We sing in church a hymn that says: "There's wideness
in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea." For me some days require
much faith to believe this to be true, but who am I to question God's
capabilities? Also, when I read 2 Samuel 12:14 and how God decided to kill
David's son with Uriah's widow when the child had no fault, I have a hard time
understanding God and doubt increases in me for brief a moment. However, I really believe that doubt
is part of faith and not the opposite, as some claim.
Now, we look at the news of the Orlando shooting today which
is the biggest mass shooting in US history, and I wonder where God’s mercy is?
Of course, Texas Lt. Governor, Dan Patrick decided to tweet Galatians 6:7: “Do
not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows,” as soon as
the Orlando shooting news broke. This verse came across his mind before
anything else because perhaps in Sola Scriptura Evangelicalism the belief is
that the Scriptures can be fully understood by the reader, and perhaps he
believed this event was God's judgment to all the victims and their families. The
tweet was later deleted and a Psalm 37:39 tweet basically replaced it, apparently.
Of course, I don't know how Dan Patrick would apply this
reaping what you sow concept to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting back
on December 14, 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut when Adam Lanza shot and killed
20 innocent children, including 6 adults and his own mother. I think about all
the killings, and realize that humans are killing humans, and not God. Evil
exists and it is manifested by humans, just ask all the Holocaust survivors
that were victims of the Nazis during WWII? But, what can we do to stop evil?
Well, I think Jesus had the solution when he said: "love God, and love
your neighbor as yourself.” St. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:13: "So
faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is
love."My thoughts on the answer to all the things happening today and how
we should respond is that we need to just love, and show love to all
increasingly. The Beatles were even saying it in a song years ago: “All you
need is love….” Jesus said: “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones
would cry out (Luke 19:40).” Don't be silent, speak out and manifest love, I
don't think that rocks need to replace us in speaking the truth. I think I am
done for now. Thank you for reading. Blessings!
Reference:
RSV Bible