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First Thursday, June 2018

Posted on June 19, 2018 by The Meeting Place

First Thursday, June 7th, 2018

 

Reflection on the day’s readings and news

Psalm 37 asserts that “those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land” (v.9), “the meek shall inherit the land” (v.11), “those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land” (v.22), “the righteous shall inherit the land” (v.28).  As Jesus himself said “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).  All these words in Hebrew describe, not people of any special moral virtue, but those who have been exploited by the rich, whose resources and land have been stolen from them through debt and the refusal of society to grant them restitution.  They “wait for the Lord”, not because they are pious, but because no-one else cares for them, and only in God can they find their strength.  The Psalm promises that justice will be done for them.

In London the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire continues, a year after that terrible night when 71 people lost their lives, and many more their homes and possessions.  That event showed very clearly how our society discards and despises some people, ignoring their voices and complaints, often blaming them for their own plight.  We have repeatedly made a political choice for an economy which creates abundant wealth for many, but is content to leave others far behind.  It has been a long time since the land (the only source of wealth in ancient times) was taken from the poor and given to those who, it was said, could “make better use of it”.  Now the same principle is applied to every wealth-creating resource.  Those with skills have secure employment- others struggle with the “gig economy”.  Any talk of the need to fund welfare benefits or social housing is decried as undermining the efficiency of the economy.  In such a political atmosphere Grenfell Tower was no occasional accident but an inevitable consequence of society’s deliberate choices.

So when will “the meek inherit the earth”?  When will the poor have what is rightfully theirs?  “Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven” says Jesus (Luke 12:33, our New Testament reading for June 7th).  Does he mean “wait until you die and go to heaven, then everything will be alright”?  But his whole message is that heaven, God’s justice, the Reign of God’s love, is breaking into the world to challenge the powers of injustice and destruction that harm the life of society, families and individuals. So “bank” on that, place your “credit” and hope in the judgement of heaven

If there is a difference between the hopes of the Old Testament and the New (and the differences can be grossly exaggerated), it is that the Hebrew Scriptures imagine that God will step into history and instantly transform the world.  The New Testament knows only the sacrificial love that was seen at the Cross can do that.  It is precisely that powerful and challenging love which changes the world- including the kind of world that the people of Grenfell Tower suffered and experienced before, on and since June 14th last year.

UPCOMING EVENTS

FUTURE DEBATES

Our next Debate will be on Saturday morning, January 18th, 2020, from 10.30 to 12.30 (coffee from 10.00 am)-  Dr. Wilf Wilde will speak about the conflict in the Yemen and its impact on the region.

On Saturday morning, February 22nd 2020, Lottie Taylor (of St Neots) will talk about her visit to Christian Aid Partners in Ethiopia in November 2019.

On Friday evening, April 24th, 7.30 to 9.00 pm, Sheila Lewis and Mary West will talk about their visit to Auschwitz (in October 2019).

We still plan to hold a debate about the implications of Brexit at some point!

FIRST THURSDAYS

On the first Thursday morning of the month from 10.00 am to 12 noon. We meet next on January 2nd (there will be no meeting in December).

Click here for details

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