Faith is now quite uncertain. I'm no longer acting-as-if.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Thought For The Day - If God Cries
If God cries, (we know that Jesus wept) I have the sense that the possible break-up of the Anglican Communion is not No. 1 on the list of what makes God cry.
Indeed. It's the child who can't get medical care because the family can't pay for it. It's the world continuing to slide into deeper poverty. It's the lack of respect we have for one another. It's Naomi and all those young cancer contenders... and on and on and on and on.
Go sing William Byrd's round, 'When Jesus Wept' (1982 Hymnal 715):
When Jesus wept, the falling tear in mercy flowed beyond all bound; when Jesus groaned, a trembling fear seized all the guilty world around.
On Pentecost this year I found myself weeping during Communion for the Anglican Communion (when I though I no longer gave a tinker's damn). I am certain that God already weeps. But it is way down on God's list; there are so many more important matters and greater sorrows to lament.
I want the whole unpleasantness over with, and I know that is simplistic thinking. Folks who do not think they can sit at the same table are not going to sit at the same table, no matter how gracious the invitation. Jesus does not seem to look happily on those who refuse invitations, if certain parables are any guide, but there you have it. Let's keep a seat for everyone and those who insist on eating elsewhere may do so. If they're going to be cranky I'd just as soon they go make each other miserable and leave the rest of us alone.
Cold? Maybe, but it does get tiresome.
God weeps over my attitude also, I have no doubt. As I have said before: Lord, have mercy.
Caminante, thanks for the round. It works very well for the occasion.
This thing is dragging on for a long time. I'd want to see a quicker resolution, but meanwhile folks are doing themselves in during the wait. They will likely become more desperate as time passes, which will lead them to do ever more foolish things.
In that way time is on our side, but patience wears thin.
Suzer's list of the things God weeps about is good.... yet, I do think God grieves about the witness (or lack thereof) of the Christian community.... especially in the face of such tragedies.
TC, unfortunately, you are correct, too. The Christian churches have not always been good witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a force of grace in the world.
Oh Grandmere, that makes me want to weep.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree, that will be sad if that day comes to pass. God will weep.
Fran, it would probably make me weep, too, but it's not No. 1 on my list either.
ReplyDeleteNo, it would not be the worst thing to happen. It helps me to think of God grieving and/or weeping for so many situations in our world.
ReplyDeleteBy & large the Radical Religious Right would consider it analagous to the Cleansing of the Temple. I'm inclined to agree with them.
ReplyDeleteDid you get round to following the link to the old (20's?) recording of "Love's Old Sweet Song" that I sent to you? Think you might enjoy it.
The thought for the day came to my mind, and I posted it to help me keep a sense of perspective about the crisis in the Anglican Communion.
ReplyDeleteLapin, I have not yet had a chance to listen, but I will. The "Wounded Bird" is a hard taskmaster.
I think it could well turn out to be the best thing that could happen.
ReplyDeleteD.P.
Indeed. It's the child who can't get medical care because the family can't pay for it. It's the world continuing to slide into deeper poverty. It's the lack of respect we have for one another. It's Naomi and all those young cancer contenders... and on and on and on and on.
ReplyDeleteGo sing William Byrd's round, 'When Jesus Wept' (1982 Hymnal 715):
When Jesus wept,
the falling tear
in mercy flowed
beyond all bound;
when Jesus groaned,
a trembling fear
seized all the guilty
world around.
Good thinking...
ReplyDeleteOn Pentecost this year I found myself weeping during Communion for the Anglican Communion (when I though I no longer gave a tinker's damn). I am certain that God already weeps. But it is way down on God's list; there are so many more important matters and greater sorrows to lament.
ReplyDeleteI want the whole unpleasantness over with, and I know that is simplistic thinking. Folks who do not think they can sit at the same table are not going to sit at the same table, no matter how gracious the invitation. Jesus does not seem to look happily on those who refuse invitations, if certain parables are any guide, but there you have it. Let's keep a seat for everyone and those who insist on eating elsewhere may do so. If they're going to be cranky I'd just as soon they go make each other miserable and leave the rest of us alone.
Cold? Maybe, but it does get tiresome.
God weeps over my attitude also, I have no doubt. As I have said before: Lord, have mercy.
Caminante, thanks for the round. It works very well for the occasion.
ReplyDeleteThis thing is dragging on for a long time. I'd want to see a quicker resolution, but meanwhile folks are doing themselves in during the wait. They will likely become more desperate as time passes, which will lead them to do ever more foolish things.
In that way time is on our side, but patience wears thin.
Yes, I expect that:
ReplyDeleteDarfur
Iraq
Burma
Jena
Rwanda
AIDS
Hunger
Slavery (of all kinds)
Poverty
Children with cancer
and many other things we are not even aware of take precedence long before the Anglican Communion.
I was hoping that someone besides me would come up with a list, and you obliged, Suzer. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSuzer's list of the things God weeps about is good....
ReplyDeleteyet, I do think God grieves about the witness (or lack thereof) of the Christian community....
especially in the face of such tragedies.
That list of Suzer's is great... thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the words of the hymn Caminante posted.
yet, I do think God grieves about the witness (or lack thereof) of the Christian community....
ReplyDeleteDiane, I agree.
I suspect that God weeps at those times when the church is a force for cruelty rather than grace. And that can be found in all our traditions.
ReplyDeleteTC, unfortunately, you are correct, too. The Christian churches have not always been good witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a force of grace in the world.
ReplyDelete