Worshippers in Baghdad

WHAT DOES ALLAH NOT UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE WORD MURDER?

Christian people need to hear from our Moslem brothers and sisters a clear denunciation of the massacre of Christian worshippers in Iraq. We need to see Fatwahs issued against the perpetrators; an affirmation that Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate, hates what they did; and that the Prophet, peace be upon him, is dishonoured by their actions. Many of us denounced the criminal invasion of Iraq; and we acknowledge that it has made the position of Iraqi Christians more difficult; but nothing can excuse these killings.

This blog follows the daily bible readings of the Catholic Church

Reading 1, Wisdom 3:1-9

1 But the souls of the upright are in the hands of God, and no torment can touch them.

2 To the unenlightened, they appeared to die, their departure was regarded as disaster, 3 their leaving us like annihilation; but they are at peace.

4 If, as it seemed to us, they suffered punishment, their hope was rich with immortality; 5 slight was their correction, great will their blessings be. God was putting them to the test and has proved them worthy to be with him;

6 he has tested them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a perfect burnt offering.

7 At their time of visitation, they will shine out; as sparks run through the stubble, so will they.

8 They will judge nations, rule over peoples, and the Lord will be their king for ever.

9 Those who trust in him will understand the truth, those who are faithful will live with him in love; for grace and mercy await his holy ones, and he intervenes on behalf of his chosen.

These words can stand today as epitaph for the brave worshippers killed in their church in Iraq. People will say that they were foolhardy to have persisted in active observance of their faith, when there had already been attacks on churches. Rather we should praise their faithfulness to Christ and to the church everywhere, giving us an example which may shame our lukewarm commitment. The imagery of sparks comes from the custom of burning stubble after harvest. When all the dross is cleared from the world by God’s justice, their lives will shine out.

Worship in Baghdad

Gospel, Romans 5:5-11

5 We are offered a hope which will not let us down, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.6 When we were still helpless, at the appointed time, Christ died for the godless. 7 You could hardly find anyone ready to die even for someone upright; though it is just possible that, for a really good person, someone might undertake to die. 8 So it is proof of God’s own love for us, that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. 9 How much more can we be sure, therefore, that, now that we have been justified by his death, we shall be saved through him from the retribution of God. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more can we be sure that, being now reconciled, we shall be saved by his life! 11 What is more, we are filled with exultant trust in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already gained our reconciliation.

All suffering according to Paul fills up the suffering of Christ; all apparently useless suffering participates in his redemptive suffering “for the godless”-meaning all of us who by our actions deny God. God’s way of dealing with sinners and enemies is clearly revealed, Paul says, in Christ’s sacrifice. As we are faced on the cross by the image of what we have done, we are at once persuaded of our wrongness and offered reconciliation. Paul cannot get over the marvel of this love: Christ died for us while we were still sinners!

Above the deeds of hate and the calls for revenge Christian people must always sing the song of reconciliation.