PHOTO: Syria Under Government Crackdown, Elizabeth Arrott public domain Seek the Lord while he is still to be found, call to him while he is still near. Let the wicked man abandon his way, the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn back to the Lord who will take pity on him, to our God who is rich in forgiving.
Mid-morning reading (Terce) Isaiah 55:6-7 © Universalis
Yesterday while at work, I caught a bit of television coverage of the continuing massacre in Syria. The video was heart wrenching: bodies of children, of families, huddled in death against blood-stained living room walls. I offered a prayer as I entered our fitting rooms to clean them out. On the other side of our department, I again checked on fitting rooms. The television there broadcast a different channel. This one showed a young woman, ecstatic over her game show winnings. People were cheering and the game show host was pleasant as ever.
I couldn’t shake the disquieting feeling that the juxtaposed visuals stirred in my soul. I felt slightly ill for the remainder of my shift and even on the drive home, the images stayed in my mind. Massacres have happened throughout history, but in this era of instant communication, disturbing images are flashed into our living rooms (and department stores) all day long. Bombardment with the world’s horrors can numb us to their reality, mixed as they are with the mishmash of media offerings.
What can a person do? I prayed for the victims, for the perpetrators, for those in powerful positions, that they might intervene to stop this senseless terror. But my prayer seems small and ineffectual in the face of evil. The rest of the world seems to roll right along, as the game show reminded me. The feeling is a bit like the astonished disbelief I feel while driving in the funeral entourage of a loved one and noticing that people are going about their routines. How can that be, when the world has suffered the loss of my beloved?
In today’s gospel, Jesus casts out a demon and is accused of doing so by the power of evil. Here we find the well-known response:Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses.’ Jesus casts out evil with the power of God, of Good, of Compassion.
God’s presence alone can stop this unspeakable evil. How can we, can the leaders of the world, bring that Presence to bear? I don’t know. I write emails to government officials; I sign petitions. Today’s psalm from Terce reminds us that the Lord is still near, that God is rich in forgiving. So, I continue to offer my prayer, and try to bring that Presence to the people and places in my life. This seems futile, but today’s gospel ends with Jesus’ words: He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.
Perhaps enough small bits of Holy Compassion gathered together by people throughout the world will make a difference.
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