Our Voices Are Heard
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice. - Psalm 18:7
We hear over and over that we live in unprecedented times. Every day begins with headlines that try the patience of the most calm among us: war, famine, illness, injustice, politicians who use humiliating and divisive rhetoric as effortlessly as most of us breathe. In some places gangs that roam the streets with cruel intentions toward anyone who gets in their way. It is easy to get discouraged.
Today’s readings begin with the words, “Terror on every side!” Terror is a strong word but it is a word that must describe what many across the world are experiencing as they fear for their lives and the lives of their families.
It is reasonable to say that for most of us terror is somewhat of a foreign word. We live simple lives with our basic needs met. Yet, we still experience distress. We have concerns for those we love, for our church and our country.
Once I have taken care of any practical issues that contribute to my distress, the avenue left is prayer. As the psalmist says, “I call upon the Lord.”
Sometimes the words of Jesus, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me,” come to mind. Almost as quickly as they arrive I dismiss them knowing that God has not forsaken me and to even let that thought cross my mind is foolish. God has blessed me at every turn. This realization did not happen overnight. It has taken decades of living on this earth to begin to understand and accept the love of God.
During the final days of Lent I want to remember every day that, “…he heard my voice.” These last few words of the Responsorial Psalm are perhaps the most important.
God does hear my voice; he does hear the cry of the poor, the disenfranchised, the marginalized and the cry of a grandmother. In my distress, large and small, God is there and if I get out of the way and pay attention some pretty amazing things happen.
Over the last few weeks when can you say, “…He heard my voice?”
Anne Hansen