Monday, June 27, 2011

Silence of God (Reflection by Bro. Lalith Perera)

The Silence of God… when God is not there in a moment, when we are called to an experience of faith. When we come to moments in our life when God is silent, God is working in a deeper level. That is why Jesus hung on the cross and said, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” God was silent… God did not respond… because the resurrection was so near. 

We are called by the Lord to a journey of faith. We tell the Lord today, “let that experience of your love remain in our hearts by faith, let your presence become real in our hearts by faith, when things go wrong all around us, still to see your face. So we tell the Lord “give us that gift of faith to know your love, to see your presence in the most difficult moments of our lives, to know that you are leading us to the resurrection”.

When Adolphus wrote this song, he was going through a crisis, and he was about to lose his house. The bank was going to auction his house the next morning, and he had no answer. He sang this song over and over again that night, and said, “O God, let me not lose your face in the middle of this crisis, let me not lose your love in the middle of this crisis, even if I lose everything, let me not lose your journey”. “Let me journey with you through this experience”. 

The next morning, God showed favor by opening him a door; someone came from nowhere and saved his house for him. That is the favor of God. God said “not only my love and presence, but I will open a door where there is no door, and I will make a way for you”. When we hold on to Him the fire of God moves in or lives. 

Lyrics and English Translation:
Oba ma keren, sangawi yan-epa  
(Do not hide from me O Lord)
Mage jeevithaya, samide, thani-we  
(I will be alone if you leave me)
Obey adare, sangawa gannepa  
(Do not hide your love from me O Lord)
Dubalawu ma, samide, nathiwe  
(I am weak O Lord, and without you, I will be destroyed)

Karuna gune, yahapatha ma kere, Sama mohotehma samide, demine
(Your mercy and goodness is always with me, every moment of my life)
Sathyaye, jeewana margaye, Mage atha gena, maga penwana devide
(You hold my hand and lead me into truth in the journey of life)

Adare obai, sanaseema obai  
(You are my love, you are my comfort)
Galaweema obai, Jesuni obama thamai  
(Jesus, You are my only salvation)
Karunawa obai, shak-thiyath obai  
(You are mercy, you are my strength)
Mata athi ekama magath obamai, samide  
(Jesus, you are the only way for me)