Newtown Tragedy

Rachel Weeping for Her Children

“In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”  Mt. 2:18

After Jesus was born, King Herod’s fear of the baby called “the King of the Jews” led him - in a fit of selfish rage – to slaughter all the male children 2 years and under.  As Matthew writes about it, he was moved by the great grief and mourning in Judea, and he reached back to the time of Jeremiah, where parents grieved for their children who were taken away from them by the Babylonian king.

This has come home to us in recent days as we heard the news from Connecticut about the horror of another shooting, and all the tragic aftermath.  These were senseless and devilish, evil deeds – far beyond our day-to-day barrage of selfish acts, foolish indulgences, and careless injustices.  Not since 9/11 have Americans been so gripped with sorrow and grief and anger.  In our congregation, we have several teachers, principals, and of course many students, parents and grandparents.  We all hurt because of this.  And the families directly affected – God help them all in his mercy and love.

Instinctively, when such tragedies strike, men turn to God in prayer, and reach for one another, sharing the deepest and truest and most God-like features within us.  There are no human words that can really comfort those who lost loved ones, and no explanations that do not sound shallow and empty.  The only thing we CAN do is be quiet and hold one another, and grieve and pray.

But what a blessing if we could turn to the God of all comfort and hope!  If we could hear HIS words in such times!  Matthew tells us that in the very days when the Father was unfolding his plan by sending the Savior into the world, for the drawing and cleansing of men from their own evil ways - while the majestic Son of the Almighty God was still an infant – at that very time, other precious, innocent children were suffering!  They died at the hands of the enemies of righteousness and mercy, and their parents - righteous and unrighteous - grieved.  They asked why, as we do.  They wonder how such could happen, as we do.  They question how God could stand by and watch - as we do. 

But we need to look deeper.  The reason that Matthew recalls the passage from Jeremiah is because of God’s promise there to hear the cries and sorrows, and to restore and heal his people, and to be the caretaker of their little ones. 

Let us take it from His Word that there is much more than we can see or understand or explain in this tragic, broken world.  Let us hold fast what we have confessed – that He lives, that He stands above it all, watching and providing, even though we cannot trace His ways.   Let us hold without wavering that He is the God of all love and mercy and right and good.  That He loves and holds innocent children in his hands.  Of such is the kingdom of heaven.  Though they may be taken from us and from this world, they cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom. 8:38,39).

Let this tragedy make us more compassionate and humble, less complaining about our inconveniences, more patient in our own trials, more tuned to the grief of others, more selfless in bearing their burdens, and more concerned for the health of their souls.

Last night I heard Robbie - the father of one of the children - speak.  It was absolutely stunning.  It humbled me.  He spoke first to offer comfort for the families of the other victims, AND for the family of the shooter.  He spoke words of grace and forgiveness and dignity, even while he could not hold back his tears.  Robbie rejoiced about his little daughter’s beautiful life, her sweet character, and her good heart.  He said her goodness and character were not due to himself and his wife, but were the gifts of “our heavenly Father”.  When asked why he was not angry toward the killer [and I have to confess that I have been], he explained how the young man abused the freedom God gave him, and chose to inflict pain and suffering.  Robbie emphasized that he just wanted to use the freedom God gave him to console and heal and be a comfort and strength for others. 

I do not know any specifics about Robbie’s religious affiliations. But we can be sure that this man was touched by the influence of Jesus Christ and his cross.  No philosopher, no politician, no king, no religious leader outside of Jesus Christ ever THOUGHT of forgiveness and mercy and love and grace in this way.  It only comes from the God of the Bible, and it was written across all time and space in the cross of Christ.  We should all kneel down there and through our tears of grief join with him, take our part with Him! (Col. 1:24f). 

Then we can go to the throne of grace, and there give honor and glory to the one who planned and unfolded it all, and ask Him confidently.   We will find mercy and grace to help us in this time of need, and we will be ready to take, alongside our Lord, our own share of suffering in this world for the sake of his people and his cause.