Too much here. I am avoiding the temptation to keep us here all day!
But let’s start with the reading from the Prophet Hosea. There is some problematic language here. What is being talked about here is the covenant relationship between God and Israel, in this case, the Northern kingdom, when there was Israel the Northern kingdom, and Judah, the southern kingdom. The people of the Northern kingdom had broken the covenant with God, and turned to worship of Baal, and other deities. The widows and orphans and the poor were not being taken care of. There was a lack of justice for people. Everything here in this reading is a symbol and metaphor – the name of Hosea’s wife, the names of the children, all metaphor for describing the situation, and the punishment God had for Israel. All very prophetic. The way that the gendered language here is used though has been the cause of Scripture being used as a weapon to harm women, and justify bad theology and terrible treatment of women and girls. Using this piece of Scripture or any piece of Scripture to justify sexism, misogyny, patriarchal treatment of women, or really any harm done in the name of God – is wrong.
But broken relationship, what this part of Hosea is about, what can be done with that? We see broken relationships all around us. Individually, communally, nation to nation, in the church, interfaith….. there are sadly too many examples. When I consider it, it becomes overwhelming – and I do not have any magic answers, or smart quips or clever one liners – I have sadness, and even despair, contemplating the depth and reach of broken relationships. So, to avoid the depths of despair, let us first turn to the words of the Psalm, like a balm of healing for despair.
“Will you not give us life again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your mercy, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, for God is speaking peace….. to those who are faithful and who turn their hearts to God.” And when are we most likely to consider being faithful, and to want to turn our hearts to God – when times are tough, and difficult, and we are threatened with the pit of despair in front of us. And this is not manipulative, this speaks to the human condition. We are motivated by real life and what is happening. We are on the edge of that pit of despair – do we fall in? Do we turn around? Do we freeze? So, again, starting with those words from the psalmist, we breathe, and breathe deeply, and consider. What is faith? What does it mean to turn our hearts to God? As Paul very astutely points out, there are many attractive schools of thought, and philosophies of the world – and he warns us. Be careful not to be taken in – so here I Would say – do not be tempted to use Scripture as a weapon to harm anyone. Do not be tempted to use theology and philosophy as justification to cause harm, and destruction and death. Do not be tempted to think more highly of yourself and put your needs above God – and maybe I am trying to remind myself here more than anything, because it is a constant temptation to justify everything.
So, the answer to all of this, I think, is prayer. And Jesus gives us this in today’s reading from Luke. It is not an answer to all our questions, and solves all our problems, but it is the groundwork and substance for relationship with God. The Lord’s prayer as it has come to be known to us, is possibly the most important and defining Christian prayer that we have. I would say it is a powerful and even dangerous prayer. We should pray it often, and regularly. It gives us hope and simultaneously holds us to account for our relationship with God, and the world, remembering that the world is God’s, and all that is in it, and everything is to be taken care of with love, grace, mercy, and hope.
“When God’s name is hallowed and God’s kingdom comes, there is daily bread for all, forgiveness is practiced, and God delivers the faithful from the time of trial” – David Lose
“This simple prayer “calls us away from our individualistic notions of God’s provision and places us right in the midst of God’s self giving love.” -Roy M Terry IV
“When you live the Lord’s Prayer, it becomes more than words that you say. It is the choices you make, the grace you show, the forgiveness you give, and the bread you share.” – Robb McCoy, Lutheran Pastor
In this prayer, as Russell Rathburn talks about, like the disciples I think we seek and find a pattern for our Spiritual Discipline, but also are drawn into seeking the unpredictable, unquantifiable movement of the Holy Spirit.”
