How do we respond to the latest mass murder?  

Let there be healing in the life of the congregation of the Tree of Life Synagogue after the murder of there beloved sisters and brothers. 

Once again there has been horrendous attack in the USA. This time at a place of worship. Motivated by ignorance, racism and hate, the death of worshipers at Tree of Life Synagogue is terror in its purest form.   The news reports tell us of how many their ages, a few details but not the full story.  There have been a few stories that grab the hearts attention. The two brothers who greeted congregants with smiles and hugs every week. They were intellectually challenged but they knew how to love and belong.  The story of the woman in her nineties who was holocaust surviour.  Professions who served the community.  The story of the Jewish doctors providing medical treatment to the gunner.  The support community for the Tree of Life congregation.  And finally, the anger at the USA president because of his potential responsibility for stirring up anger and refusing to consider the families in his plans to visit.

We want to believe that anti-Antisemitism is not on the rise in the western world but this event says over wise.   As people of Faith we cannot ignore when anyone is killed because of who they are, for their faith.  The spiritual head of the church is Christ and the teachings of Christ is clear, we are called to stand with those who are oppressed.   There is no question that when a gun is pointed, Jesus stands at the side facing the barrow and not at the trigger.   God said so clearly do not murder.  What part of this did we not understand.  Humanity has failed over and over again making death the tool of choice.

In our safe location in the west coast of Canada worshiping in the United Church of Canada we may be feel so removed from the chaos in the USA and other places in the world.  It is true that we are mostly safe.  Yet there are those in our own community that suggest because we welcome LGBTQ+ people that we worship Satan.  This is an extreme theology, but it lives in the hearts of some.    Are we in risk of violence on Sunday morning? Hardly.  But let us not think that we are not sisters and brothers of those who are at risk around the world.   The world is ruled by the fear and emotions of people held captive by their ego.  They are manipulated and pointed like a weapon to tear down and pass on their fear.  If we fear we can be controlled.

We can fear but in doing so we feed the beast that seeks to consume the world.  Let the fear, the anger, the heat end with you.  Like Gandalf on the bridge in the Lord of the Rings we stand before the beast crying out. “You shall not pass.”  There is horror and terror in the world but our task as people of faith, motivated by love is to heal the pain.  We do this by letting the anger disperse on our hearts focused on love, love for God, love for others. We love those who died in the attack and love the fool who believed the lies and killed with anger he couldn’t let go of. 

We weep for the world. We lament the pain and hurt. We cry out to God for healing, but we do not take on the pain and suffering as our own.   In one member of God’s family suffer we all suffer.   Paul uses the body as metaphor for Family of God.  He suggested that is one member suffers all suffer.  The hurting toe impacts the whole body.  The pain in the toe doesn’t make your hand hurt but your hand may have work to relieve the pain.  Maybe the hand holds a cane to take the weight off the injured toe. Likewise, in one congregation of God’s people suffer all God’s people suffer and  we all together yearn for healing, and offer support. 

It is time for the world to know peace and it begins with understanding and empathy for  the suffering of others, and continues as we see one another as members as the same family.  Can we change the whole of the human race by loving and understanding?  Perhaps not by ourselves.   

But remember the Star Fish story.  A man walking on a beach after a violent storm is picking up starfish one at a time and throwing them back into the water.  A second person comes by and mocks him.  Why bother there are thousands of starfish washed up.  Your efforts won’t make a difference.”  The man looks up after throwing one more starfish and says, “made a difference to that one.”  

Your one small act matters.  Make a difference.