Today in worship, we heard the names of 11 people who died in the war this week. Every week we hear more names, sometimes fewer, sometimes more. Every week I wonder about the families and friends of those dead.
Every week I feel the grief released from all those broken hearts. And this is only for those whose names we read at worship. Oh, God, what of all the others? What of those whose names we do not know?
Oh, God, surely you did not invent this. Surely it is not your will that we should kill and maim. Some of my sisters have seen the fruits of their labors buried by war. I am grateful and indebted beyond measure. I grieve with them, pray for them, hope for them. I will do what I can to help with the healing.
Teach us to be your peacemakers, God. We are your children. We seek justice for all, trusting that the well-being of all will surely include us and those we love.
May we one day rejoice with you and all the saints when war is no more and our children live in peace.
On this day in 2001, terrorist attacks claimed the lives of 2,996 people. This message was adapted from “Lament and Hope” written by Catherine Malotky that first appeared in the April 2008 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine.
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