I feel like I need to preface this post by saying that the Hebrews passage for this week is one of my favorites and I often look forward to preaching on it. I usually read it as a reminder of how many, many generations of people have wrestled with faith and run the race to it’s completion. I love the image of being surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. It’s a great image of hope and encouragement. But work has been intense these days. I’ve witnessed some difficult acts of aggression and violence that are not easy to let go of. My vacation is coming soon, so all shall be well.

But my thoughts on this Hebrews passage shifted this morning. That cloud of witnesses that I think of as cheering us on, turned into one disappointed and trying to find words that will get us running the race again. You see, on my drive into work I heard about the violence in Egypt and the hopelessness people on both sides feel about the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks. When I came home and looked for more information about these stories, I found more violence in Egypt, Somalia, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria, and  possible sabotage to submarines in India.

These events, though far from where I sit, feel overwhelming and I cannot make sense of them. I keep hearing the words to “God of Grace and God of Glory” in the back of my mind as I try to understand the violence that slashes through the world today.

Isaiah says, “he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!” When will our response to God’s love for us be justice for all people?