Hope in Trying Times

Homily – Sunday, the 9th June 2024

Reading: Psalm 138

Every privilege comes with a responsibility. Every blessing comes with a natural commitment to pass it on. It is said not much life is possible in the dead sea not only because of its high salinity but also because fresh water seldom flows into the sea. It is a stagnant sea. The inflow and the outflow is very limited.

Imagine a situation when we only receive and do not let out. It floods. And if we do not receive and only give out- its depleted soon. There should always be a subtle balance for life to be meaningful.

Psalm 138 comes after Psalm 137 where the Psalmist is not able to sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land. By the rivers of Babylon is a lament- in the true sense of the word. However, Psalm 138 which immediately follows springs up a glimmer of hope. I give you thanks with my whole heart, David says and acknowledges that on the day I called out to you- you answered me. Even kings of the earth will praise you. The Psalmist then points out a few reasons of his hope amidst difficult times.

At one point of life or the other, all of us might have to go through tough situations in life. Psalm 138:6-9 gives us some interesting insights as to our faith that would strengthen us to face tough terrains in life.

The Caring God and Being Called to Care

In Verse 6 we read, “Though the Lord is on high, he cares for the lowly.”

Brokenness can be any person’s experience anytime and it is in moments of brokenness that we sometime have God encounters as never before. The affirmation of the Psalmist is that God cares for the lowly.

Who are the people who are considered lowly? At the outset we could think of several categories of people who have faced tough situations in life. This would include the people who were considered “Untouchables”, the people who were forced to be slaves, the serfs and peasants in feudal societies, the first people’s who were annihilated in the home spaces, the indebted servants, the prisoners, specially people who are in prison in alien lands, the homeless people, those who are considered paperless, the people of the boats, even refugees, migrant workers, asylum seekers, people forced into labor against their choice, the unemployed people.. the list can go on.

But brokenness can also be a very personal experience. People who suffer domestic violence, victims of war and violence, victims of abuse and atrocities, victims of cyber bullying, those trafficked, those humiliated and shamed. Life can turn very turbulent because of the circumstances people go through.

In such situations What do we mean by the phrase- the Lord cares?

How is care expressed and experienced in such contexts. Experiencing God’s care, we all called to care- to cry with. Who is the one who cares? The story of the good Samaritan has always been insightful in this regard.

• Someone who opts to see, to stop, to stay with
• Someone who listens and offers a hand or shoulder
• Someone who reaches out with help that is needed
• Someone who champions the cause of justice and transformation
• Someone who engages in creating safe spaces
• Someone who shows kindness and graceful respect

Today the simple message we need to take home is this. However hard our situations are- we have a God who cares and that would mean each one of us are called to care.

The Psalmist also reminds us that the Lord perceives the haughty or in other words the Lord keeps an eye on the proud. The marks of pride are self-dependency and self- sufficiency, insensitivity and arrogance in the presence of God. The proud never acknowledges their mistakes, always finds fault. Some of them are blinded to anything good but sees only the shortfalls in others.

Let us thank God for God’s care even in the toughest patches of life. The inner strength and resilience are provided by God for a purpose.

There was once a beautiful sculpture made of marble that was erected and it had a marble pathway. People used to walk the pathway, reach the sculpture and always went with a word of amazement and appreciation. The marble that was in the pathway one day complained to the sculptor that he was unfair to them. The sculptor smiled and said- You were all from the same batch of marble. But when I started using the chisel and the hammer on you- you broke down- you could not take that. The only difference why you are here trampled upon and on the other side they are adored is that they had better resilience. They withstood the pressure of being shaped and formed to what they are today.

The Protecting and Saving God and Being called to Protect and Save

David acknowledges the situation that he was in and shouts out his testimony- Though I walk in the midst of troubles, you keep me safe.

The assurance of someone to protect you when you walk through turbulent times and terrains is indeed a heartening one.

