Joy Stolen
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.”
Matthew 2:18 – The Slaughter of the Innocents
The anger and outrage that I feel about this mass murder defies words. As a mother and as someone who works in the schools I believe that our mantra should be
“AND SHE WOULD NOT BE CONSOLED”
until things change. What is happening to us?
I looked for God in this, and while I know that he was present with the children in the love and care of the adults who may have died for them, I am more concretely aware of God’s presence in the knowledge that everything has it’s opposite. This was sheer evil and I know that means that there is sheer goodness.
Rachel weeps, but not alone.
Annette, you are right that Rachel does not weep alone. I believe that all around the world people are weeping and praying but most importantly, our Lord is weeping, not only for the loss of life and the horror of the incident, but for the horror in our society that is at the root of such violence and tragedy. May God’s presence be very real to all those who are grieving.
Lynda, I agree. That is my prayer that they know they are not alone.