“See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
There is no way for us to understand why evil rears its ugly head, but it does. As followers of Christ we must respond. Evil affects innocent victims, families and communities, and leaves a nation grappling with ways to prevent future heartaches. All of us look for a way to let our voices be heard on behalf of those who are voiceless. The young children and heroes who lost their lives last Friday in Newtown, Connecticut, are gone but not forgotten.
There is no way to turn evil to good. However, there is a way to respond to evil. Rather than rendering evil for evil, we will pursue what is good. We will remember what their lives meant to those who loved and admired them. We will ask God to give those left behind the strength and courage to face each new day. We will ask God to protect them from the fear that seeks to immobilize them. We will pray for them to seek the face of the Almighty God to lead and guide their future. We will pray for Newtown to be filled with God’s love. We will pray for his light to shine in the darkness.
Our prayers are with the families of these beautiful children: Charlotte Bacon, Daniel Barden, Olivia Engel, Josephine Gay, Ana M. Marquez-Greene, Dylan Hockley, Madeline F. Hsu, Catherine V. Hubbard, Chase Kowalski, Jesse Lewis, James Mattioli, Grace McDonnell, Emile Parker, Jack Pinto, Noah Pozner, Caroline Previdi, Jessica Rekos, Avielle Richman, Benjamin Wheeler and Allison N. Wyatt.
We remember in prayer the families of the heroes who gave their lives serving children: Victoria Soto, Lauren Rousseau, Rachel Davino, Dawn Hochsprung, Anne Marie Murph, and Mary Sherlach. We also remember the family of Nancy Lanza.
