A Cry for Deliverance

Tuesday, May, 13, 2008 -- Week of Proper 1

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 967)
Psalms [120], 121, 122, 123 (morning) 124, 125, 126, [127] (evening)
Ezekiel 33:21-33
1 John 2:1-11
Matthew 9:35 - 10:4

We begin in Psalm 120 with the cry for deliverance "from lying lips and from the deceitful tongue. [From] the sharpened arrows of a warrior, along with hot glowing coals." (One wonders if this last is a reference to a form of torture.) The psalmist feels surrounded by enemies, Meshech (in the north) and Kedar (in the south). "Too long have I had to live among the enemies of peace. I am on the side of peace, but when I speak of it, they are for war."

I'm still trying to process the recent PBS "Frontline" documentary "Bush's War," a factual inquiry into the story of how our nation was led into war against Iraq. Using exaggerated fear as a weapon of persuasion, lying lips and deceitful tongues drowned out every word of peace. Our leaders sharpened their arrows and hot gloing coals, aimed toward a pitiful nation that was thoroughly contained and deterred. Our leaders could speak only of war.

I'm also trying to process the stories now emerging about the calculated process orchestrated by our own White House to ignore Geneva Conventions and the advice of our military in order to attempt legal rationalization for torture. Some are saying we have perpetrated war crimes.

In those crucial early days so many voices called out for restraint. We could have used the moral credit we earned through the world's outpouring of sympathy following the attacks of September 11 to forge a universal response of compassion and healing. We could have called together the world for a plan to reach out to heal the suffering of the marginalized and poor. We could have given power and voice to moderate expression of all religion and government in the wake of the world's horror at the spectacle of what militant extremism can lead to. Instead, we became militant to the extreme.

In the reading from Ezekiel the prophet hears the word of the Lord that his warnings of dire consequences will be ignored by those who "hear your words, but they will not obey them. For flattery is on their lips, but their heart is set on their gain." They listen to Ezekiel, the prophet-sentinel, in the same condescending way they listen to love songs. Elevator music. "They hear what you say, but they will not do it."

So when virtually every national and international religious body spoke out in opposition to the Bush plans for war (with the notable exception of the Southern Baptists), when so many prophet-sentinels warned of dire consequences, this proud group ignored all words but their own. And what suffering and catastrophe they have wrought.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come? My help comes from God, the maker of heaven and earth." How beautifully Psalm 121 gives hope to the anguish of Psalm 120. Then a new vision of harmony at the center of the conflict comes to us in Psalm 122. "Jerusalem is built as a city that is at unity with itself." Can we imagine Washington as a city that is at unity with itself? Grounded. Centered. "Peace be within your walls and quietness within your towers."

Psalm 123 completes the thought. Again we redirect our gaze: "To you I lift up my eyes... as they eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Holy One our God, until God shows us mercy.

"Have mercy upon us, O God, have mercy, for we have had more than enough of contempt, Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, and of the derision of the proud."

Amen.

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
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The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas