Lamentation

Last weekend was a difficult milestone. The intensity of feeling about racism in the world and in our nation has become very clear. It is lamentable that protests are still needed in the face of discrimination and brutality. Black Lives Matter.

 

This nation has also just passed 40,000 deaths from Covid-19, and we have the second highest death count in the world. Each death is a significant loss, in the suffering and early death of the person, the fear and sorrow for others in the local community, hospital or care home, and in the mourning of family and friends. The numbers seem to be slowing at present, but it has been harrowing, and I cannot help but lament this ongoing tragedy. Day by day we have heard of the number of deaths, of people caring for others without protective equipment available, of care homes quietly losing large numbers of their residents. Elderly people are still People.

 

Our values are crucial in these painful situations. We cannot shrug it off. Where so many lives have been lost day by day, we need to learn from the past and find better values to guide us forward. Lamentation is not only sorrow but also regret and even repentance for past failings which lead to tragedy. And that leads to learning and changing.

 

We rightly experience a time of lamentation, then we seek the way to live in the light of these experiences. The Christian faith offers a vision of God’s coming kingdom in our midst. It is a kingdom where the poor, the oppressed, the mourners, those who know their need of God are embraced and lead onwards in faith, hope and love. There is suffering which cannot be avoided or denied, but there is hope too.

 

The ways of God are caring and healing, valuing those who suffer for righteousness’ sake, who lay down their lives for others, for they show a Christlikeness which assures us that the Kingdom is still very much with us. And the seeds of sacrifice and love will grow to bring new hope for individuals, for families, for nations, for the world in all its diversity.

 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons^[a] of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5.3-10