Today’s reading from the Psalms is one of those that reflects on the restoration of the fortunes of the people, of Zion. Restoration is defined as the act or process of returning something to its earlier good condition or position, or to its owner. The picture depicts the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, currently undergoing restoration after a fire.
Students of English history may study the Restoration; in 1660, Charles II became King after a period of British dabbling with republicanism. More practical enthusiasts restore old things, from furniture to cars and houses. As we face the reality of harm done by a ‘throw-away’ society we may well become better at restoring day-to-day things, otherwise known as recycling.
Restoration is implicitly about reverting to a previous state, perceived to be better. The Psalm (126) refers to the return of exiled people to their homeland having escaped Babylon. The glory days of The Temple, the great Notre-Dame, the age of steam, are similar in being fixed points in history to which people can relate and to which they aspire to return.
In the featured hymn today, StF 334, John Henry Newman writes of the Second Adam. Newman too is praising God for restoration, but he sees the clock being turned back much further than the twelfth century commencement of construction of Notre-Dame. Metaphorically, decay from which restoration is the other side of the coin, commenced at the dawn of time when death came into the world. The second Adam, Jesus has made it possible for us to see death differently. Through His death and resurrection, we can transition from ever increasing decay to total restoration in the kingdom of heaven, with God.
The scaffolding is the cross.
A Prayer
God of restoration and hope, when I sing of age and decay in all around, help me to remember also to praise the holiest in the height and remember that when all was going wrong and there was no way back to humanity’s former self, ‘a second Adam to the fight, and to the rescue came.’
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for restoring my fortunes along with the fortunes of all who put their trust in you. Amen.