Church News Disregarded voices

T.S.Eliot, the American-born poet who became a British citizen, wrote‘Last year’s words belong to last year’s language. Next year’s words await another voice’(Little Gidding). That is a brilliant idea.

Tomorrow’s words will be different from yesterday’s.

Tomorrow’s words will be heard in the young people, like Greta Thunberg advocating Climate Change.

Tomorrow’s words advocate the need for a fairer and more equitable global society.

As we contemplate a future after Covid-19 will we use the humane language of tomorrow’s words?

But will we listen to the countless unheard voices?

When I was the minister in the Laigh Kirk, in Paisley, our congregation was deeply involved with Woman’s Aid.

That experience humbled and chastened me. Let me assert quite categorically that the ill-treatment, hurt and violation against women in whatever way is totally reprehensible.

But ,in general, the women’s voice in this biased, male-dominated society has gone unheard.

I carried out a little thought experiment. I imagined being a male in a female dominated society.

So I was paid less than my female colleagues for the same job. I was denied recognition and was forever rejected when I applied for a promoted post.

I felt comprehensively disregarded and my male voice fell on deaf female ears.

This was my imaginary thought experiment. But it is comprehensively the real life experiences for members of the female community.

Equality and decency between the sexes is blatantly overdue.

If we study the gospels, we find that the women played a prominent part in Jesus’ ministry.

The men forgot the sandwiches (Mark 8.14), the women catered for Jesus’ needs from their own means (Luke 8.1-3).

The men were huddled together in a fear-filled room (John 20.19) while the women went to look after Jesus’body (Mark 16.1-4).

In the early church, the women were very prominent (Acts 1.14).

Paul summed it up quite brilliantly,‘There is neither male or female, for you are all one in Christ’(Galatians 3.28).

The female unheard voice must be heeded.

There is another voice, disregarded and ignored for far too long. It is the voice of God.

There is a devastating chapter in Trito-Isaiah, the third section of the Book of Isaiah,‘I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me. I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, here am I, here am I to a nation that did not call on me’(Isaiah 65.1).

Surely, it is painfully obvious that it is past time for this nation to listen again to God.

If only people would listen to the voice of God, they would hear a wonderful message.

‘God has shown you what is good and what the Lord requires of you. To do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God’ (Micah 6.8).

God tells us how he feels for us, and how we should live with one another under God’s protection and guidance.

God’s voice goes unheard at our peril.

There is one unheard voice that God, our Father, always hears and listens to. It is the silent voice from your soul.

No prayer from the soul, however humble and apparently insignificant, goes unheeded by our Father God.

My favourite Bible story tells of Hannah, who prayed silently from her soul to God with no need for spoken words (1 Samuel 1.9-18).

This is Pentecost and the Holy Spirit is working in a personal and real way in and for you.

In Jesus, our Father God knows what you are trying to articulate. In Jesus, our Father God knows us far better than we probably know ourselves.

God knows us, understands us, and loves us all the more.

Paul describes this so well, ‘the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself prays for us with feelings too deep for words.’

A Little Prayer

Gentle Father God. The prayers in our broken words often come from our broken hearts.

But you understand our broken words and you will heal our broken hearts.

Thank you, Gentle God, for understanding our brokenness and for speaking to us from your fullness. Through Jesus. Amen.