A researcher once went to a mountainous terrain in search of rare herbs and found a local family who could be of help. Going down the mountain was not easy but the son said My dad will hold one end of a rope and I will slide down and get you the plants. It was a risky task. Holding his breath the researcher saw the boy confidently doing his job and when he reached the top again, asked him- were you not afraid seeing the deep abyss below. He said, I knew that it was my father who was holding the hope and that I was safe.

It is worth asking at this point, What are the greatest challenges people live with today. We could say generally that it includes Poverty and Hunger, Climate Change, Health Crises, Inequality, Conflict and War, Displacement and Refugee crisis, Access to education and basic amnesties of life, Unemployment and Economic instability, Environmental degradation, Issues of Good governance, Emotional health issues and the list goes on. When we see all around the poster “Freiburg for ALL”, do we see its implications and the dangers they are trying to avert?

The Psalmist goes on to say- Your right hand shall save me from the fury of my adversaries. Who are the adversaries we face today? What are the manifestations of neo-colonial powers that result in newer forms of modern day slavery? What are the “adversities”/ adversaries people live with today? The list can include among others Economic and Social uncertainty, Mental Health Trauma, Terrorism and Extremism, Resource Depletion, Misinformation and Fake news, Cyber security threats, Social Media Influences, Corruption and Social injustice, Infectious and Fatal diseases

But Who is your greatest enemy? G K Chesterton once said, “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.” It is true that a person who has strong opinions would have enemies but holding grudge against people only harms oneself and never the other.

Are the enemies just “people”

Your enemy could be within you. It could take various manifestations including Fear, Self-Doubt, Procrastination, Anger, Envy, Guilt, Pessimism, Complaining, Greed, Complacency or even excessive pride. Your hamartia- the tragic flaw.

What does it mean when we say in that context that – God protects and God Saves

Whether adversity or adversary within or without- God is able to protect us and keep us safe. Never be rattled or worried when the going gets tough.

We are reminded that there are several people around us living in very unsafe situations. They sometimes cannot even express their vulnerability but chose to suffer in silence. How can we become a protecting community. How can we ensure living spaces are safe to people, especially the least, the lost and the vulnerable. It is our calling as Christians to be able to address this important question.

The Guiding and Loving God and the Call to help Navigate and Love

Through it all the Psalmist says to God- You make good your purposes for me. He is sure God has a purpose for his life and is working on him through each of these experiences.

The greatest lessons in life are not learned from textbooks or classrooms. They are learnt from life experiences. The lessons that wounds of the mind teach us make an indelible mark within us and is always intended to mold us for something good to come. The eagle when it builds it nest uses sharp objects as the base and when they think that the little ones are ready to fly there is something called the churning of the nest. The soft surfaces are moved and the sharp ones hit and the bird has to fly out. The wing of the mother is always there to hold until it can learn to flap its own wings and fly. The churning is always with a purpose.

It is therefore important to ask Have we realized God’s purposes for our lives?

Philipians 1:6 puts this idea beautifully- “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

God is still working on each one us- to mould us into the masterpieces he wants us to be. And through lives realities the Lord is guidng us and helping us navigate the pathways.

The rationale of these claims of the Psalmist is summarized in one beautiful statement, Your love endures for ever

Do you truly experience the LOVE of God in our lives.

In our prelude we sang

And Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

Once we truly experience it, we would always be able to say, God’s love is so wonderful, so wonderful love. So high, you cant get over it, So low, you cant get under it, So wide you cant get around it. So wonderful love.

We are also reminded that we are called to share this love of God. God’s love is made manifest through our lives. Others experience the love of God in our eyes and actions. It includes acts of service and kindness, offering forgiveness, encouragement and support, praying with and sharing their burdens, listening and being present. Our initiative “fragrance in freiburg” is intented to be sharing this Love of God to those who are pushed to the corners. I am so glad such a wonderful initiative is evolving around us.

While we sit back and gaze at the Love of God, we should also commit to Love our neighbours. The little you do to the least of these, you do it unto me, says the Lord.

Conclusion

We sing together our experience and our testimony

All my life You have been faithful

All my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

I will sing of the goodness of God

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me

With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now, I give You everything

Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.

Vinod Victor

09.06.2024