Communion Meditation

January 2, 2005

John 1, Ephesians 1                                                                                              Ralph DiBiasio-Snyder

When I planned this service - the week before Christmas, knowing that we would be out of town this past week - I had anticipated that the service would be very "low key" - a quiet communion service to start the new year, a break from the serious issues that have been so much a part of our world these past months, that had found their way into our worship here - our prayers and sermons.   The continuing war inIraq, and the genocide of the Sudan, the seemingly endless violence between Israel and Palestine, even the brew-ha surrounding our UCC commercial.  Let's take a break, I thought to myself, and start off the new year afresh, with a new beginning!

            And then, of course, last Sunday afternoon and evening, we started hearing about the tsunami on the other side of the world.  And then each day we heard more news, and the horrible reality of what had happened began to sink in.  When we came home there were the week's newspapers, and their front pages documented the unfolding story.  Monday's edition said the estimate of dead was 11,800.  The next day the number had doubled to 22,000  . . . and then by Thursday it was 77,000, and on and on, until now as we all know they are talking about 150,000, with 5 million people left homeless.   On September 11^th  2001 we were stunned to think about the nearly 4,000 innocent people killed in a day.  Now we are trying to understand a number 30 times that, and growing, to say nothing of the millions left to mourn their dead, and begin their lives over again as best they can.

            We have become used to tragic stories.   But this one differs from those in magnitude and in kind.  We know the magnitude by the shear numbers.  But in addition the tsunami was a tragedy that crossed national, religious, and economic boundaries.  Eight nations severely stricken; Muslims and Buddhists and Christians all included in the list of casualties.  From vacationing Europeans and Americans, Australians and many others staying at exotic beach resorts, to the poor of the coastal fishing villages - this "act of nature" took them all, such was the magnitude of the tragedy.

            And it was a tragedy that differs from others in kind as well.  For, unlike the war in Iraq and the genocide in Darfur, where someone is to blame - or an ideology or religious fervor or the quest for economic gain or empire - we may not agree on who is to blame, but we could at least talk about it - there is no one to blame for an earthquake in the middle of an ocean.  It just happened, and that's all one can say.  Unless, of course, you want to bring God in on it.  Which opens up all kinds of questions, and problems, for us religious folks.  Where was God in this?

            Already the stories are coming in - stories about "miracles" of timing or circumstance that led to this person or that being saved.  And some of those are saying that God gave them strength or put them in a certain place that made them survive.  One young woman being interviewed said that she felt the hand of God holding her up in thrashing waters of the sea, and she saw that as miraculous intervention. 

            I understand the need for survivors to voice their gratitude and joy and amazement of being alive.  And I suppose that were I in their place I too would feel the hand of God upon me bringing me through such an incredible experience.  But I have to ask the question that surely many of those who have lost so much must be asking, namely, if God could save this one, why not more?  In fact, why not all?

            The reality of natural disaster in our world - brought so forcefully to us this week in the tsunami - is the most difficult question of faith.  It is the greatest obstacle to faith for many people.  Stated most simply, If God is all-good, and all-powerful, then how can such unthinkable tragedy happen to so many?  We can take the blame for our wars and environmental disasters, and interpersonal squabbles.   And we can work to overcome whatever it is in human nature that causes those tragedies.  But when the earth moves beneath us, and so many suffer . . . what can we say about that?

            One news report I heard this week focused on a mosque in Indonesia.  There the faithful were coming to say their prayers, and to find solace, and to hear their imam speak about the meaning of their tragedy.  And he spoke about how in the scriptures the waters of the flood were a means of judgement upon the people.  And he remembered how the waters of the Red Sea destroyed the armies of Pharaoh - another act of judgment.  And the tsunami?  He said that it was a message from God - a message that we should learn humility . . . and that it was an opportunity for people to come together to help one another, and overcome their differences.