09/27/2024
A LITURGY FOR THE
Watching of Storms
In every storm there is a sermon
playing out in parable across
the canvas of sky,
telling of the awesome power
of one whose judgments are just,
but whose mercies
are thereby all the more
scandalous
and unexpected,
and whose tender love for us
is beyond comprehension.
Praise be to God,
for his infinite mercies.
Indeed we praise you, O Lord,
that having both might and right
to crush whatever within us would
assert itself against you,
you instead crushed yourself,
and by that act offered us life,
taking the brunt of such furious judgment
into your own form,
and shielding us forever from what
our treason so rightly deserved.
Thanks be to God, for his unmerited grace.
Now may these mighty winds,
these lightning strikes,
these crashing calls of thunder,
these hard rains,
by their fierce beauty set us in awe—
their witness rightly reminding us
of that just verdict
we will never have to face,
the ferocity of these elements
an inverse testament
to the affections of the one whose
strong love has now become
our shield against the coming storm.
Glory to God, for his sheltering love,
extended even to us.
O Christ Who is Our Peace,
cradle us now, even as you will cradle
us at that final reckoning,
calming every fear by your nearness,
as we watch with wondering eyes
this storm-told story
of a great judgment
and an even greater mercy.
Amen
