A Prayer for Boston
I hadn’t intended to write about the bombings in Boston. Really, who am I to comment on the suffering
of so many people in the aftermath of such a tragedy? But I also felt almost disrespectful posting
anything else without even mentioning it.
So I will plan to be brief.
When I heard of the bombing, the one emotion I did not feel
was shock. It’s sad to say, but I’d bet
it’s true for many of us. This attack is
the latest in a line of shootings, stabbings, kidnappings, etc. And even terrorism is not shocking. None of us were unaware that terrorists
wanted to kill us.
So though I hope that the government agencies succeed in
finding those who committed this crime and bring them to justice (though I’m
not sure what a culture that protects Kermit Gosnell and calls pro-lifers
terrorists knows about justice), I’m not looking for the bigger context
here. Do I hope that our country will
one day respond to the evil in its midst with humility, repentance and honor of
God; rather than the continued defiance, pride and godlessness that has been
our standard response? Of course. And I hope these things will help people take
their eternal destinies more seriously.
But for now, my only real response is to pray for the
victims. I spent yesterday morning
consumed by a financial crisis that has hit my family. Then I learned of the attack, and the many
people who lost arms and legs; and the family who lost their eight year-old son
to the explosions. My life was suddenly
put back in perspective. Perhaps all we
can do now is mourn with those who are suffering, as we did at Sandy Hook, and
Aurora, and everywhere else. The
politicians can worry about policy and security, and I hope God guides them as
they do.
But me, I’m just going to try, the best I can, to support my
suffering brothers and sisters in prayer.
May God be with them, and may the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the Mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
