Dear Friends,
The growing number of terrorist attacks around the world in the last year or two, combined with other news of distress locally, nationally, and internationally, can make us nearly numb with bad news. And then, every-so-often, a particular event jars us back into painful engagement with the suffering of others. This was so with the terrorist attacks in Paris last week.
But this engagement will fade, too, as more reports come, as political rhetoric heats up, as the patterns of preparation for the holidays reassert themselves and we push away the grief of others’ losses to try to retain a little island of peace and joy with our families.
What often remains in the wake of relentless bad news is fear – for ourselves, our families, our way of life, our security. And that fear can give rise to hatred which perpetuates the cycle of violence and destruction. Good Christians are not immune to anger and the temptation to very non-Christian behavior when what we love is threatened.
I call us to prayer – for ourselves, for those who have died, for those who mourn, and, yes, for our enemies. We have the privilege of being called to partner with God in the restoration of his creation – and that means all of creation, every thing and every person he has created.
I call us to God’s Word – the generous, self-sacrificial agape love Jesus commands us to give one another in the Summary of the Law.
I call us to the courage of faith that keeps fear from preventing our work toward God’s purposes.
And I call us to remember our baptismal vows, which we will reaffirm this coming Sunday with the baptisms of Vivianne and Christopher Miller:
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people,
and respect the dignity of every human being?
We must. We will, with God’s help.
Wishing you every blessing,
Mtr. TJ