Bishop Jones Writes
...
What does one say in the face of senseless
violence? How shall we respond?
As I watch the
reports from Boston, I am moved to pray for the
victims, the valiant caregivers, and the many
families affected by the bombings. My prayer
is informed by the words of St. Paul in the eighth
chapter of his letter to the Romans. I know
them by heart. I have read them on numerous
occasions in times of grief. They
remind me that in the midst of despair and
disappointment there is hope.
Paul reminds us that
“neither death nor life, nor angels, nor
rulers, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord
(Romans 8:38-39 NRSV).” That love
has been evident in the heroic actions of first
responders and ordinary citizens who came forward
to offer their help. I pray that the
victims, their families, and the caregivers will
be touched by the love of God and by our prayers.
But my prayer cannot
stop there. I cannot ignore that something
very wrong happened in Boston. I cannot
ignore the presence of evil. This attack is
profoundly contrary to the will of God. It
is sinful and wrong. My prayer also has to
be one of standing in prayer against the evil
powers of this world – to pray that God’s love
will prevail over wrong – to pray for protection
for all of us from all assaults of the evil one.
In the Lord’s Prayer,
we pray, “deliver us from evil.” We
also need to pray for God’s will to prevail in the
face of evil. Our prayer is informed by our
Easter faith when we declare in Paul’s words “But
thanks be to God who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ (1
Corinthians 15:57 (NRSV).”
Please pray for all
affected by this tragedy and pray for God’s will
to prevail.
Faithfully,
+ David
David Colin
Jones
Bishop in Residence
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