Richard Leggett, my liturgy professor in seminary, told the story of leading a retreat, his first, on the Lord’s Prayer. All of the clergy of his diocese were present, including the Bishop. He started the retreat, and went over the first couple of lines of the Lord’s prayer and his bishop suddenly stood up, did an about face, and walked out of the room. He managed to maintain his composure, and finish that first session, and then with a bit of fear and trepidation, went in search of his Bishop. He found him, and was able to ask if he had done something wrong, or made a mistake or otherwise offended – but the Bishop reassuringly responded, absolutely not, it was just the first two lines of the Lord’s prayer were enough for him to go and consider, contemplate and think and pray deeply about – that was all he needed. The prayer is so powerful, that even a small portion of it is enough to draw us deeply into our faith and spirituality.
When I was working in parishes in the Victoria, in the Diocese of BC, I was on-call with the hospital, and would be parachuted in to situations, not knowing completely what I was walking in to. Responding to one call, I went to see a man, who had been in distress, and had been dealing with some significant mental health challenges, but he had asked to see a priest, because he had been beset by the devil and or demons. He told how he only remembered a little bit of the Lord’s prayer, and that had been enough to save him, but he wanted to learn the whole thing. So we got him a printed copy of it, so that he could learn the prayer, and continue to pray it whenever he felt he needed to. A powerful prayer that helps in times of distress.
At a clergy retreat in the Diocese of BC, I learned the story of an American Amish community that suffered a mass shooting, and this was quite a number of years ago, before the internet is what it is now. But even still , the news crews were on scene and pointing cameras and microphones in the faces of community members, who had just experienced this horrific event. It had been the school house that was shot up, and children had died. One of the community leaders though, surprisingly and shockingly made the statement that they wanted to family of the shooter to know that they were praying for them, and that they forgave the shooter. The News reporter asked who this was possible, and the leader responded that they start every day praying the Lord’s prayer, and they pray it multiple time throughout the day. And then they end every day praying the Lord’s prayer together, as a community. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. A powerful, powerful prayer.
God responds to our prayers.
But there is a challenge as well. At the end of the reading in Luke, we are given the words – knock and the door shall be opened, ask and it shall be given to you. So this begs the question – what about unanswered prayer? In the face of disease, disaster, violence – where is God? Why doesn’t God answer the prayers of those faithful who are sick, or injured, or die? It is not due to a lack of faith. It is not because anyone deserved anything that happened to them – that is just terrible theology by the way. Its not because it is “all part of God’s plan” – that is also terrible theology. “Unanswered prayer, in light of these verses, creates a huge crisis of faith.” David Lose. I don’t have any good answers to offer you. So here we find ourselves on the precipice of the pit of despair again.
So we turn to community, we turn to prayer, we turn to Scripture. For comfort, for support, for hope. For our siblings and sisters and brothers in Syria, Congo, Sudan, China, Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Israel, here at home, and everywhere and in all places where there is suffering, and where prayers go unanswered. We pray for them, we pray with them. Our Father, who art in heaven….
Angus Sinclair was appointed Director of Music of St. John the Evangelist on February 1, 2023. Having graduated in 1981 (Honours B.Mus.) in organ performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went on to distinguish himself as a church musician, recitalist and accompanist touring in both Canada and the UK. For over 40 years Angus has served parishes and congregations throughout Southwestern Ontario as director of music. He experiences his present appointment to St. John’s as a welcome homecoming, both spiritually and musically.
As our parish musician, he provides both support and leadership so that a variety of parish programs can find musical expression and attract participation. When our handbell choir is in season, he is one of our ringers. At parish dinners, he provides popular piano music for the guests to dine by. For both worship services and concerts, he will rehearse and accompany vocal and instrumental soloists from our congregation on piano, organ, or even accordion.
Angus Sinclair was appointed Director of Music of St. John the Evangelist on February 1, 2023. Having graduated in 1981 (Honours B.Mus.) in organ performance from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went on to distinguish himself as a church musician, recitalist and accompanist touring in both Canada and the UK. For over 40 years Angus has served parishes and congregations throughout Southwestern Ontario as director of music. He experiences his present appointment to St. John’s as a welcome homecoming, both spiritually and musically.