Monday Reflection- Restoration Time!

Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old.  Lamentations 5:21

As I prepare this reflection, the terrifying recent days in our beloved country of Jamaica cannot escape me. The many gruesome acts of violence, robberies, and murders have become wearisome. The news is not easy to hear and watch, sometimes even unbearable. I could not withhold the tears when I reflected on the news that this man in Manchester allegedly hacked his eight month old son to death and inflicted serious chop wounds to the child’s mother. I had to ask, ‘Lord, what’s next?”

Sadly, while rage, anger and cruelty have taken over, many of us remain comfortable behind our fortified fences at home and the hallowed walls of our sanctuaries. Many have become immune to what is taking place and some are neutral regarding the sad affairs of our land. So many are silent and unaffected, while some are paralyzed by fear. Where is the voice of God’s prophets and prophetesses? Where are the pastors and priests? Where are God’s ambassadors who ought to be positively impacting lives, leading to transformation of people and country?

As Jeremiah lamented the tragedies of his day, he prays in today’s Watchword that God may restore his people to himself. Only then can we truly be restored and renewed. The time has come to seek God anew. We need restoration from God, both individually and as a people. I prefer the New Kings James Version rendering of this verse – “Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored; renew our days as of old.” The restoration and transformation that we need must begin with each of us submitting ourselves to the lordship of God and committing to demonstrate his love wherever we go. Lord, let it start in me and with me.

Yet we must also transform our beautiful sanctuaries into community centres where people find refuge and guidance. A place where we have peace building, mediation and dispute resolution workshops for the community. A place where guns are surrendered and people go off to worthwhile employment. A place where we move out into community listening, caring and empowering persons. People must know there is a better way to life than this.

We join in prayer with St. Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.