Question Time

 

This is a conundrum.  One very sick man, who grew up in a war torn country, takes out his rage and destructive evil intent on two innocent Jewish men.   

This is not just another random tragic act of sickness and depravity.  It sits within the context of a horrific international conflict.  

The man comes from a war torn country to the UK, which from colonial days was seen as a refuge.  We can only imagine his childhood, and the impact of mental illness, and the response to his aggression, and probable negative experiences as unwell black man. (would a white attacker be kicked in the head when down on the ground?)

 The context is terrible.  A war in Iran and Lebanon.  This follow years of the metaphorical repeated 'stabbing' of the dead body of Gaza by Israel.  Any visible Jew walking the streets will fear the easy and cowardly retribution that might come their way because of this.  Just a 5% chance that I might be targeted  (so that's 95% that I'm safe) is enough to send fear through a whole community.  The probability is low, but the consequence is deadly.  The risk equation, probability x impact = level of risk puts it high. 

Many Jewish people see the 'Stop the War' Collision as not being sympathetic to their plight.  Even if the majority of protesters are law abiding citizens, who respect our multi-cultural Britain, (and some orthodox Jews have been seen in the stop the war protests too.) These marches do not reduce the risk of inciting the sick and the fanatical to lash out at the innocent British Jew.   

Just as Palestinians who are attacked in the West Bank by aggressive Israeli settlers feel the Israeli police turn a blind eye, so too people in this county fear that the police response is not enough.  

The challenge we are faced with is, how can 'stop the war' also mean protect all lives?  As has been pointed out on the radio, the answer is time and again we must condemn violence and breaches of human rights whenever we see them, even if this seems obvious. 

Easter Day - (Happy Birthday Frances)

Happy Easter - and Birthday Frances!

 

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

Fortieth day of Lent - A New Heaven and a New Earth

 

Heaven's Gates by Marco Brambilla

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21

We all know that when we see Creation, we see the immense handiwork of the Creator.  It cannot be copied.  Everything is so vivid, amazing, three dimensional, multi sensory.  This to me is heaven. But it was also Eden.  

We will return to the future.

PRAYER: Where you are, there is beauty.  We stand amazed. Your people will be part of this beauty.

Thirty Ninth Day of Lent - Titus - Good Friday

 

Corpus Hypercubus, by Salvador Dali 
Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit NIV Titus 3:5

Not the cross.  Such an ugly thing.  Anything but a cross.  In the west we have got used to it.  What if it was an electric chair? Or the guillotine.  A symbol of faith?  But we are forced to watch; pushed up against the bars.  We must see, we must put our fingers in the flesh wound. We must hear the groans, and the last gasp of oxygen.  We must feel the silence, the despair and the deep pain in the pit of our stomach.  There is no alternative.  We must be brave. 

PRAYER: Help us through this day. When we suffer with you.  When we suffer with all we love.  May we stay a wake and be there with you as you die.

Thirty Eighth Day of lent - Lamb of God

 

Ghent Altarpiece

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” John 1

Enter our man.  We are up against tyranny and injustice.  Our man enters as a lamb.  A lamb threatens no one.  A lamb is innocence itself.  Where is the power in a lamb? 

Our man is far more than a lamb.  He is also 'the Lion of Judah'.  He is the ancient of days.  He is the first and the last.  He is the prince of peace.  

Jesus comes with authority and truth.  Nothing can stand against the truth.  The truth comes with righteousness and love.  This provides life to the truth.  

Jesus is cut down.  He is taken advantage of.  He is slaughtered. But the truth prevails, and rises up.  It is not defeated.  It lives forever.  

PRAYER:  We join you as lambs. Children of the living God. Without power, but surrounded by your power.  

Thirty Seventh Day of Lent - Letters

 

Proshitapatika Nayika,
The National Museum,
New Delhi. 

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Philippians 4

I love the irony that in order for St Paul to be in a position where he could support the fledgling church appropriately, he had to be sent to Rome.  He moved from the relative back water, troubled and unsettled 'Judea' to the centre of the known world in the West.  Unfortunately the budget did not extend to putting him up in Caesar's palace, so he was housed for many years in his dungeon.  As with the whole project, it appears that putting up with suffering is an important element to creating the power. Softies and cowards need not apply.  

So in chains, Paul writes wonderful letter.  In this one he addresses a tiff.  Tiffs can get out of hand.  Please, let's not be silly.  It's not a surprise that these letters were treasured and kept.  But is it a miracle that they survived, because they are very old. 

PRAYER: Thank you to everyone who has suffered for the sake of the Lord.  May I be prepared to be one of them.

Thirty Sixth Day of Lent - The Gentiles

 

By Joy Labinjo Cebit i-d.co

21 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.”

23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”

24 Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”

25 But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!”

26 Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”

27 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.”

28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

Almost all religions in the world are culturally specific.  They relate to one ethnicity, in one location. This is how Judaism was, until it was turned on it's head by Jesus.  A few days ago I was chatting to my Zimbabwean colleague and friend about how she observed communion when she was growing up in a community without bread or wine.    I think of the many thousands of people who existed before the stories of Genesis and Eden came to be written.  We who are gentiles know that we are the little dogs that are able to eat under the table of the chosen.  All our needs are met, and we are included in the promise of greater things to come.

PRAYER:  Thank you for choosing me to be your friend.  Thank you for your righteousness given to me.