Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Sonnet of Love: Mid-Week Reflection

THE REV. KATHLEEN M. STURGES

In the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in our country, Lin Manuel Miranda, creator and star of Broadway musical, "Hamilton", writes:


We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger
We rise and fall and light from dying embers remembrance that hope and love last forever.
Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.

When hate rages and overpowers and even kills, it certainly does feel like evil is stronger than anything we can muster. Yet although that is the way it feels at time, that is not the truth. Miranda is correct when he proclaims, “hope and love last forever...love is...love cannot be killed or swept aside.” These aren’t just nice words, but truth. It is truth that is revealed and known to us through God in Christ Jesus. It is truth lived out by the One who, empowered by love, endured the vehemence of hate, violence and evil even unto death and then, through Jesus’ resurrection, claimed victory. The worst that the world could throw at him, and at us, did not win the day. Love won and Love is then and now and always.

Oh how I wish that meant the cessation of evil, but obviously it does not. Humanity still suffers tragedies on both a global and personal scale. Even so, there is real hope in the powerful love that is.

We see that hope and love as people pray heartfelt prayers, line up to donate blood, give money on behalf of victims, and gather for vigils. Let us not stop there. May we continue to find ways to act in the power of God’s hope and love that claims victory over every evil seeking to serve Christ in all persons and striving for justice and peace for all

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