Friday, June 29, 2012

Apropos of this world and the next

A chaotic week. Just before the 4th of July, a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court appointed by a Republican President provides the swing vote in a landmark, and disastrous, ruling. More about that here. (Be sure to read the comments. We have some good commentators on this one.)

This Sunday next will be the fourth Sunday after Trinity, for which the collect (which I never get tired of quoting) is this:

O God, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Here's a long-ago post on this wonderful collect. 


It seems to me right now that we have to cling to the things eternal. Not because our beloved country doesn't matter. Not because our freedoms don't matter. Not because we as Christians should be "apolitical." (On which see here and here.) But because it's the one legitimate comfort we have when things are not going well "down here." And let's remember: Jesus' return is supposed to make everything right, to inaugurate a new heaven and earth, and to bring justice and righteousness. To quote someone more eloquent than I:

Wrong will be right when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.

While we're being encouraging, and in line with this blog's tradition of switching with dizzying speed from Anglican liturgy to Southern gospel music, here's young Phil Collingsworth and his family to remind us of the good things we know:

3 comments:

Gina M. Danaher said...

Thanks Lydia,

I needed that reminder.

William Luse said...

I actually liked the song. Glad the tall guy stepped back and let the girls take over.

On the other subject, Impeach John Roberts.

Lydia McGrew said...

Thanks, Bill.

They're a great family and incredibly talented. The mother can play the piano so well that it pulls you right out of your seat. The girls play violins and have lovely voices. The children are all both beautiful and nice. I've seen a "ten years" video showing clips at different times and it's hard to believe, but Phil, Jr. (the tall young man who sings the solo here) was once a slightly chunky little boy with a lovely soprano voice.