The Weekend in B & W - August 15, 2020

Urquhart Castle, Scotland
For the Weekend in Black & White

A COVID-19 Lament by the Rev. Eclecticity

 

Image credit: patheos.com

Introduction

Lament, for people of faith, has been a popular genre for centuries. Prophets like Jeremiah were familiar with it. Many of the Psalms are laments—both communal and individual. Jesus lamented over the city of Jerusalem. Laments often originate out of the contexts of suffering and injustices. They address God by expressing, among other aspects of the human condition: pain and hurt, despair, doubt, anger, disappointment, impatience, and some of them even end with faith, hope and confidence. The longer COVID-19 lasts, the more I find myself lamenting over so many things in life that I probably took way too much for granted. Problems and issues on local, provincial, national and international levels that existed prior to the coronavirus seem to me to be even more pronounced now, during COVID-19. Suffering and injustices that, in our right hearts and minds, ought to draw us all closer together, seem to divide humankind even more. Violence and hatred seem to be flourishing, while love, kindness and non-violence wane. The rhetoric of some political leaders seems to be adding even more fuel to the fire. In light of so many people of faith over the centuries, I think one thing we all need to do is bring it all to God. In what follows is my all-too-imperfect and fragmentary attempt to do that.

 

A COVID-19 Lament-words by the Rev. Eclecticity (I wrote this as a litany for our recent area clergy cluster meeting.)

One: How long, O God must we cry to you before you deliver us?

All: This coronavirus has wreaked havoc with all humankind;

One: Do you not see? Do you not hear the cries of suffering and despair? Do you not care?

All: COVID-19 has made more explicit what many a prophet has known for so long;

One: That in times of trouble the rich and powerful are ever the more selfish and exploitative;

All: That the poorest of the poor are at greatest risk of being infected with the coronavirus

One: Since they lack adequate water to wash their hands;

All: Have little if any access to masks and sanitizer;

One: And far too many are overcrowded in refugee camps.

All: The old are often locked up in long-term care facilities and dying of loneliness;

One: Many are separated from their families and die alone in hospitals. We cannot even say goodbye to them and grieve properly together.

All: Church doors are closed, pastors and congregations miss corporate worship and koinonia.

One: How can we sing our songs without spreading the virus?

All: Come to us now in this time of need; deliver us from this ocean of death;

One: For you have promised to be with us always; so we commend our lives into your hands.

All: God of resurrection deliver us.

Wordless Wednesday - June 10, 2020

Kristiansand, Norway

 

 

           For Wordless Wednesday

Brief thoughts on death and the hereafter

Perhaps during this time of being plagued with the coronavirus pandemic, some people are more inclined to think about death and the hereafter. This may also be the case for seniors—including me—who are among the highest population at risk of being infected with COVID-19. I have had my days of wondering if I have the virus; or if I will get it and possibly die from it.

    Thinking about death and the hereafter reminds me of the gift of faith, being able, by God’s grace, to trust that I do not have to fear death or what happens beyond it. I, along with countless other people of faith, find great comfort and hope in scripture passages such as Psalm 23, John 14:1-7, and tomorrow’s Revised Common Lectionary second lesson from 1 Peter 3:13-22—especially vv 18-19: “He (Jesus) was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison....” Some biblical scholars and systematic theologians have interpreted this reference “to the spirits in prison” as Jesus’ descent into “hell.”

    I am of a divided mind concerning hell. On the one hand, I can see the need for God’s justice to be exercised towards humankind—especially in light of those like Hitler and Stalin who caused immense suffering for millions of human beings. On the other hand, I also believe that God is an all-loving God, and the life, teachings, sufferings, death and resurrection of Jesus truly bear witness to God’s love. So, I hold these two possibilities in dialectical tension, without a satisfactory resolution. However, I do like this quotation from popular Presbyterian pastor and author, the Reverend Frederick Buechner (pronounced Beekner), first published in his Wishful Thinking, and later in his Beyond Words:

    “Dante saw written over the gates of hell the words "Abandon all hope ye who enter here," but he must have seen wrong. If there is suffering life in hell, there must also be hope in hell, because where there is life there is the Lord and giver of life; and where there is suffering he is there too, because the suffering of the ones he loves is also his suffering.”

Bob Dylan's new song

I've always found Bob Dylan's music thought-provoking, and sometimes inspiring, as well as poetic and prophetic. 

   However, the older he gets, the worse his singing becomes. 

   This new song, "Murder most foul," reminds me a bit of a chant rather than a sung performance. Somehow his voice isn't as offensive as recent albums. 

   The song, 15.56 minutes in length, recalls the murder of President John Kennedy. Dylan also poetically and prophetically references many musicians, politicians, historical events, and even alludes to biblical motifs and the divine. Well worth a listen!

Prayer of the Day/Collect for Good Friday, Yr A

On this holy day, we remember you Jesus; as you suffered excruciating pain and a cruel death; which you freely chose in love for the whole human race to forgive their sin and promise life eternal. Today we also remember our participation in your suffering and death; we are equally as guilty as all of those who participated in sending you to the cross. Today we also remember that you continue to suffer with the whole human race as many have died and will die of the coronavirus. May everyone find strength by turning to you in order to cope with the life-threatening circumstances in which we face. May we live with resurrection hope that there will be life beyond COVID-19; just as your resurrection gives hope beyond the grave. All praise and thanks to you Jesus; our Suffering Servant; for all that you have accomplished for us on the cross.

The Weekend in B & W: March 13, 2020

Edinburgh street, Scotland

For the Weekend in Black and White