Come, gather round,
for the story I am about to tell you belongs to all Christians;
It is a story of our past,
but it is a dark story.
It is not a story of love and sunshine and rainbows.
It is a story of fear and hatred and discrimination.
God gave us the Bible to share the history and story of God’s covenant with us.
It tells of creation, of building nations, of prophets and poets.
It teaches us about Jesus who came to earth so that we would know God more fully,
so that we would love each other more deeply.
It was a book meant to unite all people
but we used it to spread hate.
We took the words and twisted them
to cause words
to create shame
to create false hierarchies
to judge
to hate.
We used the words to justify killing anyone who does not know God the same way we do.
We used the words to justify enslaving people because they looked, spoke, or acted differently.
We used the words to justify shaming women for their life-giving sexuality in an attempt to control them.
We used the words to justify telling people that their sexuality is a sin, tearing families apart.
We used the words to justify telling people their gender identity isn’t real – making it unsafe for people to be their authentic selves.
We used the words to justify hoarding wealth while others starve claiming it is a gift that comes from God.
There has been centuries abuse, violence and hate all perpetuated in God’s name.
We have failed to uphold God’s covenant with us.
We have failed to love each other.
We have failed to care for creation.
It is time to be called to account.
To admit our past mistakes.
To ask for forgiveness
and to make positive change.
God has given us so much
and asks for so little in return.
We must do God’s work in the world.
We cannot pretend that this history is not a part of who we are.
We must claim it and we must make reparations.
It is time to finally live into our covenant with God…
…to live our lives in love.
For the original Psalm visit https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+78&version=NRSV