Father, forgive...

They’ve been a wonderful example to the rest of the world. Having followed the news reports of the terrible killings in Pennsylvania a couple of days ago, I reckon that the response of the Amish is the most beautiful illustration of the Gospel in action. The whole world can point to their efforts to forgive the child murderer and to embrace his widow, whose heart must be breaking beyond anything she could ever have imagined possible. Sure, some of the reports I’ve seen on TV have been over-sentimentalised, but they have not taken away from the quiet dignity of the Amish. I’ve never met anybody from the Amish community and don’t know too much about the concrete details of the way in which they live out their faith, but one thing I do know from the events of the last couple of days: they have a lot in common with the One who prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

God bless,
Sr. Janet