"Good! We got the bastard!"

Since waking up Monday morning to the news of a US Navy Seal covert operation that invaded a compound in Pakistan and killed one of the most wanted criminals in the world, who for most Americans is THE personification of evil, Osama bin Laden,  I have been filled with conflicting thoughts and emotions.

Upon hearing the news, I must confess that my immediate thought was, "Good! We got the bastard!"  I made my hand into a fist with a gesture of victory.  It's true!  But...that didn't last for long.  The joy of revenge and retaliation is always fleeting, even if justified.  The dead are still dead.  The towers are still down.  The nation and the world have been changed forever and that will not change even though bin Laden is dead.

My momentary joy was overtaken with the shame of my sinful reaction, truth of the broken state of the world in which we live and our desperate need for a Savior.   We live in a world where hatred, prejudice, and violence are very real.  We live in a world where at times there can be the palpable presence of clear and present dangers.

But, we are a people who profess faith in Jesus Christ, whose name is "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, PRINCE OF PEACE."  (Isaiah 9:6) This is the one to whom we give praise and glory.  Let us remember the words we heard on Maundy Thursday, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.  Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) 

I am not advocating that we bury our heads in the sand and allow ourselves to be threatened or terrorized. We are to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves," indeed.  (Matthew 10:16)  To be a Christian does not mean that we allow ourselves to be bullied or abused, nor do we allow it for others.  And while unfortunately there are times when violence becomes the means by which, in our broken way, we bring something to an "end" - though it really is not an end - we cannot celebrate and applaud it. 

I was troubled to see our citizens rejoicing in the streets, cheering, and waving our flag.  As Christians, we do not rejoice in death.  We do not applaud murder.  We do not celebrate violence and killing.  When our human condition finds no other way forward except through violence and death, even if "justified," we should not celebrate in the streets.  Rather, we should fall to our knees and pray for God's mercy upon our souls and the souls of our enemies. 

I am reminded of the Jewish midrash that after the Egyptians had been drowned in the Red Sea and the children of Israel were safe, the angels were rejoicing in heaven, but God stopped them and would not allow it, "The works of my hands are drowning in the sea, and you wish to sing praises?" (Talmud Tractate Megillah 10b)   Though you and I may have enemies and hold hatred in our hearts, though they may have committed great evil against us - we shall not rejoice in their death! 

Am I glad we got him?  Yes.  Am I proud of our President?  Yes.  Am I proud of our soldiers, who day in and day out risk their lives for our freedom and for the freedom of others?  Yes.  But, I do so always praying that the words of the prophet Isaiah would come to pass sooner rather than later.  Our world has experienced enough hate and bloodshed.  We've buried enough soldiers and innocent victims.  We've made enough guns and built enough bombs.  O that we may, "beat [our] swords into plowshares, and [our] spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."  (Isaiah 2:4b)

God have mercy on our souls and upon the souls of our enemies that one day we shall be united one to another in your merciful and reconciling arms.

In Christ,

Paul+

   

For Peace

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

 

For Peace Among the Nations

Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

For our Enemies

 O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth: deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority

O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that, being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to the President of the United States, the Governor of this State, and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

For those in the Armed Forces of our Country

Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.