Thank you, Pastor--this is very helpful for me, for my congregation, and (particularly now) for our nation and our world. But please remember also that prayers of lamentation are found in many religious traditions, particularly, as you say, in the Psalms--originally a songbook of Hebrew/Jewish (not Christian) poetry. Discerning the presence of Christ in the midst of the psalms of lamentation, however (as Bonhoeffer and others wrote) can be a vital spiritual key to the blessed assurance of God amidst the pain, complaint, chaos, violence, and injustice(s) of our world, And this is what we Christians can bring to the table. But lamentation itself continues to be practiced (perhaps with much more conscious awareness and regularity) by Jews, Muslims, and other people of faith. And we have as much to learn from each other, as we continue to witness to Christ, both crucified and risen. Blessings to you, and thank you for your very pastoral presentation to all of us!
Thank you
Thank you, Pastor--this is very helpful for me, for my congregation, and (particularly now) for our nation and our world. But please remember also that prayers of lamentation are found in many religious traditions, particularly, as you say, in the Psalms--originally a songbook of Hebrew/Jewish (not Christian) poetry. Discerning the presence of Christ in the midst of the psalms of lamentation, however (as Bonhoeffer and others wrote) can be a vital spiritual key to the blessed assurance of God amidst the pain, complaint, chaos, violence, and injustice(s) of our world, And this is what we Christians can bring to the table. But lamentation itself continues to be practiced (perhaps with much more conscious awareness and regularity) by Jews, Muslims, and other people of faith. And we have as much to learn from each other, as we continue to witness to Christ, both crucified and risen. Blessings to you, and thank you for your very pastoral presentation to all of us!