2 Cor 5: 14-20 Lam. 3: 19-26

Friends, for many of us this has been a long week. For some of us, plans we had were canceled. For others jobs were lost. Still others are trying to figure out creative ways to take care of children or loved ones. The best I can do to sum up this particular week is that each day felt longer than 24 hours. And what keeps coming to my mind is that this is not what I ever expected the New Year to bring as we rang in 2020.

In the past Ohio United Methodist Church has had a New Year’s Eve service. For the last two years we have not hosted, but I prepared as if we were going to. Looking back on that particular sermon, I wrote “We worship God no matter what 2019 held and we worship God no matter what 2020 may bring.”

That is even more true now, my friends. We are living in unprecedented times. It seems like each day is changing, and yet even in the midst of the unknown we gather together and worship our God. 

But sometimes worship can look a little different. In our first scripture for today the prophet Jeremiah is crying out to God. Often when we talk about Jeremiah we reference the book in the Hebrew Scriptures bearing his name. But Jeremiah also penned Lamentations, this book of just aching heart cries to God. Jeremiah is talking about being afflicted and without a home. Of all of the heartache that is weighing him down. And yet. And yet that isn’t where he leaves his thoughts. 

He has hope. 

Why in the midst of all of his sufferings and trials does he still have hope? Because God’s love is steadfast.

Friends, many of us are feeling grief, a sense of loss, after this week. Others are feeling anxiety and fear. A lack of peace. For others it feels like the world is in chaos and we don’t quite know what our place and purpose is. Know that whatever you are feeling today - Jeremiah has been there. 

But that isn’t the end of the story. Jeremiah looked out on what seemed like the shambles of his life and he still knew the faithfulness of God. He knew that God showed up every single day and was with him through everything that he faced. He knew that when he didn’t seem to have faith himself that God still had great faithfulness towards Jeremiah. 

No one looking on Jeremiah’s life during this season would have said that his life was good. Yet Jeremiah proclaimed that God was still good. And he was still waiting every single day upon God.

Friends, we do not know when this particular time of being physically distant from one another will end. We don’t know when all that we are carrying in our hearts at this time will fade away. But as we come together today from our separate spaces, I want to proclaim this - God has been with us in the past and God will be with us in the future. That God is good, even when we cannot feel it. That we wait upon the Lord as we step into the unknown because we know who our God is and that God is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise

The Apostle Paul, too, knew a time of trial. He faced persecution, imprisonment, beatings, and false statements against him. Yet, like Jeremiah, for him that wasn’t the end of the story. For him the story was greater - that Christ has come and died our death and rose for our sake and because of that we are a new creation. 

Does that mean that that everything always goes smoothly or as we have planned? No. Does it mean that we always understand what God is up to or how God can take and redeem our struggles and pain? No. But we put our hope in Christ anyway. Because Christ is not limited by our lack of understanding. Why? Because our lives our testimonies to Christ’s love and faithfulness. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us.”

Friends, I yearn for the day and time when we can be back together in one another’s presence. But even as we are spread far and wide, we are still ambassadors for Christ. Our light still shines. We still are the Church. 

And all of things that you are feeling and thinking - my guess is your neighbor is feeling them too. So now, above any time, is when we still need to have the light of Christ shining through us into the world. I shared earlier this week that I have been so proud to be your pastor this week - as I’ve called to check in - many of you had said you have been checking in with others as well. We have been finding creative ways to reach out and serve one another during difficult times. I thank God for you. Keep shining. Keep loving boldly. Keep anchored in Christ. 

Is it going to look different? Yes. But we do not stop. It does not mean that we deny what we are feeling. It does not mean we diminish the current situation, for ourselves or for others. But it does mean we still look for hope. A hope that is not contained. A hope that does not end. A hope that we share. 

We are going do something just a bit different right now. We are going to offer hope to one another. If you follow me on Facebook, this past week, some of us have been engaging in a spiritual exercise together called the Daily Examen. This exercise is a series of questions that help us reflect upon the day and discern the movement of God’s spirit that we maybe wouldn’t notice if we did not pause and think about it. There’s a whole series of questions - but I have two for us today - where did you notice the presence of God this week and what brings you hope?

Take a moment to reflect upon these questions. Then if you feel so moved share them. If you are joining us live, feel free to share them in the chat box. If you are joining us by video recording - share them in a place that is meaningful to you. Maybe its in a phone conversation this week. Or a text to a friend. Or on Facebook. But friends, let us be the bearers of hope, as we join together with the prophet Jeremiah in proclaiming that we are waiting upon the Lord. Amen.