Hi everyone,
Tragedy has struck the people of the Lower Mainland.
You have probably heard by now of the awful events that took the lives of 11 people yesterday, a number that the police say may still grow. Whether you knew any of those 11 people or not, we still feel the pain of loss, we feel the suffering of death, we feel the anger at the senselessness of it all.
Because it doesn’t make sense. It shouldn’t have happened. We are supposed to be better than this.
But apparently, we as a society aren’t. Even though we personally might not have committed atrocities such as what happened last night, but we are no less guilty of causing pain, acting selfishly, and being a part of the systems that oppress and destroy.
This isn’t meant to be a guilt trip, but I suppose more of a reality check. That while we might feel anger and even hate toward those who commit awful crimes, let us not jump on the righteous indignation horse and point fingers, shift blame, and think “only them but never us.” We too, are sinners in need of a Saviour.
Lord, have mercy.
Here are the readings for next Sunday:
Acts 9:1-20
Psalm 30
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19
And a video of them being read:
Again, I’m not trying to lay on a guilt trip, but I am trying to say that even in our mistakes, misguided actions, and sin, there is healing. There is reconciliation and restoration. There is forgiveness.
I’m also not trying to absolve the perpetrator’s guilt for what they did yesterday, but I am trying to say that God’s forgiveness and mercy are greater than anything we can throw at them. Without God’s forgiveness, mercy, and redemption, we wouldn’t have an Apostle Paul, we wouldn’t have Peter, son of John, the rock upon which Jesus builds the church, we wouldn’t even have a church. But God remains present in the hurt, remains strong in the pain, and remains our Redeemer in the brokenness.
This doesn’t change the tragedies that we face. This won’t stop the horrors of the world. This might not even make us feel better. But it is God’s promise to us all that we will not be alone, we will never be excluded from God’s grace and mercy, and we will always be regarded as God’s beloved children.
That might be a hard pill to swallow when we apply to the people that we don’t think should deserve it, but maybe we can find peace and hope in knowing and believing that it most definitely applies to us.
For infinite grace, mercy, and love, we give thanks to our God. Peace be with you all.