4th Direction Point: Pray and Practice
Closing reflection –
As understood in this narrative from another time, place and culture, God appears to be very human in response (overwhelming disappointment and grief) and reaction (total and senseless destruction of the entire creation save a few). Is this the same transcendent, more distant and patient God we may envision? When we find ourselves in God’s shoes from time to time, how do we constructively set limits and healthy boundaries? How might those times--when we must “punish” others or exact retribution--have embodied within them hints of mercy and grace? How many times should we be expected to “start over?” While there may be no clean answers to such questions, God’s plan for redeeming humanity continues to evolve and unfold over time as s/he constantly shifts strategy in order to address a new way humans have of confounding the relationship. It is perhaps not until the advent of the Son that God finally gets it right.
Prayer –
Lord God, we praise you for being a God that seems always willing to start over with us yet again and give us another chance to get it right. Your patience with us is unending even though you judge us accordingly. We confess we are often stubborn-headed and will do anything to have our own way. We confess we often hurt each other in order to be “right” at any cost. Forgive us yet again we pray. We thank you that you bear with us even when we do such harm to you and to each other, that you have provided a way out of evil in your Son Jesus Christ. Help us to follow his light more than our own darkness. May your justice be harsh enough for us to learn the lessons we need and to repent of our sin and may your mercy--that shown by you in the incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection—always be the final word. Alleluia. Amen.