Faithful Conversations #70

Introduction to Readers:

PERSPECTIVE has been on my mind lately — how we perceive the world around us and the events of our time, particularly through our Christian lens (our exhausting political environment has prompted this!). For example, I have long been convinced that American citizens should be required to absorb a minimum of 15 minutes of international news every day to see how our fellow human beings are faring around the planet. The global prism quickly confirms that much of what is happening in the United States mirrors transnational trends, and we are incredibly fortunate, relatively speaking. It is astonishing to me, as one example, that there are currently more than 120 million refugees in the world, people forced from their homes, and that 40% of them are children! As a father and grandfather, this grieves my heart and makes me ashamed for the trivial matters I complain about day to day. And consider how this one issue is impacting political debates in our nation and elsewhere! Alarming, to say the least. (Sidebar: Global Refuge — formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service — was established after World War II, and the ELCA has a longstanding tradition with refugee work. In post-war Europe, nearly 60 million people became refugees and 10 million of those were Lutheran Christians).

My father was what I would call a hopeful realist. One of his favorite admonitions to me was this: Things are never as good as they seem, nor are they as bad as they seem. Reality is somewhere in the middle.* This perspective serves me well!  With such thoughts as a backdrop, I’m reflecting on the Christian concept of LAMENTING this week, prompted by the Old Testament reading. How should we deal with authentic sadness in our lives, debilitating despair that drives us to weep and wail, openly or internally? As always, thanks for spending a few minutes in this space each week. I offer these postings with humility as a Christian brother.

* I have learned that the Roman poet Phaedrus famously said something akin to that, and perhaps that’s where Unk (my dad) learned it. (The derivative quote is this: “Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden”). Much to think about there!  

Before you read this week . . . A Quick Take on Sunday’s Lectionary:
The readings for Pentecost 6 weave together themes of divine compassion, restoration, and transformative faith. Lamentations 3:22-33 highlights God’s steadfast love and mercy even in times of affliction, urging hope and trust in His faithfulness (the focus of my reflections). Psalm 30 celebrates deliverance from distress, emphasizing praise and gratitude as responses to God’s healing power (an inspiration for this week’s prayer). 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 calls for generosity and equality in sharing resources, echoing the principles of Christ-like love and solidarity within the Christian community. Mark 5:21-43 underscores Jesus’ healing touch, illustrating faith that overcomes despair and brings about miraculous restoration. Together, these passages emphasize God’s enduring compassion, the transformative power of faith, and the call to respond with gratitude, generosity, and trust in His providence.

The Readings for Pentecost 6
Lamentations 3:22-33 (focus passage)
Psalm 30
2 Corinthians 8: 7-15
Mark 5: 21-43

The Old Testament Reading: Lamentations 3: 22-33

 Reflections: “Great is your faithfulness” 

The Bible is filled with voices of lament, prayers raised to God in the midst of devastating sorrow. The first reading this week comes from Lamentations, and I invite you to spend some time with the entire book in the days ahead (some scholars believe that Jeremiah authored Lamentations, but there is no consensus on that). It contains five poems, each reflecting on the fall of Jerusalem and subsequent exile at the hands of the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E. (yes, they became refugees!). Many voices of suffering emerge in the five poems — children, parents, political and religious leaders, prisoners, and widows — all reacting to an existential disaster.

To get a better sense of this week’s passage, it is important to read all of Chapter 3 (sidebar: Lectionary readings often puzzle me a bit because of how they are divided, but I digress). Verses 1-21 are filled with anger and despair. The speaker accuses God of ignoring — even causing — horrible suffering. I picture a man or woman standing amidst rubble, shaking their fist at God! The writer, however, then makes a powerful transition in verse 21, setting up this week’s reading: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope.” So, what is “this” referring to in verse 21? The answer comes in verses 22- 24. Dwell on these words for a few moments:  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” What an incredible dialogue!

What should we take away from this? First, the despairing voices feel very contemporary to me, especially when I see the images coming out of the Middle East in 2024. Yes, lament is part of our lives — part of our world — every single day. We experience it ourselves and witness it in the lives of others. Second, spending some time on this for a few days makes me wonder if we avoid lament in our faith journey in these challenging times — that we forget the necessity of acknowledging authentic pain (“weeping and wailing”) in ourselves or others. It is easier to turn our gaze in a different direction, after all. Our culture, in my estimation, pushes us to do that. What are we to do?

In 1525, Martin Luther offered a series of lectures on Lamentations. Among his many insights, and in typical Luther fashion, he emphasized what is termed a “Christological interpretation” of the book — a “Christ-centered” lens. He saw in its themes of suffering and hope a foreshadowing of Christ’s redemptive work. He drew connections between the suffering of those Israelites in 586 BCE and the future suffering of Christ, urging believers to repentance, faith, and trust in God’s promises. For Luther, that meant persevering in prayer, relying on God’s grace amidst life’s turmoil, and experiencing the transformative power of God’s Word. This is good news for us to share!

Soli Deo Gloria! 

If interested, join us after the 8:30 service at ELC on 30 June for some in-person discussion of this week’s readings. No special expertise or prior knowledge is necessary! all are welcome!