Lion and Lamb

Rachel is weeping for her children, 14th century fresco from Marko's Monastery.

It has been a very difficult week for our nation as many of us cannot get the recent shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida out of our minds. I have been around long enough to know there will always be pain and suffering in the world, but my heart continues to break for these students, these families, and these communities. One photograph from the day will always haunt me. It shows a grief stricken mother wailing with the Ash Wednesday cross from a morning service still on her forehead. I keep coming back to the prophet Jeremiah, “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more” (Jeremiah 31:15, NRSV.)

I am further disheartened by our nation’s inability to talk openly and honestly about these all too frequent events. It feels like many immediately slide into their “talking point” camps and completely dismiss the earnest opinions of any who disagree. We have devolved into a troubling and rigid dichotomy. One is either with us or against us, and there is no room for dialogue in the wide center. You are either a hawk or a dove, a lion or a lamb, a predator or prey. Presbyterians are known as people of the middle way, and I believe if we are intentional and civil, there is still hope for us and the world.

It is said March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. This might be true in many places, but we all know Missouri weather is far too unpredictable to make absolute statements about what to expect. However, there is a parallel here as we get further into our Lenten journey. Consider Jesus’ movement during Holy Week. He enters Jerusalem triumphantly like a lion on Palm Sunday and leaves like a lamb on the cross on Good Friday. Jesus is both lion and lamb as he exhibits both power and sacrifice. “What wondrous love is this!”

We worship a God of justice and grace. Let us continue to contemplate this truth as we continue our journey to the cross and hope for resurrection.

In Hope and Confidence,
Pastor Dave

Read the Gospels in 40 Days: Matthew 7-9