|
|
by Rev. Fr. V.V. Paulose, Toronto, Canada
"But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay." (Romans 8:21)
Do you see any consolation amidst carnage and
death in families?
On Saturday, 8th January 2011, a US Congress woman was shot in the head in a
shooting spree by a 22 year old man that left 6 people dead and more than a
dozen wounded including a 9 year old girl, Christina Taylor Green born on 9/11
(faces of hope). We are living in a violent, intolerant, murderous and uncertain
world. All media and life situations are filled with scenes of murder and
mayhem. How can we live in this kind of life situation? The world is physically
decaying and spiritually infected with sin. But we need not be pessimistic,
because we have hope for future glory. We look forward to the new heaven and new
earth that God has promised, and we wait for God's new order that will free the
world from sin, sickness and evil. We are guaranteed of our resurrection.
As Christians, we should wean away our children from the exposure of hate words,
violent scenes, and heinous crimes. In our homes and job areas, we should eschew
all types of evil words and actions. Arms and ammunition should be only for the
law enforcement and the soldiers. Moral lessons should be a compulsory subject
in all grades, colleges and universities.
West sent this e-mail to his friend :
"When I picked up Abby today from her first day of school, I noticed along the
walls outside her class, the work the children had done: smiley faces on paper
plates stapled to popsicle sticks. Oddly, Abby's was a frown. At the same time
across town, Suzanne was finding out that the child in her womb had gone to be
with the Lord. It is a sad day for us, I'm sure these tears will soak our
pillows tonight. We know it should not be this way. Our hearts are so profoundly
enlightened in times of pain. We realize we were not created for grief, but joy;
not death, but life! Thanks be to God, though, that we do not grieve as those
without hope. "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of
the Lord" (Job 1:21).
The friend of West wiped the tears from his eyes and responded, "Dearest West, I
love you. I am crying with you. I don't know what to say. I long to be where the
praise is never ending; yearn to dwell where the glory never fades. One day, my
friend, one day."
“You must not murder" ( Exodus 20:13).
Jesus, console the families of the victims of the
Arizona carnage and all others who are in tears. Let the conscience of the world
awaken against murder, hate, and mayhem. The culprits should be punished in thy
justice. All we ask in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Yesterday | Today with Jesus Archives | Next
More Devotionals | Weekly Devotionals | Sermons | Essays | Articles | Bible Study | Library - Home | Baselios Church Home
-------
Malankara World
A service of St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox
Church, Ohio
Copyright © 2009-2020 - ICBS Group. All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer
Website designed, built, and hosted by
International Cyber Business Services, Inc., Hudson, Ohio
