God’s word at large

 Psalms 107:19-21

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress;

he sent out his word and healed them,

and delivered them from destruction.

Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,

for his wonderful works to humankind.

When God sends out God’s word

there is change

New worlds are created

Deserts bloom

Light and dark are separated

A formless void is transformed

into a landscape teeming with life

When we cry out to God today

will our faith enable us to recognise

the power of God’s word 

at work in the world

when our cries are answered?

When we cry out to God today

how will we respond

when God sends out God’s word?

Will we be agents of change?

Will we celebrate healing 

and transformation?

And will we give thanks

for the steadfast love of God

whose word has power

to heal the world?

May God continue to respond to our cries

And may we welcome 

and give thanks for the havoc created

by the word of God

at large in the world.

Prodigal Lent

John 13:5

Then Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

The dust with which Lent began is

Prodigal

Lavish

Wasteful 

Extravagant

Everywhere

Dust of life and of death 

Dust of loss and uncertainty

Dust of fear and despair

Dust in the rubble 

of hopes and dreams

of cities laid to waste

Dust in the ashes

of indiscriminate missiles

and in the soil of mass graves

SO MUCH DUST

And in the dust

communities gather

united in their sorrow

defiant in their grief

refusing to give up on love

Out of dust

tear-streaked dust

they have gathered up dignity

and moved to mobilise hope

and sought to overcome evil 

And the God who fashioned humanity out of dust

kneels in the dust

with those who weep

with those who mourn

and with those who stand against might

breathing life and hope

as in the beginning

And the earth cries out

for another miracle

to be wrought out of dust.