“Just Kill Him”
Hosni Mubarak’s life is on the line. The former Egyptian leader is on trial for the murder of 800 protesters during the revolution. The issue for many is not whether he is guilty or innocent but should he himself be killed. For many it is simple; “Just kill him!”
I have noticed how cheap life is in the world. People die or are killed without even a thought in virtually every corner of the globe. Some, they say, are justly killed for crimes, like the two who died with Jesus. But mostly it is the innocents that die, either directly at the hands of evil doers, or indirectly when evil doers refuse to allow humanitarian aid to reach the desperate.
As you know I am a preacher for love so this rush to vengeance and death reaches deep in my soul. How can you and I help make the world more loving, as Jesus would have it? Jesus taught that the evil and the good would grow together until the final judgment, but does that mean there is nothing we can do?
Obviously we are supposed to be agents for God’s love and grace even in the face of tyranny and victimization. The hard part is that vengeance and death seems so removed from us. The truth, however, is that hate and murder are everywhere, even in our own fair city. The question is what can we do?
First, we must remind ourselves frequently and constantly that Love is the most important thing. To that end we gather weekly to hear the Gospel message of God’s love and grace. It is just part of our human learning experience that we need to rehearse the message over and over again, hundreds of times as it cleanses our minds of the stale air of indifference. The repetition speaks to our hearts, as we, ourselves, go through the ups and downs of life, of the supreme importance of, the power of, and the role of love in our lives. Living and learning love is a discipline like going to the gym to keep in shape.
Next we need to be encouraged to do the little things of love. Those little things are like the cells of your body. One, by itself, does not seem to be of much consequence. But many little things working together are organized like the cells of the body of a well-trained technician; precisely applying the corrections to maximize the functioning of the world. You and I must accomplish little acts of love every day on our way to be true representatives of God’s love. It is imperative!
Hate and evil are not omnipotent as some suppose; they are merely terrorizing. Love IS infinite; God is love. Our battle is not so much against the impotent forces of evil, hate and murder. Our battle is to carry the message of God’s love to every corner of the world, beginning with you and me. Let your heart and mind be totally ruled and influenced by the Love of God, every week, every day, and let God’s love flow through you into your world with acts of love every single day. Your love will change your world… if you remember to act.
I love you, Bryan Lee Martin
