Readings: Psalm 42; Zechariah 8:1-17; Matthew 8:14-17; 28-34
Genocide.
Today the headlines are filled to the brink with the genocide, torture, rape, and devastation.
400,000 people have been killed in the Syrian civil war.
4.8 million refugees have fled the brutality by retreating into other nations.
6.6 million have been displaced (as in made homeless) within Syria.
100,000 people were trapped yesterday in the city of Palmyra during the fighting.
82 were slaughtered on the spot by Assad’s troops
20 women chose family suicide over the rape and brutality of themselves and their children
“O God my rock,” I cry,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
oppressed by my enemies?”
Their taunts break my bones.
They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad? (Psalm 42: 9-11)
And what are we doing? Our “Christian” nation?
Most of us are barely paying attention while we watch the circus clown that was recently elected do whatever bullshit lunacy he’s going to do today. Who the hell cares what he does today? He has years ahead of him to ruin this country. But today, like so many others before, people are experiencing a civil war.
Where are we? What are WE doing?
The Americans. The Russians. The Lebanese. The Iranians.
All “actors” with strategies in the “conflict”…words that make it seem like some sort of fucking show while people DIE and their homes are turned to rubble and their lives to ashes.
But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord. (Zechariah 8:16-17)
Where is God? What is God doing?
By the way, God, if you are reading this…you CANNOT depend on us (The United States) to help here. You will need to send your help. Your aid. Your messengers. That isn’t us. We aren’t able to be that good. Not this time. Find another less ambivalent bunch to count on…we’ll be over here wringing our hands and wondering what any of it has to do with us.
When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.
That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said,
“He took our sicknesses
and removed our diseases.”
Heal this Jesus. Remove the sickness of these evil men who would slaughter their own people. Remove the disease of apathy and fear from others who could do something. Give simple commands to the evil spirits in all of us and help us move our feet in the direction of justice!
Help us God!
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