For a while we were able to rattle off the cities or the names of various people and incidents where someone died. Every place from Columbine to Sandy Hook to Ferguson to Fort Hood to Charleston to Orlando to Dallas to Nice. But now the litany has become too long and transformed into one long cry. Not a cry for a rally but literally a cry of lament.

What makes it worse are the untold tragedies that never make the gloomy headline or salacious click-bait. Those daily tears are shed in silence.

As the world self-destructs, its violence born from Godless roots, we have little left. Our knees and shoulders go weak and slump as we crumple before the throne of God and weep.

So much destruction.
So much death.
So much despair.

Sadness has overwhelmed me – like a cloak thick enough to blot out the noonday sun.

And so we cry out:

How long O Lord? Will you utterly forget me?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long shall I harbor sorrow in my soul?
Sorrow in my heart day after day.*

Why has my pain been perpetual and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will God indeed be to me like a deceptive stream with water that is unreliable?*

Rise up, judge of the earth…
How long O Lord shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words.*

Look upon me, have pity on me, for I am alone and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart; bring me out of my distress.
Look upon my affliction and suffering; take away all my sins.
See how many are my enemies, see how fiercely they hate me.
Preserve my soul and rescue me; do not let me be disgraced, for in you I seek refuge.*

Together we must cry out to God for mercy. We are a broken people. In that cry of repentance we learn to trust. The tears we shed can and will water the ground of faith and hope. Only in that painful expression can we know the compassion of God the merciful.

We deserve worse.
We deserve judgment.
We have earned the need for another epic Genesis flood.

Many say, “May we see better times!”
Oh Lord, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!
You put gladness into my heart, more than when grain and wine abound.
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, will keep me safe.*

Oh Lord, Hallowed be your name.
Your Will be done.
Deliver us from evil and forgive our constant sins.
Your kingdom come….Quickly, Lord.
Quickly.

Amen.

 

Scriptures quoted: Psalm 13:1-2; Jeremiah 15:18; Psalm 94:2-4; Psalm 25:16-20; Psalm 4: 6-8