August 18, 2022

This from British poet Ted Hughes (who was married to Sylvia Plath when she committed suicide): "The inmost spirit of poetry, in other words, is at bottom, in every recorded case, the voice of pain — and the physical body, so to speak, of poetry, is the treatment by which the poet tries to reconcile that pain with the world."

Theology does much the same thing as poetry. It is an attempt to reconcile/understand the vagaries of life – my life – with the reality and presence of God. Clearly, pat theological answers always fall short in times of real suffering.

But Jesus’ words have the ring of authenticity. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and theHoly Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany – BCP)