Tuesday 22 September 2015

Psalm: Psalm 94:14-13

Background

In the book 'Meeting Jesus in Mark' by Marcus J Borg (London,SPCK, 2011), he explains stories in Scripture as "memories withmeaning". It is painful and challenging to consider what memorythis passage in Genesis is recalling, and what meaning is beinggiven to it. Perhaps this is what the writers of Genesis are doinghere. There is some ancient memory of a calamity, and an attempt toinquire as to what it might mean. We know all too well of bothnatural and human-made disaster, of the random suffering,inexplicable injustice and pain that constitute the regular diet ofnewspapers and broadcasts. However, we are less likely to reflectupon such memories as having anything to do with God - it feelsunbearable to bring God into the pain in any way. But maybe that iswhere God chooses to be? What if God is God? What if God isSovereign of all? What if God is ultimately responsible for theworld? If so it means that God is responsible for ISIS, massshootings, plane crashes, child abuse, rape and murder! To beresponsible isn't, of course, the same as, 'to blame'. But maybeGod chooses to accept the consequences of the way the world ismade. The writers of Genesis give meaning to this ancient memory ofdisaster in the language of justice and grace; the destruction ofso many people, innocent or not, is simply part of the moral fabricof the universe and a holy God. I doubt we would make sense of suchmemory in a similar manner now. However as the sulphur and firerain down, we might still want to ask 'But where is God in allthis?'. More often than not such answers are almost too quiet tohear - but yet God silently takes responsibility (Isaiah53:7) and whether we want to or not God has chosen to be 'inthe pain'.

To Ponder

• Reflect in the presence of the crucified God today's stories oryesterday's memories. Where can you hear the quiet voice, the stillpresence, the ever-present God?