"The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (Isaiah 11: 6-9 NRSV)
My heart is kind of heavy as I sit down to write this week. Last week I talked about how peace, healing, and reconciliation were already weighing heavily on my mind after the events in Ferguson, Missouri. Well, this week we got the news that another police officer, this time in New York City, would not be charged in the strangling death of another unarmed African-American man. If the sense of injustice wasn't high enough after the Michael Brown case, it's even higher now.
I honestly don't know what we do now, or where we go from here. I can't say as I'd blame any African-American individual for being afraid of an encounter with the police, and I can't say as I'd feel any different if I were in their shoes. There seems to be so much hurt, so much hate, and so much violence.
The verses above from Isaiah 11 came up in my readings this last week for Advent, and though they've long been a favorite of mine, they hit me even more in light of events that are happening right now. The imagery is striking: lambs and wolves lying together, little children playing near the lair of snakes. If you stop and think that children in the Bible often symbolize innocence and purity, and that serpents often represent evil, well it's even more striking.
This is of course the Biblical ideal, the promise of the world governed by Christ as the Kingdom of God. "They WILL NOT hurt or destroy on all my Holy Mountain." I think too often we as Christians just sit back and think of this as an ideal only to be achieved later, after the Second Advent, but I don't think Christ would have us sitting around, waiting. What good is faith if all we do is sit back and wait for some kind of "eternal reward?" The answer is: not much.
Instead I truly believe that as Christians we are called to bring forth ideas into this world that serve the Kingdom NOW. I'm not talking about enforcing some kind of conservative political or theocratic dogma either. I'm talking about Christians, the body, hands, and feet of Jesus Christ stepping into the world and working for healing, peace, and reconciliation. I'm talking about Christians standing with those who are marginalized or who are victims of violence and oppression. It's not going to be easy, but I pray that God will give me, and each of us, the backbone to really go out and to try to turn this torn and broken world into the Holy Mountain of the Lord.
JOYS AND THANKSGIVINGS:
--For victim's advocates and those who work tirelessly in the favor of those who have been wronged or marginalized.
--For candles, decorations, music, and all that reminds of the joy that the Christmas season can bring.
--For the incarnation and example of Christ, the Word made flesh.
CONCERNS AND PETITIONS:
--For all victims of violence, hate, and discrimination.
--For healing, justice, and reconciliation to be brought to our country in light of recent events.
--For those who become depressed and downtrodden, since they often go even more unnoticed this time of year.
--For those who will be traveling over the holiday season.
LORD God, we ask that now, in this time of great hurt and great divide, that you would give each of us a measure of your peace, the peace that passes all understanding. Grant us the power and strength to stand FOR all of your Children and AGAINST injustice. Grant to us the knowledge of you and your Kingdom as the waters flow over the sea, as the prophet of old foretold. Bring us healing and reconciliation in this sacred season as we look forward to celebrating the birth of your Son, Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray:
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day.
In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety
as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior:
Jesus Christ
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever, A-men.
No comments:
Post a Comment