We were deeply saddened to hear of the horrific news of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut today. As parents to elementary school children, we can only begin to imagine the immense grief and pain that so many families on the East Coast are experiencing today. Our heartfelt prayers and sympathy go out to them.
During the Christmas season when as Christians we are called to celebrate hope, peace, joy and love, how do we reconcile the message of this holiday season with experiences of pain, sin and death?
When faced with the reality of evil in this world, we remember that at Christmas, God sent Jesus to be the savior of the world. As Christians, we have experienced God’s peace and forgiveness, but we are still waiting for the whole earth to experience this peace. So while we pray that God will give his peace to those who personally suffer as a result of the events of this day and we commit ourselves to share the message of peace with those around us, our ultimate hope is for Christ, the Prince of Peace, to come again.
Isaiah 9 tells us that “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Jim and Lisa Samra