Tag Archives: Mass Shootings

Simply Love

Eastertide

April 17, 2021

Scripture Reading: Luke 24:36b-48

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. –Luke 24:36-43

As children, my sister and I sang a duet of a song titled, It Is No Secret What God Can Do. The song was sung by everybody from Jim Reeves to Elvis Presley to Mahalia Jackson and my sister and me. I thought of that song when I read the above scripture. It may not be a secret what God can do, but for many, at least at times, God’s capabilities are undiscernible. I found it interesting that the disciples could believe in ghosts but not in a man resurrected, one they could touch and feel. We humans, I fear, try to make life more complicated than it is or needs to be. Jesus’ message was simple and straightforward, love God and love one another. The source of abundant life for all people is the very Creator of the world. Can we at least recognize God might know how he created the world to work well?

I awoke this morning to the news of another mass shooting, this time in Indiana. A reporter interviewed a man who had just learned his relative had not been killed or injured. The man was greatly relieved but noted he was among a group of people who had lost family members, and though overjoyed that his relative had survived, he mourned with those who had lost a brother or sister or child or parent. He added, “Why can’t we just love one another?”

The chimes of time ring out the news, another day is through
Someone slipped and fell, was that someone you?
You may have longed for added strength your courage to renew
Do not be disheartened, I have news for you
It is no secret what God can do
What he’s done for others he’ll do for you
With arms wide open, he’ll pardon you
It is no secret what God can do

There is no night for in his light you’ll never walk alone
You’ll always feel at home, wherever you may roam
There is no power can conquer you while God is on your side
Take him at his promise, don’t run away and hide
It is no secret what God can do
What he’s done for others he’ll do for you
With arms wide open he’ll pardon you
It is no secret what God can do*

Prayer: Creator of all, help us to love one another as you have loved us. Amen.

*It Is No Secret What God Can Do by Stuart Hamblen see at https://www.google.com/search?q=it+is+no+secret+what+god+can+do&rlz=1C1CHZN_enUS922US922&oq=it+is+&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j46j0l2j69i60l3.2684j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Let Clean Hearts and Minds Prevail

Lent
March 6, 2018

 Scripture Reading: Numbers 21:4-9

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.’ Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.’ So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

 Having grown up on a farm, I learned to respect snakes from an early age. Rattlesnakes were the most common poisonous snakes in my area, but we also had water moccasins, copperheads, and cottonmouths. I also learned that all snakes were not poisonous and that snakes were an important part of our ecosystem. My guess is the Israelites were well acquainted with Egyptian snakes but had to learn about the snakes of the Arabian Desert as they escaped from slavery. Dealing with the unfamiliar is challenging. I am not sure what to make of Moses’ solution to the problem. I do know that when our world changes we often must find new solutions to old issues.

Jesus asks the following question to his listeners:

Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11)

I thought about what Jesus said when I heard the youth, who survived the Parkland, Florida School shooting, speak so eloquently about the need to find a new solution to gun violence. Perhaps the verse popped into my mind because the lectionary reading dealt with snakes. Though I never think such thoughts are mere coincidences. God is calling all of us to search deeply into our souls and do what is right, not politically correct, not what will get someone more financial support for the next election, and not because we think our personal rights are paramount to the detriment of others. I do not have the answer, and it is a complex issue, but before we take on the task of figuring it out we must get our hearts and minds aligned with God and then carve out a right and just solution.

Prayer:  Lord, create in us clean hearts and minds to see issues from your viewpoint and to reshape our society to follow your ways ruled first and foremost by love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.