This past Wednesday marked the 69th anniversary of the bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima during the Second World War. That one bomb immediately destroyed 80,000 people, mostly civilians, and another 50,000 died at Nagasaki. Ultimately the death toll was between 200 and 250,000 due to the effects of radiation. I have often marked this somber anniversary in worship, usually with origami peace cranes like those pictured above. The story of these cranes is quite touching http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadako_and_the_Thousand_Paper_Cranes
This week the Christian activist Shane Claiborne posted comments, really a verbal repentance, made by the Roman Catholic priest, forty years after the bombings. Father George Zabelka, blessed the pilots in 1945 as they set out on their fateful flights. Zabelka's call to become prophets for peace is well worth reading http://www.redletterchristians.org/chaplain-blessed-hiroshima-bombers-repents/
Once again we are reminded that we are called to be peacemakers in this world of violence by the Prince of Peace.
1 comment:
It doesn't get any plainer than this priest's message ... would that we would all heed it and act on it.
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