"A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more." (Jer. 31:15)
Unbelievable. Unspeakable. Shock.
Our nation prays with the families of Newtown, Connecticut, in response to the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The unanswerable questions of "why", "how", and "could it have been prevented", do nothing to alleviate the sudden horror unleashed upon these innocent children. No attempt on our part will help to explain the evil in our world. Once more we see the spirit of Herod and the Death of Innocents. In this moment, we know our world is broken and far outside the Love and Will of God.
Any attempt to speak of the mystery of suffering and evil will prove to be unsatisfying. Personally, I wish Jesus had said, "Come unto me and I will spare you from these things." But He didn't. Instead He said, "I am with you always." How we need the assurance of His presence now! How we need to hear him say once more, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted; Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
My mind races to all the people impacted at this moment: parents, grandparents, family members, those who served these children lunch at school every day, bus drivers, neighbors, and the list goes on. I find myself praying for them. And I find myself praying for the young man who committed this atrocity and his family. They also need our prayers.
I can't help but hear the words of Romans 5 that keep coming to my mind: "suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces courage, and courage produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us because God's love has been shed into our hearts by the Holy Spirit." It is far too early to understand the words of the Apostle Paul when he reminded us, "All things work together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose." How can this be? Can this moment be transformed by God? Perhaps it is enough to know GOD IS WITH US even in these unspeakable moments.
I certainly know God does not desire evil and hurt. Yet when it comes He knew we needed to be guided in what to do. And so I continue to think about His Sermon on the Mount – “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted; Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God; Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
I will think on these things for a long time.
But first we cry.