Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth

I watched 'The Cult of a Suicide Bomber' on ABC Television last night. But more tan just the entertainment aspect of a 'human interest' story - the widespread suffering and hardship of innocent civilians - it also documented the deep-seated hatred between the Palestinians and the Israelies, as well as the uncompromising psilit between the Muslims and the Jews.

After witnessing streets littered with rubble, ashes as well as maimed and bloodied dismembered bodies, I think I understand better the full force of what Jesus was alluding to in the Beattitudes and the subsequent passages following that.

Indeed it is almost impossible for hte likes of the rich young rulers to enter into the kingdom of God - especially in the Western world in which we live in, insulated by the comforts of our possessions and enshrined in a culture of perfectionsim where all things are possible if only we tried hard enough.

A Jewish girl who was only a few steps away fromher sister when she got blown up in a suicide bombing attack remarked when asked if she could forgive her attackers, 'No. I will never forgive them. They killed my sister, they robbed me of my soul.'

I wonder if I'd be able to respond any differently. It is in times of crisis, of testing that our hearts are exposed - and we speak out of the abundance of our hearts. To embrace the way of the Cross then is built on the premise that I have understood Christ's work on the Cross as He bore the suffering and injustice - putting an end to the vicious cycle of eye for eye, tooth for tooth.

Father in Heaven
Your name be hallowed
Your Kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
Forgive us for our sins as we forgive
Those who have sinned against us
Lead us not into the place of testing
But deliver us from evil
For Yours is the Kingdom
The power and the glory forever
Amen