URC Daily Devotion 2nd April 2020

Thursday 2nd April 4th Station
Jesus meets His Mother

“No Words” Sieger Koeder

St Luke 2: 34-35

Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed  so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

Reflection

Sometimes there are “no words.”  Mary knew from the moment she accepted the invitation to bear a son that he would be different.  How many people are asked to be the vessel for God’s child? She and Joseph welcomed the Magi, and she treasured all they said in her heart.  She took her son the Temple, and heard Simeon speak of Jesus’ world-changing role. She invited Jesus to help at a wedding and saw a miracle. She listened to him. She watched as he was lead to his death. She loved him, but there were no final words to express her love or her grief.  An embrace and a willingness to journey with him to the foot of the cross where all she could offer. Sometimes there are “no words.”  

When our beloved partner is dying; when our child is struggling with addiction, when our friend loses their job, when something happens out of the blue, out of our control, and is outside our comfort zone, there may be no words.  No words to comfort us, no words that help us cope, no words that help us make sense of the situation.

But, even in that tough space there is love.  There is God. There is a hug, a listening companion who promises to journey with us through the pain.  God is present in the toughest times, in community, in silence, in a friend.

Sometimes there are no words, but a ministry of presence and an ability to stand with us in the pain, and  the promise of love no matter what we face. When there are no words, the ability to stay when others flee makes all the difference to the one in need.

Prayer

Loving God, we thank you that you are with us no matter what we face in life.  We thank you for those people who support us with their loving presence, who can be silent with us when words cannot take away our pain.  When it is our turn to stay with those in need, we ask that you give us courage to be present, to listen and to love them through their grief and loss to a place of wholeness.