Saturday 24 June 2023

Psalm 80:1-7

Background

Today's psalm reading is relevant to many people I come across in my work and is particularly relevant in World Refugee Week.

Here is a story based on real experiences reported by Venezuelans. Imagine you are Paola, a young woman living in Venezuela. You have a five-year-old child. Inflation in your country is very high and your street-food vending business just does not generate enough income for your family. Your husband is not well at the moment and unable to work. You have no money to seek private medical care. The public health system has collapsed – you have to purchase and bring in all your own medical supplies for medical personnel to use.  

You pray about your situation and call out to God for help. “…Stir up your might, and come to save us!” (Psalm 80:2) You have heard that other Venezuelans are finding work in neighbouring Colombia in the holiday town of Santa Marta and you manage to scrape together some money from friends and neighbours to buy a bus ticket. You decide that you have no choice but to leave with your young child and make your way there to find work. Your heart aches as you say goodbye to your husband and reassure him of your return. Yet you yourself wonder and ask the Lord: “…how long will you be angry with your people's prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure…You make us the scorn of our neighbours; our enemies laugh among themselves” (Psalm 80:4-6).

You have heard that some communities in Colombia are no longer welcoming Venezuelans as warmly as before, so you are frightened and apprehensive. You get to the bus terminal in Santa Marta, and find out who is helping Venezuelan migrants in the town. You find out that there are Methodist Christians offering employment and accommodation advice, English and guitar classes to Venezuelan children. Your heart lifts and you dare to hope.“ Will we be OK?” you wonder. 

You meet the Methodist pastor, Pastor Elsy, who welcomes you warmly and tells you about all that the church is doing in Santa Marta to support Venezuelans migrants. She invites you to the local Methodist church to find fellowship and support. You begin to place your hope in God’s goodness again, you dare to dream of better days and say to God: “Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved” (Psalm 80:7). 

[The Colombian Methodist Church runs several projects across the country that support Venezuelan migrant communities, including this project in Santa Marta.]

To Ponder: 

• What hope are our local churches offering to those who feel lost, rejected and hopeless? 
• In what ways can we be intentional in offering Christ as the restorer and saviour of those who feel marginalised?  
• What can we learn from our Partner Churches overseas in how we welcome the stranger?