How
are you feeling this morning? Grief
shows itself in many ways. Honor what
you are feeling—even if you want to avoid feeling anything.
I
had written a sermon on Friday morning.
Even as late as Friday evening, I thought I still might have a chance of
delivering it with some modification of the introductory section. But I cannot.
Diana Butler Bass (writer who has explored the nature of Christianity in the 21st
century) blogged after the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords that preachers
must speak about a violent tragedy, not ignore it or pass if off with an extra
prayer. She said, “American pulpits
should be places to reflect on theology and life, on the Word [of God] and our
words.”
So
here is my best effort today:
Yesterday
I wrote this on my Facebook page: “Our
Book of Common Prayer has eloquent prayers that can be adapted to pray for all
who died in Newtown, CT--but since I heard about the killing yesterday, I don't
want words. I simply want to hold up to God's healing light those who perished,
those who grieve, those whose hearts are broken, and the darkness in one human
heart who caused this tragedy. O God, hear the cry of our hearts.”
But
today I need some words, please God, the right words.
I
believe in the presence of evil in the world that opposes God’s love for all
people. I do not confuse evil with
mental illness—but both may operate in an event and may have done so at Sandy
Hook. Evil exists in the choices a
person makes to harm others and by making these choices causes God to grieve.
Here
is a passage from the second chapter of Matthew:
When
Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he
sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old
or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then
was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice
was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her
children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
I
also believe in God’s love and protection in all the circumstances.
Here
is Psalm 121:
I
lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come?
My
help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He
will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He
who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is
your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The
sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will
keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will
keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
What
can the psalmist mean with these words: “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he
will keep your life?” Where was God when
those shots rang out at Sandy Hook?
· God was with the
teachers who tried to protect their students—and many succeeded.
· God was with the first
responders who rushed into the building, despite the danger, because they have
been trained not to wait for the SWAT team in order to save the most people
possible.
· God was with the
students who obeyed their teachers to hide and keep quiet.
· God is with those who
grieve—those who are angry, those who find themselves depressed—through the
care and love of those who share their lives—perhaps even through other
grieving parents.
· God will be with
courageous people who work to diminish the violence in our society. Indeed, in the 5th chapter of
Matthew, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the
children of God.”
When
I worked in Cecil County Public Schools, I was a certified non-violent
intervention trainer. One of the scenarios we discussed was what to do if a
weapon appeared in your classroom. Each middle
and high school I worked with developed a plan that all staff was trained
in. Eventually, after Columbine and 9-11,
this work was taken over by public safety professionals. But I have thought about what I would do; I
have imagined myself facing a gun or a knife with people in my care that I must
do all I can to protect. And then I back away from that image—it is just too
hard to imagine—and I pray that would show the courage the staff at Sandy Hook
did.
I
want to end this homily with three sections of the Great Litany – the earliest
English liturgy written in a very dangerous time, the 16th century: Your response is “Good Lord, deliver us.”
From
all evil and wickedness; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil;
and from everlasting damnation,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From
all oppression, conspiracy, and rebellion; from violence, battle and murder;
and from dying suddenly and unprepared,
Good Lord, deliver us.
In
all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of our
death, and in the day of judgment,
Good Lord, deliver us.
Now
please join me in the Agnus Dei:
O
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us.
O
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us.
O
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world. Grant us your peace.
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