Eight
of the Nine, shot and killed in Charleston, S.C. church – Stories of their
family’s forgiveness. - NYT 6-20-15
Clockwise from top L; Susie Jackson--Sharonda Coleman-Singleton-DePayne Doctor--Ethel Lance--Daniel Simmons Sr--Clementa Pinckney--Cynthia Hurd--Tywanza Sanders
What happened in at the AME Church in Charleston, S.C. contains
a message for all of us. Racism and
hatred can be mortal sins. Our country must
renounce them, and the violence tools that inflict their pain, if we wish
redemption. May the Lord bless and
comfort the people of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, and their
whole community.
Jesus Calms the Storm -- From yesterday's Gospel, Mk 4:35-41
"Who is this whom both the wind and the sea obey?"
The terrible mystery of this young white man, assassin for an idea. Who can attend a prayer and
scripture meeting for one hour and then shoot to kill? But isn’t that what we are training our young
people across the globe to do—the troops or insurgents with their chaplain or
imam, almost every day of war, pray and then pass the ammunition? {And multiple movies, websites and video games
celebrate mass violence.}
Racism and War are co-conspirators
h, but they shoot enemies. Yes, with every enemy some mother’s son, or father’s
daughter. God sent His Son to tell us
this is not the way—is never the way. Some
Christians say that though we are individually to be filled with His nonviolent
love and mercy, we must be able to bodily defend ourselves collectively, kill
for the good of family and society. We
can take up sword if necessary to protect God’s worldly kingdoms, until Christ
comes to reclaim us in the rapture of end times.
My Catholic church also has taught that one has the right
and duty of self-defense with lethal force if need dictates. Kill rather than be killed. This dictum dates from the time of St. Ambrose,
St Augustine, and Emperor Constantine some 300 years after Jesus. It is not the same as His Good News—He lives
dies and is resurrected in the Gospels—which was bad news for the nations of
the world, as they required subjects to fight, to preserve a Holy Roman Empire,
and every empire since.
Survival, by any means necessary, is the prime directive
of every nation state and faction—in contrast, each and every one of us
individuals is destined to die.
t is true we must courageously confront evil with every moral
fiber of our being, dependent on the inspired grace of God. Yet we are promised salvation and eternal life
if only we follow Jesus’ example and directive, “Love your enemies, pray for
those who persecute you.” We are all
sinners but redeemed, as we join with Him in his mercy, even at point of death
by execution, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
There are supremacist ideologies that must be combated
with all our heart and soul. For hatred
is weak love, as Thomas Merton said, and reserves for itself privatized
idolatries. God’s love welcomes
all. The beloved community of Emanuel
African Methodist Episcopal Church is showing us the way—forgiveness, and
putting away the swords of weapons and hatred.
“Returning violence for violence multiplies
violence,
adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness:
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” -- Dr. Martin Luther King
adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness:
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” -- Dr. Martin Luther King
Lorraine Hotel, Memphis, TN, on day Martin Luther King was assassinated, April 4, 1968
And in the NYT 6-20-15
“The occasion was a
bond hearing, the first court appearance of the suspect, Dylann Roof, for the
murders, thought to be racially motivated, of nine black men and women during
Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on Wednesday night.
It was as if the
Bible study had never ended as one after another, victims’ family members
offered lessons in forgiveness, testaments to a faith that is not compromised
by violence or grief. They urged him to repent, confess his sins and turn to
God.” Full story of forgiveness at this site --
Be Not Afraid
Pope Francis has just released his encyclical on the need for justice and truth, as we respect our environment, our planet earth, and the rights of the world's poor. Please take time, and begin to read and pray, here -- http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html
Illuminations by Kathy Brahney
Illuminations by Kathy Brahney
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