How do we sing the Lord's song in this strange land?

Over the last few weeks we have seen horrific events take place around the world. While we were transfixed as Oracle overwhelmed us, people in Kenya watched as terrorists attacked a shopping mall and brutally killed and maimed non-Muslims. In Iraq car bombs continue to kill Muslim men, women and children. And in Peshawar in Pakistan two suicide bombers blew themselves up in a crowd of worshippers at a church, killing 85 people. Amongst them was the children and mother of a colleague of mine. And the bombings continue with more dying each day in this struggling city. What are we to do in the face of such loss? How are we to respond?

Lamentations was written in such a time of huge despair, as was our Psalm. Jerusalem had fallen, again. This time the temple was destroyed. The symbol of God’s presence and of all hope, gone! The last of the leadership was hauled off into exile. All was lost! How were they to sing the Lord’s song in a new land? And in their despair they cried for vengeance on both the invaders and those who had helped them. We squirm with the gut human response. Our prayer book has left out the last two verses of the Psalm. How can we say “Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us! Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock!” But in Kenya, Iraq and Pakistan we can hear echoes of that call. It is real. Even if we wish for better, it is what we too often feel in these situations.

The Hebrew people came to understand these events as God’s judgement. But in hindsight other prophets would see the exile also as God’s blessing on both the people of God and the nations they lived among. They adapted and thrived, and when 50 years later the new Persian emperor gave permission to the exiles to return home, many chose to stay in that first diaspora. Even Lamentations (3:19-26) holds hints of this more positive view. Despite the evidence, God never left the people. They were never deserted and God’s love was and still is enduring. No matter how dark the events, God is there, and the faithful can meet each day with hope. All that is required in this dark place is ongoing loyalty and trust in God. We call this faith. But not a blind faith that God will keep everything safe and nice. A real faith that God is present whenever and whatever is happening. Sounds easy really. How much harder for the people of Kenya, Iraq and Pakistan. How is change possible?

Nor did the disciples did think it was easy. They asked for more faith. They almost demanded it. Jesus’ response perplexes us. How much is the faith of a mustard seed? Why would you want to order a sycamore tree into the sea? Are we really unworthy slaves? I suggest that Jesus is gently mocking them. You can’t measure faith. You are either loyal or not, you either trust or not, just like you are either pregnant or not. And anyway, why you do you think you deserve “more faith”? In reward for all you have done? As payment for your good works and high moral standing? Just as the people of God eventually were able to understand the calamity of the exile with fresh eyes, Jesus invites his disciples to see their world and what he was doing with fresh eyes. God is doing a new thing.

Today more than ever we need to not only sing our lamentation but hear the invitation to see the world with fresh eyes. Change is possible! God is doing new things, sowing seeds of hope. All we need is faith to see.