Retaliatons

Once again, terrorists have attacked innocent citizens, taking life indiscriminately, with no concern for anyone. Once again, we rage against the madness, standing in solidarity with those who have been attacked with no provocation. We change our Facebook profile pictures, we post condolences and we shout out our anger.  And, we call for retaliation.

Retaliation. This is where I become divided. Yes, we want to do something, anything, to stop the taking of innocent lives, the fear living in our streets that causes us to stay home behind closed doors and pray the terror does not come to visit our lives. But, retaliation? Bombings, air strikes, 'hitting them back.'  Is this the answer? The taking of yet more lives? We know that not all the lives taken will be from those who side with the terrorists, some will be as innocent as those taken in Paris just days ago. And all that are taken will be ones given to them by the same God we pray to daily.

Where does it all end? You attack us, we hit back, you become angry and attack us again, and  the cycle goes on and on. And, as we call for bombing the terrorists, are we forgetting the season, the time of year we are entering? In just a few weeks, Christians all over the world will enter Advent, the time of waiting for the Christ Child at Christmas.  And, what did that Christ teach us? Was it to 'hit 'em back', or was it Peace?  In the time of year when we should be celebrating peace, good will to all, we are instead fixated on retaliations.

I don't know the answers. I can't begin to say what we can do to stop the madness. Especially when the perpetrators of the bombings in Paris seem so hell bent on wiping out any and all who do not follow their faith, their rules. If we do nothing, we are seen as weak, easy prey.  If we fight back, we are condemned for taking their lives, as, to them, their lives are more important than ours.

And, even here, I use their, them, us, ours.  Our Lord came to unite us, to make us one people with God our Father.  He came to bring peace and joy and love to a world filled with war, unrest, and hate. And still we haven't learned that lesson, even after He died to teach it to us. Still we fight and rage and hate.  I fear it will take the second coming of our Lord to end it all.

In the mean time, while we feel we cannot sit back and do nothing in return for the harm given to France, can we at least, in this of all seasons, pray for all involved? For the repose of the souls of those lost, for the comfort of those left behind, and, yes, for those who did the deed, that, some day, they will see the light, will see the wrong in their ways, and come to see the beauty and worth of all life, not just theirs.  In this season of peace, can we pray for real peace, in our hearts as well as throughout the world, and for the understanding that only Jesus can give us. He was beaten, whipped, scourged, and crucified. And in His last breaths, he prayed for those who hurt him, not for retaliation, but for forgiveness.   May we all experience at least a small part of God's peace in the coming weeks. Blessings one and all.