Daily Worship

Longing For What Can No Longer Be

Albert Bogle August 28, 2016 0 0

Matthew 5: 43-45

Matthew 5. 43-45

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

 

Psalm 137. 1-2  

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
    when we remembered Zion.
2 There on the poplars
    we hung our harps,

We all ask questions of God at a time like this, when there seems to be nothing but disturbing news at home and abroad. To live in an economic zone of uncertainty is no doubt difficult, however to be in the midst of an earthquake, or a war torn zone puts all our fears into perspective. Asking difficult  theological questions of the Almighty is essential if we are to grow and mature as Christian people. Learning to live with unanswered questions is all part of the same process of maturing. In our reading this morning the psalmist  towards the end of the psalm expresses feelings of revenge against his enemies which express his humanity and his personal hurt and anger. It is as we read scripture as a whole we begin to find new perspectives. When we truly learn to sing  songs of deliverance in our distress we also discover a new call to love our enemies and search for meaning in the midst of chaos.

 

Almighty eternal Father

Forgive me 

When I ask questions

‘Why’ questions

I ask for the people of Amatrice.

We call you Almighty

So why do bad things happen?

Why can you not hold our world together?

Inside I’m crying 

Disturbed

Searching for answers

Amidst the rubble of earthquakes and wars

We search

Looking for loved ones

Dazed

Anxious

Afraid

They pray

We pray  

I pray

Looking for meaning

Longing for what can no longer be

 

Almighty eternal Father

Teach us today 

How to live 

And serve

And pray

And even sing songs

In a world where so many have

Loved and lost the reason to love