Open Hands: Pride at Liverpool Cathedral - The Outraged Christ
On display in Liverpool Cathedral, a sculpture of The Outraged Christ by Charles Lutyens, a 15ft high depiction in wood, iron and steel of the crucifixion of Jesus. PHOTO by Rose on Flickr. Click on the image to view in full screen.
“And just like David in the lament of Psalm 13, we may feel that the Lord has forgotten us, and that he has hidden his face from us. In times of injustice, we may cry out to God and wonder where he is.”
AT THE CLOSE of Pride in Liverpool on Sunday 30th July 2023, Liverpool Cathedral and Open Table collaborated to host a reflective service that brought us together and celebrated the vulnerability and visibility of Pride.
The theme of the service took inspiration from the statue of the Welcoming Christ by Elizabeth Frink which stands over the entrance to the Cathedral, greeting visitors to the Cathedral with open hands. We came with open hands to celebrate that God loves us all equally.
Following reflections on the Welcoming Christ, and The Hospitality of Abraham, we moved through the Cathedral to two more points for reflection.
The third was at the sculpture of The Outraged Christ by Charles Lutyens, a 15ft high depiction in wood, iron and steel of the crucifixion of Jesus.
The reflection began with a verse from Psalm 13:
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Merab Gill, Project and Research Assistant for the Diocese of Liverpool, offered this reflection:
Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are injustices that many experience in this world today. Some of us here may have experienced these injustices.
And just like David in the lament of Psalm 13, we may feel that the Lord has forgotten us, and that he has hidden his face from us. In times of injustice, we may cry out to God and wonder where he is.
But, just like David in this psalm, we must put our trust in God’s unfailing love. God’s mercy and grace is good, and he looks with favour on his children. For we are all God’s children and he has not forgotten and turned away from us. No matter what kind of injustice we may face, God is always with us, and we can rejoice in his salvation.
A day will come when God’s kingdom is established on the earth and these lands will be abundant with justice, love, mercy and righteousness.
