What used to be unimaginable has now become horrifically common in our society. Maniacal, sadistic people not just intending harm upon others, but now; targeting children. Is there a greater form of cowardice beyond intentionally bringing harm to a child? What happened in Minneapolis this week wasn’t a tragedy — it was an act of pure evil. My heart breaks for the children who will never forget the trauma inflicted upon them. The sounds of gunshots… the screams of the frightened… the panicked confusion… the cries of the wounded to fill nightmares in the years to come. Families forever harmed in just a moment… and none more than the two who will bury a child.
Upon hearing the news my first initial response was one of horror with thoughts of: “How could someone do something so vile?” But after the initial shock wore off; anger began to boil. Anger at the act… anger at the pain… anger at the perpetrator… and anger that the coward took his own life after he reeked such devastation. I admit, I actually prayed for God to pour out his wrath on this person as he now had to face The Divine Judge. I know my heart was far from Christ-like in my plea for vengeance, because I wanted him to suffer… just as he made others suffer.
Once when Jesus was asked about how people would know that the world is coming to an end he replied by saying: Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…” Matthew 24:12 What is wickedness? Wickedness is anything that is sinful and against God’s holiness. Wickedness is evil. Wickedness leads to a lack of love because it devalues what God ultimately upholds — goodness, morality and love. Wickedness cannot express love… it expresses contempt for love — it expresses hate. We see that reality so much in our world today. Hate for one nation to another, hate for a difference in skin color or ethnicity, hate even for those of a different political persuasion. Has the love of most grown cold? It would seem so. Is it any wonder that Jesus would tell his disciples that the world will know that they are Jesus’ followers by the love that they have for one another? (John 13:35)
We learned that this evil person left behind some written documentation that give insight into his corrupted heart. On one of the magazines he used to load his rifle that he shot innocent children and adults with while they prayed, he wrote the phrase: “Where is your God now?” The phrase is an indication that he believes he can somehow bring harm to at least the thought of God, if not God, Himself.
Where is God now? Can the actions of an evil, depraved human being somehow affect God or thwart his will? Of course not. A person is but a speck of dust beside The Almighty (See David’s thoughts on that in Psalm 8). We will confess to sometimes wondering why God allows certain things to happen, but evil actions do not control or harm God in any way. So where is God? God is where he has always been — seated on the throne of Heaven.
But, my friend… God is also in the hearts of his people. The Holy Spirit lives in us! And since the world is experiencing an increase of wickedness and the love of most has grown cold it is absolutely essential that the world KNOW that we are Jesus’ disciples… BY OUR LOVE. Love isn’t a Christian buzz-word even though many Christians and churches treat it as such. It is not merely the tag line in a hundred worship songs. Love is the expression of God living within us!
Today I ponder, if that shooter had experienced the expression of love found in those who have God living within them — would things have been different in his life? Perhaps… maybe not, but one thing is certain — while the love of most grows cold… the love of the Christian needs to burn hot. Yes, we are commanded to love, but the very first fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5 is, in fact, “love”. How do we know the Holy Spirit is indwelling within us? Love.
May God bring healing to the families and children of Annunciation Catholic School. May he draw people to himself in the midst of this demonstration of evil. And as our world experiences the increase of wickedness as the love of most grows cold, may Christians stand against hate — and it starts with our love for one another.
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