Scripture
Jeremiah 29: 10 – 13
10For thus says the LORD: Only when Babylon’s seventy years are completed will I visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart,
Reflection
I wonder how often these days do we find ourselves struggling because of what is happening in the world. Let’s be honest here there is so much, it all feels so big, how do we even begin. I know that this is where I find myself on many days and because of the vastness of the challenges we face, I can become paralyzed. I don’t know where to begin. The scripture I decided to use today is a part of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to those who had been taken into exile in Babylon. They had been taken away from their lives, their families, what they had considered to be normal, and brought to a place the was strange and different and unknown. That sounds quite a bit like what we are dealing with in our lives today. Yes, they were physically taken into exile not knowing what to do in response, but many of the feelings might be the same. But then Jeremiah goes on to speak to the fact that God hears the prayers of those who were in exile, “Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.” It is the assurance of God’s presence, God hearing of our prayers, God’s love and concern for us.
But this brings up two questions for me. How is one to pray at times like these? What does one pray for at times like these? I have been asked these questions often and the last time was just the other day. How is one to pray? I think that the answer to this is as vast and varied as there are believers in the world. Some people feel that in order to pray there needs to be formal words that are spoken, opening with a call to God, then a prayer of thanksgiving for the good that God has done, followed by requests for God’s intervention on one’s behalf. For many others prayer is more like a conversation between the individual and God. Yet for others, such as myself, prayer is ongoing throughout the day, an internal conversation with God, which can sometimes be vocalized in a single word, such as “why,” or “really?” I truly believe that how one prays is less important than the fact that one does pray. But what do we pray for at this time?
There is so much going on in the world right now. Our world has changed drastically in the last couple of years, in some ways it almost seems like we are going backwards, with rights being eroded and more communities facing marginalization. We have an earth that is struggling and it seems as if environmental protections are being dismantled. We have wars breaking out without a clear end in sight, we have humanitarian crisis around the world and it seems as if it doesn’t warrant a mention on the evening news. We have so much poverty and struggle in our own communities. What does one pray for today? I watch protests against all that is happening and yet it seems to make little difference as those in power continue to pursue some agenda that seems to be out of sight. It all just sometimes seems so overwhelming. But if I go back to Jeremiah and I listen to the prophet as he assures those who find themselves in exile that they are not alone, that God is with them, that God hears them, I think that I might just know how to pray today. I will pray that we will each feel God’s quiet, loving, supportive presence in our lives today and I will ask for God’s continues presence in the lives of all people, offering that loving, supportive presence no matter what they are facing in their lives today. That is my prayer for each and every one of you at this time.
Prayer
God of exile people, we come before you today with so much on our hearts and our minds. There has been so much that has happened in our world and it truly can be overwhelming to even think about, but I also know that you know what is in my heart. So I ask today for your continued presence with all of us as we navigate these new and challenging times. I ask for your gentle, loving presence with those who are suffering, those who are ill, those who mourn and grieve today. I ask all of this knowing that when I call upon you, you hear me. Amen.
Peace and blessings,
Rev. Patrick Woodbeck
Minister
Grey Street United/ Bird’s Hill United/ The Big Red Church (Gordon-King Memorial United)