The reading from the Book of Wisdom praises the diversity of God’s creation and promises that all created things, being of God, will be spared. Indonesia was not spared this week from a string of natural disasters that included an earthquake, tsunami, and volcanic eruption. Also not spared was the “spiritual guardian” of the mountain that erupted, who was buried by the mountain’s thick ash while at prayer.

Mount Merapi, on the outskirts of the city of Yogyakarta on Java island, first erupted on Tuesday, a day after a tsunami pounded remote islands in western Indonesia. The death toll in the tsunami was near 300, said West Sumatra provincial disaster official Ade Edward.

The tsunami, triggered by a 7.5 magnitude quake that struck west of South Pagai, one of the Mentawai islands, flattened several villages and a surf resort. At least 411 people are still missing, Edward said.

Indonesians posted tributes via Facebook and Twitter to the volcano’s widely-loved custodian, 83-year old Mbah (grandfather) Maridjan, regarded as a protector who used a combination of Islamic and animist rituals in an effort to keep Mount Merapi under control. The mountain is seen as sacred in the region, the home of ancient Javanese spirits.

“Every day will I bless you,” the psalmist promises the Lord this Sunday. For years Maridjan had led ceremonies at the volcano, dispersing rice or flowers in or around the crater in an effort to appease the spirits.

Even after an eruption alert was issued and most villagers on the slopes of Mount Merapi had been evacuated, Maridjan stayed put. “I’m so used to being at home, it’s better for me to just stay here and pray,” he said. He was reportedly found dead in a prayer position in his house as rescuers also dug out more than two dozen more victims in the area.

Source: Articles by Sunanda Creagh and Olivia Lang for BBC News