Editorial - Create a clean heart in me
03.08.2009
The men of violence continue to shock us with their killing. Whether it is on a personal scale of murder or an organised scale like the recent offensive in Gaza, when the world was appalled by the number of children and civilians killed.
Hamas and Israel blame each other. We know nothing has changed and this killing will happen again on an almost apocalyptic scale in Palestine. We know that children and civilians will be killed in the same numbers and unfortunately this is acceptable by the warring parties.
It is hard to understand how people who kill women and children, whether they are soldiers or not, can go home and live an ordinary life with their families. I often think of Gordon Wilson whose daughter was killed in the Remembrance Sunday bombing by the Provisional IRA in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland in 1987.
He forgave the bombers and said he would pray for them every day. His interview on the BBC had a profound effect on people in Ireland and Britain. People criticised him for excusing the bombers, others were moved to withhold support from the Provisional IRA. He gave a powerful spiritual and moral testimony of Christian faith.
This Lent I am going to spend time with Psalm 51. ‘Create a clean heart in me O God…’ It’s the best I can do.
Fr Gary Walker
TFE@columban.org.au
