Make of this picture what you will: it was forwarded to me in the week. Taken as the sun rose in Kyiv yesterday (2/3/22) , the description is of 'clouds forming an image of an angel above the city. where the main Cathedral is dedicated to the Archangel Michael.' Is it fanciful to think, especially in the midst of such brutality, that God would send a sign of His presence like this? Psalm 19 says 'The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.'
Yesterday, at our Ash Wednesday service, we read from the prophet Joel. He used the natural disaster of a plague of locusts as context for God's message. Much as God could have stopped the plague of locusts - or deal with Putin in an instant (and I get a bit frustrated that he hasn't done that yet) - we live in a world where the Kingdom of God has not yet come completely. Therefore, great evil can and does happen. But God gives us glimpses of his presence (even in the clouds!?) , a foretaste of what is to come when He finally restores this earth.
His message in the face of disaster was this: 'Even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart... for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Joel 2: 12, 13)'. It's a message for us too in uncertain times; a message for us as we begin Lent. He waits for us to turn back to Him, that he might walk with us whatever our circumstances.
You can find the rest of the Newsletter here: Newsletter 030322
