Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’
I know there has been good news in the midst of this year. I know there has. But as I sit down to write this piece, the idea of a messenger bringing good news–truly good news–is so stunningly beautiful I can hardly bear it.
What would the headline need to be to put an end to this heartbreak?
What would the skywriter need to scroll across the morning sky?
What would the evening news reporter need to broadcast–attempting to be measured, but unable to contain their joy–in order for this time of sorrow to finally be over?
Early on in this pandemic, I imagined a grand celebration–something like a worldwide dance party–when this thing was over. I imagined singing in the streets, high-fiving strangers, packing our sanctuaries and embracing our loved ones.
I don’t imagine a party anymore. I imagine a collective sigh of relief, a global relaxing of clenched jaws and raised shoulders. I imagine the end coming haltingly and over a long period of time. I imagine how even when this is over, it won’t really be over. It won’t be over for all those whose loved ones have died. It won’t be over for the front line workers traumatized by what they’ve been forced to endure. It won’t be over for those communities who’ve been disproportionately impacted as a result of institutionalized racism.
Do I keep on waiting, then, for a word from the nightly news? Or do I recognize that the word for which I’ve been waiting has already come?
The Word became flesh and lived among us. Jesus is the good news of God’s abiding, enduring love for a wounded, weary world.
In the very midst of this pandemic year…
In the midst of the grief that existed before the virus reached us and will continue on long after safe and effective vaccines make it possible to achieve herd immunity…
In the midst of the sin that we know so well and the sin to which we’ve only recently awakened, the sin that clings and binds and destroys and lies…
…Good News dwells with us. Salvation is here. Rise up, people of God. Rise up, people of hope and peace and joy and love. Rise up and share the good news of a God who so loves the world.
Come, Jesus, come. You are the good news we long to hear. Whisper peace in our ears. Write salvation across the sky and across our hearts. Comfort us with the vision of God’s promised end–when every tear will be wiped away and death will be no more. Amen.
Today’s accompanying song is City of Ruins by Bruce Springsteen. Though it was not originally written with 9/11 in mind, it became a message to New York City about rising from the ruins (songfacts.com)
As we look to rise from the ruins of the pandemic, we acknowledge our insistent grief–as the song does so powerfully–and we pray for God’s love to raise us up to new life.