What Wondrous Love is This 

We are in the Season of Lent when we ponder the path that Christ took to the Cross and ultimately to the Resurrection. We ponder the love that Christ displayed in his life, and the hope we have in Him.

The news all around us is tough to watch and hear. How can we be people who display the wondrous love of Jesus when our hearts are broken from personal and international crises? I am reminded again of how focusing on being a channel of peace myself can focus my attention and energy on things that I can change. We cannot singlehandedly stop the war in Ukraine or create peace in Sudan, but we can decide to get up in the morning and nurture peace within our hearts and within relationships with our families and friends and even acquaintances. That is what we are called to do.

Yes we can donate to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program at https://pda.pcusa.org, and yes we can pray for peace throughout the world. We needn’t be paralyzed but turn to our faith in times like these. The Psalms are a great place to help us to learn to lament. God wants us to cry out and not keep inside big feelings, but list them out to God. Know that you are not alone, reach out to me, a deacon, an elder or a friend if you ever need to talk.

Psalm 130 NRSV
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning,
More than those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
And with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.