A wonderful gathering of Christian Witness in Lairg this morning from across the Christian Community.
Not entirely dry, but not enough rain to dampen the spirits of the crowd that gathered to mark the road to Calvary.
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?“
Scottish Episcopal Church - Dornoch, Lairg, Brora, Tain & Tongue 
Why did he say my God, God why have you forsaken me, I don’t understand and it’s the only thing that Jesus said that confuses me.
Those are the opening words of Psalm 22. Psalm 22, like about 50 of the Psalms is a Psalm of Lament. When we feel blessed in life and experience joy and peace, we turn to God in praise and thanksgiving. But what happens, when as is often the case, we experience grief, pain or sorrow? What happens when we are overcome by brokenness, suffering and grief at the death of those we love or when relationships with others break down? In Jesus’ world, people turned to Lament. Lament is a prayer for help that comes out of the pain of our lives. Lament is still a part of modern Judaism and many feel that it could have a important part to play in the lives of all of us, as a healthy way to handle sorrow, grief and disappointment. Psalm 22 calls out to God in Lament with talk of enemies but it ends with praise. Lament in verses 1-21 transformed into Praise in verses 22-31. In the same way the Lament at Jesus’ death was transformed to Praise three days later at His Resurrection.