Lament for the Emptiness - April 6
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 51:1-18(19-20); PM Psalm 69:1-23, Lam. 1:1-2,6-12; 2 Cor. 1:1-7; Mark 11:12-25
Our Old Testament reading today comes from Lamentations. We hear of a lonely city that sits empty, once filled with people. There is weeping and no source of comfort. Those who once were trusted companions are now kept distant and are not to be trusted. Material wealth is meaningless. There is lament and longing for what came before the devastation and isolation. This ancient poem paints a very dark picture, as it hearkens back to the destruction of Jerusalem by foreign enemies.
I sit in a very different posture today, in modern-day America, when comparing my existence to those of the ancient Near East. This lament reminds me of the importance of mourning. It is healthy to put into words, images, or other expressions of what brings pain or sorrow. For me, yesterday was a beautiful Palm Sunday; the sermon was honest and spot-on; and, the music was stirring. As I heard the song “Give Me Jesus”, I was aware how much I miss Eucharist and the physical presence of YOU, the people of Saint Stephen’s. I felt sad to be away, so I played some mournful tunes on the drive home.
Lamentations provides an opportunity to hold up the people we long for, the things we miss, and the places that lay empty that we long to fill. Though this exercise is not easy, it can be a helpful process in emptying ourselves during Holy Week. By expressing the pain, we dump out some of the vestiges of our sin and regret, so that when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday, we will feel the joy of the risen Christ more deeply.
-- Katherine+
Questions for Reflection
What is it that you lament?
Psalm 51 calls us to confess and be vulnerable. What about this is hard for you?
Daily Challenge
The apostle Paul calls us to go to God for consolation in the midst of suffering. Pray that God will bring you consolation today, and then reach out to someone who is struggling to offer consolation to them.