Dear Friends,
In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 13:4-13) we find a description of Christian love.
“ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
When described in this way, we are treated to a practical example of love in action, otherwise, we are in danger of sentimentalizing the subject until it loses it potential to be a powerful influence in our lives and in the world.
Love can also empower us to ask for help for those who need it most. Our gospel reading on Sunday, (Mark 7:24-37) tells the story of a mother who pleads to Jesus for healing for her daughter. And when the mother returned home, the girl was healed.
The power of mothers and fathers to fight for their children is one of the most powerful forces in nature. So, I am surprised when the pleas of the parents of Sandy Hook victims or from any school shooting tragedy are ignored by the powers at large. Just this week in Georgia, another shooting atrocity has happened in a school, killing two students and two staff. It is not enough to ask for thoughts and prayers, or to blame the situation on mental health. Lethal weapons, especially AR15 assault rifles and other automatic weapons should be restricted and hard to acquire unless we work in law enforcement. They are not necessary for personal protection or hunting. This seems like common sense to most people.
So, when a mother or father comes on our screens again, asking for an effective response to gun atrocities, perhaps we should take them more seriously with the kind of love that is tired of being patient with thoughts and prayers and instead will get things done.
Pastor Cliff