The background on my computer changes by itself every few days. The pictures are different images, mostly nature, from around the world and there is always a link that tells you where the image is from. Earlier in the week this was the picture on my screen. It is from Ukraine. I was captured by the contrast of its peaceful beauty with the images we are seeing on the news. Such beauty is being wrongly destroyed.

As I reflected more, I thought of the verse from Isaiah Jesus used to preach his first sermon in Luke 4. Take a moment and read these first four verses and ponder their relevance to the realities in Ukraine right now.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of theLord's favor has come,
and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies.
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory
They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
repairing cities destroyed long ago.

I am struck by the words "beauty for ashes." The idea of Ukraine's beauty being restored seems like such a lost hope. It's hard to have faith in such a promise with bombs hitting hospitals and neighborhoods. But as we learned in this series faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. We believe in faith's possibility not because we can see the possibility, but we believe it is within God's possibility. And when we work toward a possibility we can't see, it can help us believe.

One way to do that is to pray. Here is a great website that shares ways United Methodists are active in Ukraine and it ends with a very moving prayer. 

Another is to give through the Indiana Conference of the UMC. Donations can be made directly through this link or text the word "Ukraine" to 855 389-1555.

In the future, we will probably hear of ways we can support refugee families who come to Indiana. For now, stay tuned.

In the Isaiah passage above, after Jesus read these words in the synagogue, he sat down and told those present, "Today these words have come true." A real secular way of expressing what Jesus meant is that He is the down payment of that promise. It hasn't been completely fulfilled, but in Christ, we have a start, and by faith, we should live as if it is already a reality.

There is evil in the world, yes. But I hold onto the words I believe come from St. Augustine: "The only evil God allows is that which God can turn into good."

Rob

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