Devotional Messages

Sometimes when it’s been a long week, I turn to my archives to find a devotional message for you instead of writing a new one.  Today I thought, “I wonder how we were approaching the first Pentecost of the pandemic?  I’ll go look at the one from Pentecost 2020.”  Instead, I found the following reflection, which reminded me (again) that this week is the three-year anniversary of the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis.  Closer to home, in the aftermath of Floyd’s death and an incident of police misconduct here in La Mesa, our community experienced the trauma of a protest and police response that spiraled out of control that same weekend in 2020.  By morning, three buildings were ashes, many others damaged, and a woman was in the hospital having lost an eye to a bean bag projectile.  This reflection was written before all that took place.  But the question remains:  How long?  How long will division and violence call the shots?  How many more times will we be tempted to turn away from trauma, instead of addressing it as our faith calls us to?  Let us place our trust in our God, who is doing astonishing things, and continue to cry out for healing.

Habakkuk 1:2-5 – O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen?  Or cry to you, “Violence!” and you will not save?  Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble?  Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.  So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous—therefore judgment comes forth perverted.  Look at the nations, and see!  Be astonished!  Be astounded! For a work is being done in your days that you would not believe if you were told.  (NRSV)

How long?  How long will we continue seeing black and brown men and women brutalized by law enforcement officers?  How long does the list of hashtagged names have to grow before we will say Enough?  How long will it take before those who can’t believe this is happening in our nation will be able to face the truth about the violence being perpetrated on our neighbors?  In Georgia, in Louisville, in Minneapolis, and even in La Mesa, those with power and authority continue to desecrate the image of God within people of color.

The church, like the prophet Habakkuk, cannot remain silent.  When judgment is perverted and the law becomes lawless, we must cry out.  When children of God are demeaned, assaulted, and killed, we must cry out.  When the systems of power within our nation continually offer protection to some, and violence and death to others, the church must cry out.  When those who are hurting are crying out to God, “How long?” we must join our cries with theirs, till justice and righteousness flow down like a mighty stream.

When our hearts are troubled because of the wrongdoing and violence before us, we must not turn away, hoping to feel better by focusing on something else.  Instead, with the prophet, we are called to cry out, to God, to those with authority, to everyone who will listen, to ensure that the righteous are not overcome by the wicked, to demand that judgment no longer be perverted by prejudice and hatred.

We may never get an answer.  But faithfulness calls us to persist in crying out against violence and injustice, as long as we have breath.

Collect for the Week:  God of Mercy, whose image is reflected in every one of your children, grant that our hearts might be made strong with your courageous compassion, that we might join in the struggle for justice and peace.  Through Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit we pray, Amen.