Events

Suicide Bombings

In the wake of suicide bombings in Casablanca and Jerusalem. Firm conviction and fanaticism are not far from one another, it seems to me.

What fervour and tenacity
leads people to destroy
themselves, and others, with the bombs
that terrorists deploy?

Are these the same that led a man,
with soldiers in the night,
to trumped up charges, then a cross,
that sought to snuff love's light?

Was Jesus not as fervent for
the cause he would pursue,
as willing to betray his life,
as constant in his view?

A desp'rate need, a firm belief,
so sure of what was right,
but tinctured with the love of God,
drove Jesus on that night.

And all the language we would use
to denigrate and tear
at terrorists, we might apply
to Jesus were he there;

Save this, yes, saving this alone,
when Jesus hung and died
he showed God's love to enemies,
love could not be denied;

And as he hung and suffered there
all hatred was defused,
as he forgave his torturers
and left the world bemused.

18/5/2003
Andrew Pratt © Stainer & Bell Ltd. Available for local use by those having a CCL Licence. Administered in the USA by Hope Publishing

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