The violence continues.
On Monday afternoon, three people were killed and scores were injured in Boston. Details are still emerging, but it has unleashed a level of fear – and brought our psyches immediately back to the tragedy of 9/11. We talked with our children last night; and they said that all their friends who had run on Monday reported that they were all right. A priest friend of mine from Massachusetts told me this morning that both of his sons had been at the finish line cheering on friends, but they left before the explosions.
And closer to home, on Sunday afternoon, about two hundred people from many interfaith congregations (including people from nearly twenty congregations in our diocese), gathered at Christ Church, East Orange, to endorse a covenant which commits congregations to work for a reduction of gun violence. One woman told the dramatic story of having two of her sons, in separate incidents, shot to death while minding their own business. After the event on Sunday, she learned that her 15 year old grandson was shot that very afternoon while hanging out in a park. He is in intensive care, but expected to survive.
Our prayers go out to the victims of violence. In Boston, and to victims everywhere. The violence continues.
I suspect I am not alone in harboring a desire for revenge. I acknowledge that feeling, but I have learned that prayer can take me beneath the very real and intensely visceral reaction of hostility to a commitment for peace. Sometimes it takes a lot of prayer to get to there, but prayer and reflection provide a clearer – and safer, place to offer a response.
That commitment to peace may sound empty in the face of continuing violence. It isn’t. A commitment to peace takes work – and lots of it. Work to control our anger, work to get through our fear – and work to make a clear and consistent witness that peace and reconciliation is an antidote – and an answer, to escalating violence.
After the crucifixion, the disciples huddle in a locked room. As recorded in John’s gospel, they were scared out of their wits. The risen Christ appears to them – and his first words are “peace be with you”. (John 20:19) It takes them a while to work through their fear to get to the peace that Jesus literally breathes on them; but they do eventually get it – and become purveyors for Christ’s peace.
We are invited – no, we are expected; to continue that legacy.
Comments
Well said, Mark. Thanks for
Well said, Mark. Thanks for the reminder.
Peace
As I was watching the news today, all of the police cars kept driving by a sign near the main road in Watertown and on the sign was the word, Redeemer. Isn't that absolutely ironic? In the midst of the chaos comes the Redeemer. I pray that my heart and mind will rest on the Redeemer during these horrible and trying times. I pray that I will remember to breathe in the breath of God's peace and then breathe out God's peace in my words and actions. And I pray for all the victims of this horrible crime, those who have died and those who are recovering from terrible injuries. And I pray also for those victims who are receiving unbelievable bombardment and hate messages because of their faith and particular ethnicity. That song that has been around for so long certainly rings true now. "Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now." Thank you Bishop Beckwith for reminding us all to pray.
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