Not
long ago I shared here about the Saskatchewan bus crash and how it affected me
much more than I though it would and then while still coming to turns with that
bus crash, that horrific van crash happened here in Toronto: that fellow ran
down and killed all of those people on Yonge Street, just a few subway stops north
of where we live.
This
just passed Sunday I joined the Toronto community in supporting those impacted
by last Monday’s tragedy at the #TorontoStrongVigil. The event was hosted in
collaboration with community groups Toronto
Area Interfaith Council and Faith in
the City and the. I am a part of that group. It was a real blessing to be a
part of that remembrance, that vigil. Many people shared prayers, songs, words
of encouragement and comfort.
One
of the things that really resonated with me as I was standing with community
members and later clergy from other denominations and faiths was a spirit of
gratefulness.
1 Thessalonians 5:18: Give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
People
were grateful for the support of others. People were grateful for their
community. People were grateful for the response, the love, the giving, and the
forgiving of others. We were thankful.
This
gratefulness, this thankfulness to God is one thing we can offer at this time
as a community to our community in need. We can offer comfort and support to
those of us who are healing through giving thanks in all circumstances; for
this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
And
this is the case for all of us. None of us, I don’t think, leads a life free of
mourning or tragedy. None of us, I don’t think, leads a life free of trials and
tribulations. None of us, I don’t think, leads a life free of troubles and
struggles.
John 16:33: “I
have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this
world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the
world.”
This, I think is the message of hope for me
today. There is trouble in the world. There has always been trouble in the
world and there will probably for many years to come still be trouble in the world.
Sad things happen. We know it is true. Jesus told us so; the Bible tells us so;
and we all have lived and will live through difficult times but, you know what?
Tomorrow the sun will come up and the day will continue and we can take heart
because Jesus has already overcome all of our troubles in the world; so we can
turn to him and experience comfort for yesterday, peace for today and hope for
tomorrow.
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