22 February 2015 - not watered down

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.

Remember us, Jesus. It is who you are to be kind and remember us.

Yet we cry to you precisely because we feel forgotten. We feel as though the waters of the flood are starting to rise. They are at our feet one moment and the next we are up to our necks. We struggle to tread water. Didn't you promise that would never again devastate the whole world with a flood? Didn't you put your bow in the clouds as a sign of this promise? Is it there now? The waves are reaching high clouding our eyes. We are tossed by every wind of doctrine (cf. Eph 4:14). Our eyes can't see past the things of earth to gaze on the things above (cf. Col. 3:2).

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.

Yet the flood comes only once and you, Jesus, are the one to endure its unrestrained violence.

Christ suffered for sins once, 
the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, 
that he might lead you to God.

The flood is powerful and destructive but you are an unsinkable ark. In the waters of baptism we are joined to you as you face this flood which culminates in your death. But we face it within you, within the ark of your body, the Church, and survive. We are brought safe to the distant shores of eternity.

This prefigured baptism, which saves you now.
It is not a removal of dirt from the body 
but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, 
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

When we feel the winds driving on the outside of the ark we take comfort in knowing how good you are. We take comfort in your promise. You are strong and the victory is already won.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.

When this ark feels driven by winds we can take comfort that they are the winds of the Spirit. Just as the wind drives Jesus into the desert for forty days so too does it drive the ark of his body. The ark cannot stay stationary here, surrounded by the waters of death. It must eventually find dry land. It is strong enough to survive the journey. From too much water in the flood to too little water in the desert we are being prepared. We are being prepared to find the living water which we drink and thirst no more. And we will find it soon because this "is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand."

Even when we feel driven by winds we still turn to you and acknowledge the strength of the ark who sustains us.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.

Even when the winds are pushing us we take comfort to know the place where the ark eventually comes to rest, "heaven ... at the right hand of God". The Spirit now drives the ark on. But one day he will descend with the olive leaf. Then at last we find the haven for which we long.