Hope in Tragedy
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 -- Week of 3 Lent
James Theodore Holly, Bishop of Haiti, and of the Dominican Republic, 1911
Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 955)
Psalms 78:1-39 (morning) 78:40-72 (evening)
Genesis 45:1-15
1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Mark 6:1-13
[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html for an online version of the Daily Office including today's scripture readings.]
"I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life."
From time to time I meet people who share stories of great loss and tragedy which has turned into blessing.
What Joseph's brothers did to him was horrible. To sell your own brother into slavery is unspeakable. Joseph suffered enormously. It would be hard to overestimate the grief and misery he endured. And yet, with the very present help of God and his own perseverance, the evil that was done to him became the catalyst for an unimaginable good. By the time he is reunited with his brothers, not only is forgiveness possible, but he can be grateful for the evil circumstance that produced such blessing. It is the means for his family's survival from famine.
I've heard that Joseph story over and over from other people. Our congregation heard a similar story when Paula D'Arcy visited us and shared her journey from death to life, from darkness to light. In her twenties an automobile accident took the life of her husband and her child, leaving her injured physically and spiritually. She was also pregnant. Through the struggle of depression and survival she experienced the reality of God in such a profound way that she looks back at that accident today and would not change history if she could. That humbles and amazes me.
I've known people who have lost relationships, jobs and dreams only to find that their loss became the means for an experience of freedom that opened a door to unimagined new possibilities.
I've also met people whose circumstances have broken them. Sometimes we experience loss so profound that its wounds will not heal. Some people will carry lifelong bitterness and resentment.
What is the difference? I want to take care not to be facile here, for some tragedies can break us, and none of us can judge another's story. But the great difference seems to be a courageous kernel of hope combined with the felt experience of God. Theologian Paul Tillich had a famous sermon titled "The Courage to Be." The combination of trust in God and courageous hope can produce miracles.
God spare us from great tragedy. "Save us from the time of trial," we pray in the contemporary version of the Lord's Prayer. But should we face such a time, grant us hope to trust enough in God's present help that we may experience a Joseph-like resurrection.
James Theodore Holly, Bishop of Haiti, and of the Dominican Republic, 1911
Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 955)
Psalms 78:1-39 (morning) 78:40-72 (evening)
Genesis 45:1-15
1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Mark 6:1-13
[Go to http://www.missionstclare.com/english/index.html for an online version of the Daily Office including today's scripture readings.]
"I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life."
From time to time I meet people who share stories of great loss and tragedy which has turned into blessing.
What Joseph's brothers did to him was horrible. To sell your own brother into slavery is unspeakable. Joseph suffered enormously. It would be hard to overestimate the grief and misery he endured. And yet, with the very present help of God and his own perseverance, the evil that was done to him became the catalyst for an unimaginable good. By the time he is reunited with his brothers, not only is forgiveness possible, but he can be grateful for the evil circumstance that produced such blessing. It is the means for his family's survival from famine.
I've heard that Joseph story over and over from other people. Our congregation heard a similar story when Paula D'Arcy visited us and shared her journey from death to life, from darkness to light. In her twenties an automobile accident took the life of her husband and her child, leaving her injured physically and spiritually. She was also pregnant. Through the struggle of depression and survival she experienced the reality of God in such a profound way that she looks back at that accident today and would not change history if she could. That humbles and amazes me.
I've known people who have lost relationships, jobs and dreams only to find that their loss became the means for an experience of freedom that opened a door to unimagined new possibilities.
I've also met people whose circumstances have broken them. Sometimes we experience loss so profound that its wounds will not heal. Some people will carry lifelong bitterness and resentment.
What is the difference? I want to take care not to be facile here, for some tragedies can break us, and none of us can judge another's story. But the great difference seems to be a courageous kernel of hope combined with the felt experience of God. Theologian Paul Tillich had a famous sermon titled "The Courage to Be." The combination of trust in God and courageous hope can produce miracles.
God spare us from great tragedy. "Save us from the time of trial," we pray in the contemporary version of the Lord's Prayer. But should we face such a time, grant us hope to trust enough in God's present help that we may experience a Joseph-like resurrection.
Lowell
| Audio podcast: Listen to an audio podcast of the most recent Morning Reflections from today and the past week. Click the following link: -- Morning Reflection Podcasts 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 missionstclare.com -- Click for online Daily Office Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html -- Click for Divine Hours |
| The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love. See 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 |
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