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| Image by Heather Sunderland |
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A GREETING
Be gracious to me, O God, for I am languishing;
heal me.
(Psalm 6:2)
A READING
'They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’
(Revelation 7:16-17)
MUSIC
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn,
and dismay has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead?
(Jeremiah 8:21a)
A PRAYER
Look with mercy, gracious God, upon people everywhere who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Rouse us from our complacency and help us to eliminate cruelty wherever it is found. Strengthen those who seek equality for all. Grant that everyone may enjoy a fair portion of the abundance of the earth; through your son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
- "Prayer for the Oppressed" from Evangelical Lutheran Worship
VERSE OF THE DAY
God who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
(Isaiah 49:10b)
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| Image of Sandhill Cranes in flight by Nathan Clark, found on Instagram at @nathanclarkwildlife |
On Saturdays, we pause from our theme to pray for the wider world around us.
Over the past two months, a recurring scene has been taking place at the border of Finland and Russia that is a continuation of a story that has been occurring at the borders of many European nations. Hundreds of migrants from war-torn countries in the Middle East and Africa have been trying to seek asylum in European nations. A year ago, Iraqi Kurdish refugees camped on the border of Belarus and Poland. The migrants had been lured from their countries by Belarus with the offer of European visas, and then forced to emigrate to Poland who refused to receive them. The refugees were then entrapped between the Polish border and a line of Belarusian troops.
Now, a year and a half later, a similar scenario is taking place along the 832-mile border between Russia and Finland. Just as we saw on the border of Belarus, migrants have become a political pawn in the power plays between countries. Finland believes that Russia is intentionally luring the African citizens with airline tickets and promises of a better life. Once the people have arrived, these refugees are then sent to the border with Finland to enter illegally. Finland believes Russia’s political strategy is to destabilize Finland, as migrants and refugees draw significantly on social services. As a result, over the past month, Finland has closed its entire land border with Russia, leaving only air and water travel options open. Earlier this week, Finland re-opened part of its border again; then fourty-eight hours later, closed it. Migrants are left once again to wait, without anywhere to turn except back into the hands of Russian smugglers or authorities, becoming imprisoned and worse.
In today's reading, the writer of Revelation imagines a time when oppression will end and there will be no reason to deprive people of their basic human rights. In such a time, we hear, oppressed people will hunger and thirst no more. Today’s music calls us to reflect on our own discipleship and to calculate what it would take to be able to provide a table for all in need.
As we wait for the one who changes everything to be born, how can we embody the always-expanding body of Christ in our own lives? How can we be challenged to build a longer table, and invite those in need in our own communities to join us?
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| Image by Geson Rathnow |
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LC† Come Holy Darkness is a project of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook, and on Twitter. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help to support extended offerings throughout the year.
Thank you and peace be with you!