In the midst of a horrible tragedy that has affected the lives of so many people, this headline gave me a moment to smile and have hope. I am often reminded by God in moments of challenge and difficultly that He is truly present and looking to fill us with hope and love.
It is the story of the Pascal Mystery which is that of death and new life. In the many funerals services that I have presided over it never fails that I look around the crowd of mourners to see but a reminder of new life in a baby boy or girl. That baby reminds me that life goes on and despite the pain we experience and endure there is reason to have hope as we can see the joy and innocence in the face of that baby. The life of a child has a weird way of reminding us of what is really important. Children can turn our frowns upside down in a mere moment. Children can put things in perspective in ways that the most intelligent of all adults could never do. Children help us to know there is a future and there is newness of life that awaits us all. It doesn't surprise me at all that God would choose to enter the world as a baby boy to remind us of Emmanuel, God is with us. That little child would soon grow up to be our Good Shepherd leading us once more from death of our sins to the newness of life in the Resurrection.
No one person can ever replace the life of a loved one. Yet we can never forget that even in our pain and in the questions we have, Jesus remains present helping us through and reminding us he is The Good Shepherd who will never abandon us, his sheep.
So when you and I encounter such unexplainable violence and pain, let us turn from anger and revenge to be bound together in prayer and support keeping our eyes fixed on our God waiting to see where He will bring forth newness of life.
"We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body."
- 2 Cor 4:7-10
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/07/24/baby-man-wounded-in-colorado-movie-theater-massacre-is-born/#ixzz21bvLjmaC
Thank you Father - Your words, so elequently spoken, has given peace to someone just trying to make sense of all this. My prayers will continue for all the families and victims involved in this tragedy.
ReplyDelete