“The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made”
Casinos are open, taxis are full, but schools are closed. People are starving[1] but “cadres” are feasting[2]. You might feel, to borrow a phrase used by the South African Council of Churches (SACC), “extremely disgusted”[3]. The State seems bereft of just, wise and brave leadership just when it is most vital.
One would need a heart of Table Mountain Sandstone not to feel angry, desperate or frustrated. But we are also people of faith and hope. Our hope is grounded in the character of the God we serve. Let us allow this truth of God’s nature to wash over our frustration and despair:
“The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made” (Ps. 145.8-9).
It is comforting to know that “The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down” (:14) because “The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does” (:17). We might even find comfort in the assurance of judgement: “The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy” (:20).
Ultimately each one must appear before the judgement seat of Christ and give an account for the life they have lived. That includes us, of course, so let us not grow weary of doing good, nor drowsy in prayer, nor drained of hope.
Sunday’s Gospel lesson (Mt. 13;13-21) which describes Jesus, moved with compassion, feeding a hungry crowd, will help. Like the disciples we too can offer what we have, trusting that, in the hands of Jesus, it is more than enough.
God Bless,
Sean
[1] Oxfam considers South Africa a “new hunger hotspot”( https://www.oxfam.org/en/world-brink-hunger-pandemic-coronavirus-threatens-push-millions-starvation). In 28 years of service the Gift of the Givers have never seen hunger this severe in South Africa. In recent surveys 47% of households ran out of money to buy food in April, 22% said someone in their household went hungry, in 15% of homes a child went hungry (https://cramsurvey.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Wills-household-resource-flows-and-food-poverty-during-South-Africa’s-lockdown-2.pdf).
[2] https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-07-29-how-covid-19-emergency-procurement-turned-into-a-cadres-feast/#gsc.tab=0
[3] “extremely disgusted by the revelations of the shameless looting of funds” https://mailchi.mp/1433178dae1e/media-statement-29-july-2020-sacc-statement-on-covid-corruption