You know this line from Psalm 23 which in the old version
went something like, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death,”? That line has been running around in my head lately. “Yea though I
walk- Yea though WE walk- yeah, here we walk in this valley of the shadow of
death…” Death is everywhere this week. Actually, it’ everywhere, every week.
But we are privileged enough to not to have to deal with it as regularly as
we’ve had to this last week. I don’t have to rehearse the list for you but some
include the Boston Marathon bombing, the fertilizer plant explosion in west
Texas. Then there was the earthquake in Iran and the one in the Sichuan
province in China. Also, the human death by gun violence in the US since the
December 14 Newtown, CT school shootings climbed to 3,530[i]
and in the month of April around 220 people have been killed in Afghanistan,
many of whom were civilians. [ii]
So, here we are in the valley of the shadow of death. The
valley includes individuals in our community battling physical and mental
illness, families struggling with deeply-rooted anger and hurt, friends
separated by mistrust, communities disrupted by simple lack of communication,
conflict in working relationships, dire lack of basic needs, abuse, neglect,
homelessness, joblessness, grief, fear.
And this valley includes the massive flooding in Ionia and
Grand Rapids and around Michigan, the rising smog levels especially in Eaton
and Ionia counties which leads to higher rates of asthma especially in children
not to mention increases the impacts of global climate change[iii]
and the fact that still CLEAN water gets harder and harder to find in some
parts of the world while other parts are inundated with too much or severely
polluted water.
And so, here we are in the valley of the shadow of death.
The shadow stretches across our homes and families, our church and community, our
work and our play, our country, our world. The shadow sometimes closes so
tightly around us that we cannot see our hands in front of our faces. It
sometimes lies so heavily that it constricts our breathing. It sometimes is so
thick that it causes us to panic.
In the valley of the shadow of death, fear seems to be a
reasonable reaction. Evil seems to have the upper hand. In the valley of the
shadow of death, all the green pastures and the still waters in the world seem
to evaporate and leave nothing but more shadow, more despair, more pain.
And that is when it seems the shadow of death is winning.
When we turn to hateful vengeance, death is winning. When we give up hope,
death is winning. When we ignore the pain of the world around us, death is
winning. When we hoard the love and grace, or the money and resources we have
been given, death is winning. When we give up because the work of one person or
one community can’t possibly make a difference, death is winning. When we feel
entirely alone, death is winning.
……….
I recently joined twitter which is one of these social media
programs in which you can express yourself but in 140 characters or less. It is
a wonderful timewaster, but it is also a great way to be connected to
organizations. In fact I joined so that I could follow the Human Rights
Campaign’s coverage of the Supreme Court hearings a few weeks back on marriage
equality. In very quick and easy spurts I could follow the updates and be
directed to more lengthy articles if I wanted to.
This week twitter was a flurry of activity from Boston to
Texas to Washington DC, to weather updates from across the upper-Midwest. I
couldn’t keep up. But for as much of an information overload as it was, I was
struck by the goodness that came out too. And this is true not just on twitter
but on facebook and the news. Stories of courageous men and women helping out
in the aftermath of the bombs. Stories of the medical professionals, the EMTs,
the Fire and police departments working overtime to restore reason and safety
in the middle of chaos. People across the country were praying for victims and
families and the really forgiving were even praying for the bombers. President
Obama said in his part of the interfaith prayer service, “You showed us,
Boston, that in the face of evil, Americans will lift up what’s good. In the
face of cruelty, we will choose compassion. In the face of those who would
visit death upon innocents, we will choose to save and to comfort and to heal.
We’ll choose friendship. We’ll choose love.”[iv]
Of course he has to say that. It’s his job to build us up in
the middle of tragedy. But as people of faith we know that our trust is not in
a president or a country, no matter how great, nor is it in the goodness of
humanity in the face of tragedy. The truth is all of that fades away.
Our trust is with the One who walks with us in the valley of
the shadow of death. Our trust is in the One who restores the waters to stillness
and creates the green pastures. Our trust is in the One went down, for three
days, into the valley of the shadow of death for us and emerged on the other
side, ALIVE.
The Lord is OUR shepherd, the shepherd of the nations,
Revelation tells us, the shepherd of the world. He is with us in tribulation –
he is with ALL in tribulation. In him we have the promise of food and water for
all. In him our tears are wiped away. In him the earth is restored from
scorching sun and drought-weary land.
…………
On this 4th Sunday of Easter, this Earth Day,
this day that the Lord has made, I want to invite us into a time of prayer for
healing. You’re welcome to pray for healing for yourself or others, for the
earth generally or specific natural needs, for whatever it is that weighs on
your heart and needs the attention of the Lord.
You’ll be invited to come forward to be anointed, like Psalm
23 says, and for prayer and laying on of hands.
HEALING
Introduction
P: Our Lord Jesus healed many as a sign of the reign of God
come near and sent the disciples to continue this work of healing – with
prayer, the laying on of hands, and anointing. In the name of Christ, the great
healer and reconciler of the world, we now entrust to God all who are in need
of healing.
Prayer
P: Living God, through the laying on of hands [and
anointing], grant comfort in suffering to all who are in need of healing. When
they are afraid, give them courage; when afflicted, give them patience; when
dejected, give them hope; and when alone, assure them of the support of your
holy people.
Creating God, hear our prayers of healing for the earth and
all your good creation. Where there is brokenness, give repair; where there is
pollution, give purity; where there is exploitation, give honor; where there is
indifference, give care. May we cherish
the earth, our home, and live in harmony with all your holy ones.
Eternal God, amid the turmoil and changes of the world your
love is steadfast and your strength never fails. Hear our prayers for this and
every nation. Where there is danger, be our guardian; where there is trouble,
be our rock of defense; where there is distress, give comfort; where there is
war, give peace. Guide our leaders with your wisdom and grant us courage and
hope to face the future.
Gather our many prayers into one, Gracious God, through
Christ our Lord.
All: Amen
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