On the Way to Wonder

“Discernment” is the word that caught my attention as I read Proverbs 3 this morning. So many verses touched me but his one stood out today, “v. 21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight, they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid, when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster…” As we slow down from the rage that burned and all the emotion of last week, pictures of peaceful marching, neighbors of all colors helping to clean up the mess left in the wake of riots, and pleas for discernment in the face of injustice. I note in this passage that discernment has the fruit of safety. My neighbor of a different background is not the enemy but the evil that plants seeds of suspicion. As curfews continue, I can sleep. As people slow down and think, fear of sudden disaster diminishes. Today, as I continue to mourn the ruin that is left from the path of rage, hatred and anger, I pray we can discern real causes and the ways we can deal with systemic evil after the primary and that we can be honest with ourselves about how we contribute for good and for bad to the lives of the people we live with – and need. We are the body of Christ and need eyes, ears, and toes! Blessings as we continue our pilgrimage of discernment. Lord, give us eyes to see and hearts and hands to help.

During times of deep national mourning, outrage at the injustices of life, and stark realization of individual helplessness, it is hard to know which way to turn. I opened Proverbs 2 and did not find comfort so turned to Psalm 2 but that felt dry too. The thought of going to Matthew 2 came to mind as we are in the year of Matthew, looking at the life of Christ through the report of Matthew. Sunday we will celebrate Trinity Sunday, open the doors of the church with safety precautions in place, and our texts for Sunday will return to Matthew. We enter Pentecost, “the long green season,” 27 weeks long after the Easter season. It is the second half of the Christian liturgical year. The first half we look at Scripture to learn who our God is. The second half we return to many of the same passages to reflect on what those same passages mean for our lives. So looking to Matthew 2 might not be so random.

In Matthew 2 we find the baby Jesus born in Bethlehem and the Magi, the wise men, searching for him. Herod’s men pull out prophecy that sends them to Bethlehem. They give their gifts, worship and in a dream are warned to flee. Joseph too is warned in a dream and flees with his family to Egypt. Herod’s soldiers arrive and slaughter all male children under age two. We read the quoting of a prophecy from Jeremiah 31:15, “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because they are no more.”

Talking with a friend yesterday, we reflected on the many who identify with the injustice being demonstrated against – the injustice of racial profiling, for many the injustice of divorce, for others the injustice of untimely accidents that brutally robbed their futures; the list is unending as we grieve today. As I read on in Jeremiah 31 after verse 15, “This what the Lord says: v. 16 “your work will be rewarded,” v.17 “there is hope for your future, v. 18 “I have heard Ephraim’s moaning,” and finally in v. 20 “Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I till remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,’ declares the Lord.”

Whatever the burden your heart carries today, our God hears our mourning and hears our cries in the midst of our chaos. Blessings as together we live through these days of confusion.

We wake up this morning to scenes of protestors, burning, police, and social upheaval followed by reports on illness followed by weather of the anticipated heat wave by Wednesday. On the news this morning I saw pictures of the riots last night in some of the cities where my children live. But as this continues I also noticed people of good will, finding their voice to speak the truth without violence. I turned to reading Proverbs 1 for June 1. I have always thought of Proverbs as mostly speaking about avoiding “the loose woman” or being “foolish” but reading the first chapter today in the light of rioters, boarded up windows, destroyed shops and so many lives ruined and thrown into chaos, I bring different concerns to God’s word.  It seems to me that verses 8 to 19 cries out against the temptation to be involved in stealing, looting, and vandalism. In the face of injustice and in the shadow of Pentecost , I plead for the fire of the Holy Spirit and cry out with George Floyd, “I can’t breathe.” Lord, breathe on me and my world with your Spirit that we can release vengeance to you for you promise to repay. Breathe on us your Spirit to turn the other cheek, to forgive, and to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.