We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister* in need and yet refuses help? 1 John 3:16-17
This is Good Shepherd Sunday, with readings which remind us of Christ's compassion and sacrificial love. In may churches the 23rd Psalm will be sung and tears shed as we declare that God walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death.
Today we are sobered by the news out of the remote nation of Nepal where a devastating earthquake has killed more than 2,000 and destroyed the infrastructure for people already living in poverty. I spoke with my 89-year-old mother yesterday who had been watching the news for hours. In her travel agent days she took a group of people to Nepal with Dr. Bob McClure, a former moderator of the United Church. She recalled taking seed to a village where a ceremony was held to present it.
It's important for those of us who live in the "global village," a term coined by Canadian philosopher Marshal McLuhan, to respond to all of God's sheep in their times of distress. The people of Nepal literally live in the deep valleys of the Himalayas and the loss of life and destruction will require an international response. We can choose to be generous and sacrificial as individuals because this is our call to discipleship as followers of Christ.
Thoughts?
Just waiting for information from our Church HQ on donation sites. It is hard to imagine what it must be like to live in an area devastated by such an event - our natural world can be so awesome in its beauty and so terrible in its destructive capacity.
ReplyDelete