Last Sunday was a day for silence. 

With the disappointment of the referendum outcome and the interpretive blame games going on, we were also coming to terms with the dramatic outbreak of violence in Israel and Gaza and the massive impact on the lives of people living in the area – Israeli and Palestinian. 

Both these realities are hard to comprehend. One is happening in the setting that gives the people of the three monotheistic faiths our identity. The land we call Holy.  It is hard to know what the longer-term impact of this destructive violence will be.

The other reality is in this land called Australia. How is it that we as Australians have taken such a conservative stand in response to a change to the Constitution? We have not recognised in a positive way Australia’s First Peoples and have not given them a guaranteed voice. This is also mystifying to me. It is also hard to know what the impact of this decision will be in the longer term. As a nation we need deeper ways to celebrate with, and listen to, our Indigenous Australians. The integrity of our nation depends on this. 

Two themes have been helpful for me, and both are found in the Psalms of Lament. One is seen in the stark honesty of the Psalmist (Psalm 13).

1 How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?

    How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

    How long will my enemy triumph over me?

The second theme is trust in God

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;

    my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing the LORD’s praise,

    for he has been good to me.

These themes balance an honest gut response and anguish with faith and confidence in the love of God demonstrated over time.

We are in a season of lament – for Australia, Israel and Gaza – indeed for ourselves. In our lament we join in grief and in the confidence that what is to come will be the outworking of God’s unfailing love.        

Rev John Gilmore

NCCA President