PostScript: Great things
His will with our hands, voices, energy and vision (Psalm 126)
‘The Lord has done great things for us’ (Psalm 126.4) is the shout of praise, but who else made it possible?
This week's news
Today’s psalm records the joy felt by the people of Judea at their return home from exile. It is an exuberant hymn of thanksgiving and praise for the joy that comes after times of difficulty and sorrow when ‘the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion’. But God didn’t restore his people like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. God was given the praise but it was a chain of human actions that made return possible. The prophet of the restoration, whose words were saved along with the prophecies of Isaiah of Jerusalem in the book called after him, credits Cyrus, the King of Persia, the conqueror of Babylon, with the restoration of the people of Judah to Jerusalem, as Jeremiah in today’s Old Testament reading had foretold. The Cyrus Cylinder, a clay cylinder, found in 1879 and now in the British Museum, is a record of the decree of Cyrus, the victorious conqueror, restoring all the peoples, conquered by Babylon, to their home lands along with their gods.
Ancient peoples were restored to their homes because of Cyrus’ action in setting them free, as recorded in his decree. Contemporary steps towards justice and restoration, whether in our country or in our world, only happen if individuals have the courage to stand up for and work towards a vision for which they long.
Only now are people willing to investigate properly the allegations of abuse that have been made against Jimmy Savile. Had it been done earlier, who might have been saved from abuse and trauma?
The education of women and girls is happening once more in Pakistan because of the courage shown by those who refuse to be denied this human right.
English Football gets captains onside to fight against the racism endemic in the sport but not all countries are willing to face up to what is evident.
A lawyer works to bring clarity about our role in US drone attacks so that we can be accountable for what is done in our name.
Reflection
Today’s psalm records the joy felt by the people of Judea at their return home from exile. It is an exuberant hymn of thanksgiving and praise for the joy that comes after times of difficulty and sorrow when ‘the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion’. Returning home was their dream and it had come true.
Dreams of people today for safety and security, the wherewithal to earn their living and look after their families, will only come to pass through the hard work and diligence of those who care enough to get involved.
This hard work and effort starts with dreams, with hope and with trust in the God who is the fount of justice and compassion.
Hope and trust in God is birthed in reading the hope and trust of the prophets of the past, and praying for our world today, still the province of God’s concern and activity.
Prayer
Use this prayer straight after the Lord’s Prayer
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
God of hope, God of dreams,
God with us in our tears,
God who leads us into joy:
forgive our lethargy and complacency.
Forgive us,
for we too easily accept the world as it is.
Thank you for those tenacious people
who aren’t prepared to give up.
Enable us to believe once more
that change for the better is possible,
help us to see the enormous difference we can make
if we work together.
Help us to catch your vision of a world being made new
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who taught us to hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Amen.
Questions
- What are our dreams for our world and for our children’s world?
- What do we want to see God doing?
- How might we be his hands, his feet and his voice?
Action
Do some research about projects that are bringing hope to corners of our country and to our world. As a congregation, accept the challenge to be a Cyrus in today’s world and pick a project whether at home or abroad that is making a difference and see what you can contribute to it together. Make sure that it’s not just fundraising, as important as that is. Try to understand the roots of the problem and see what changes need to be made. Trust the God who inspired the prophets of old and start dreaming dreams that you might be part of restoring the fortunes of others.
Young People
What are your dreams for a better world? What do you think needs to change? How can you prepare yourself now to be a community changer, a world changer? Think of three things you want to have done in six months time to prepare yourself to make a difference in our world. Make a note of them and discuss with each other how you might help each other to achieve these goals. Write these three things on a postcard, put it in a stamped addressed envelope and give it to someone to post to you next April. Have a follow up meeting to encourage one another, to develop your skills and talents as best you can, for the sake of others. Let the adults in the church know what you are doing. Suggest they set themselves three goals about how they can be Cyrus-style change makers today.
Jo Penberthy is a part-time parish priest in rural Somerset and a part-time student in the area of Christian theology, quantum physics and reality.
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