May 1, 2019
Dear Beloved in Christ:
Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
"We are hurt. We are angry also, but still, as the senior pastor of Zion Church Batticaloa, the whole congregation and every family affected, we say to the suicide bomber, and also to the group that sent the suicide bomber, that we love you, and we forgive you."
– Pastor Roshan Mahesan from a video posted on Facebook by The Life, a nonprofit organization based in England. See the post and watch the video
These words of the pastor whose church in Sri Lanka was attacked on Easter Sunday by terrorists, are powerful and challenging.
As is the message of Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein who was shot in an attack on his worshipping congregation on April 27 in Poway, CA.
Shortly after the attack, Rabbi Goldstein, who witnessed the death of a parishioner, said “I ask that we all do something – something – to add more light to combat this evil darkness that’s out there. And that can happen through acts of compassion, love, and kindness.”
After each horrific event, I found myself wondering how we can forgive such atrocities? Then I am reminded by these faithful witnesses to respond out of my faith rather than react out of anger.
Pastor Mahesan was demonstrating his Christian discipleship in a country that includes Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, and other faiths, as well as those of no faith.
He is modeling Christian discipleship by offering the love of Christ, which supersedes all barriers, anger, and pain, while echoing the words of the Risen Christ who cried from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
Friends, Easter people, the Christ who engaged in conversation with his disciples on the way to Emmaus is challenging us to let love conquer fear and death. The living Christ demonstrates that love has the final word. He calls us to live, and work, and walk in the light of that love.
What does it mean to be a Christian in such a time as this and to offer forgiveness to others in the midst of our pain?
What does it mean to demonstrate the genuine love of Jesus Christ to those who hate us, for no reason other than our skin color, accent, sexual orientation, political views or faith?
It means that we do not react out of fear and anger but live in the light of Christ’s love.
May our prayer be:
God help me, show me the way,
and grant me the courage to glorify you
by following the Risen Christ
and trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Kindly remember that God loves us all, and there is nothing we can do about it!
In Christ’s love,
Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar
