington when
compared with the abject poverty of high rise living.
The Psalm is coupled
with a short reading from St John’s Gospel: Jesus’ assertion of his mission and
God’s promise: that Jesus’ followers will be raised up on the last day; the
promise that all who call on the Son will receive eternal life.
Somehow though, even
when the readings fit so perfectly the mood and the events of a week, it is
still hard to find what to say; how to speak; how to bring hope into a hopeless
situation.
So, I offer this: in
every time of horror or tragedy; of fear or distress; in each moment that hope
seems to be utterly unreachable, there are the helpers.
There are always,
helpers.
Good, good people
prepared to offer of themselves.
In every time of
disaster, when the death toll rises, there are glimpses of goodness; heroes who
may not save everyone, but can save someone.
Firefighters entered
and re-entered the burning building, to bring more than 60 people to safety.
A man caught a baby
dropped from a 5th floor window by a distraught mother; I believe
the baby survived.
Within hours people who
lived in the area poured in, donating clothes, shoes, bedding, food, water,
bringing phone chargers, offering support weeping, sharing, praying together.
Even in the worst
tragedy, people help.
They don’t choose to
help one over another, they simply come together and help, whatever, wherever,
however they can.
The gospel reading
today reminds us: “(God)’s will is that Jesus shall raise up all he has been
given; that those who see the Son and call on his name shall have eternal life.”
There is no qualifier
there; no conditions placed. It is simple.
Call on his name –
and God will hear you.
Call on his name and Jesus
will welcome you
Call on his name –
know that God is waiting always
Life is not perfect;
Life does not always
go the way we hope
Life is not always
pretty or predictable
Life is full of everything:
good and bad; light and dark; happy and sad; we cannot predict how it will go,
but we can choose to be positive, to be hopeful, to be loving and kind and to
care for others.
All others.
No matter where they come
from or who they are.
For they are all God’s
children.
How long O God?
How long must we wait
for you?
Make us content with
the question, knowing that when we rely on you; when we praise you; when we
turn to you – you O God are there, always and forever.
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| Beach at Lossiemouth - JRen2009 |
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