You might’ve seen bad things happening …

For the second time in less than a week, our city found itself in complete shock.  Last Saturday night we watched in disbelief the images of a man brandishing a knife in Bondi Westfield killing 6 people and injuring others.  Then, on Monday night, a teenager attacked the Bishop of an Assyrian church mid-sermon.  We have no doubt seen the graphic images on the news of both incidents and the aftermath.  We ask what is God doing when he allows something like this to happen?  Does God care? Did God care about the lives lost in Bondi Westfield, does He care about the fear and anxiety that has gripped our city?

It’s interesting to look at where people turn in these situations.  An article in the Sydney Morning Herald offered several self-help options.  And while they certainly weren’t unhelpful, it got me thinking again about who people look to in these times of suffering, fear, and uncertainty.

Psalm 23, tells us, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd.’  The Lord, the covenant God of Israel, is our personal shepherd. He cares for us in every situation. Even in the aftermath of the tragic events.  Shepherd is such a lovely metaphor, so personal comprehensive and intimate.  God is my creator, but he is also my shepherd.

This statement is true for people in every country, every situation, and every socio economic group.  It holds true not just for the homeowner in the Hills district, but for the police officer who put her life on the line for others.

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus is also my guide.  He doesn’t guide me necessarily to happiness, but rather, ‘He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.’  We keep thinking we would be happier if nothing ever went wrong.  But it’s only as my spiritual muscles are stretched by being put in difficult situations, that I can develop and grow in righteousness. I think this is what happens when we are put into hardship, whether through the actions of wicked people or through circumstances.  I need to be reminded constantly that my going through difficulty being made more righteous, is ultimately to bring glory to His name. This is something we in Sydney need to hear again and again and again. 

We need to be reminded of this guidance especially as we face death.  For the promise of the Psalm is to guide us, ‘even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.’ As we confront the deaths of coffee shop customers, we are reminded that we need not fear, for God is with us; God is present, with me, alongside me, his rod and staff, they comfort me.

After death, there is a promise that the Shepherd will be there again, ‘You prepare a table before me.’  It is more than a table, it’s relationship.  After death I am welcomed at the banquet by God to sit with him, my head amounted with oil, my cup overflowing.

Jesus says in John 10:11, ’I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’  Just as someone might put their body (or a bollard) in the way of someone brandishing a knife, Jesus lays down his life for us, he dies in our place.  For spiritually all of us have rejected God, and all of us deserve God’s judgement.  Our shepherd so acts to protect us that he dies for us. 

But we also ask how to respond in a situation where someone has attacked us?  When the soldiers came for Jesus, he said, ‘Put your sword away.’ (John 18:11).  The New Testament teaches us not to retaliate, but rather Jesus says ‘to turn the other cheek.’ (Matthew 5:39).  Indeed, the words of the Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel on forgiving his attacker could not ring truer:

 “A piece of advice to our beloved faithfuls, I need you to act Christ-like. The Lord Jesus never taught us to fight, the Lord Jesus never taught us to retaliate, the Lord Jesus never said to us ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’.” 

Let’s remember that “the Lord is King He’s gonna look after everything”.  And in our longing for God’s kingdom to come, we say “Come Lord Jesus”, I think today more than ever.