“What” in the Midst of “Why:” a Reflection on Psalm 74, Isaiah 63:1-5, Revelation 2:18-29, and John

The psalmist asks the question that all of us think, “Why do the bad guys keep winning; benefit, gain wealth, prestige, and success?” And that question is followed by “When will they get theirs? When will God say enough is enough?”

The promise in God’s word for this line of questioning is…remember God’s covenant in that it will it will shine light into all the dark places that are filled with violence.

God will win if we stay with the win/lose imagery. The bad guys don’t. Death doesn’t. Love wins. The love, faith, service, and patient endurance by those who love God and follow God’s Son Jesus will be saved. That is the promise of the Gospels. Jesus himself states as much.

So, let us not be judgmental, but understand tolerance as love, not condoning. The writer of Revelation warns us to avoid tolerating that woman Jezebel. Jezebel represents all forms of immorality, particularly lifting up sex as an idol and a pursuit with no boundaries and at all costs.

Jesus healed. And God heals today. But we need to get into the pool. We need to pick up our mat. Being the victim and blaming will not work; at least for the long term.

Asking why three Islamist terrorists did what they did to the staff of that satirical magazine in Paris makes for interesting conjecture. Asking what to do in terrorism’s aftermath is a better question. The families of the twelve massacred. Love, faith, service, and patient endurance must be with them…listen to them…cry with them…be silent with them.

“What” mobilizes. “Why” immobilizes. So let’s get on with “what” in the midst of “why.”

Scripture readings are taken from the two-year daily lectionary cycle which follows the liturgical calendar and begins on the First Sunday of Advent.