Haunting Images, Central African Republic

The images coming out of Central African Republic are haunting and ghastly. . . they remain in my mind long after I click out of the window. A country far from me geographically weighs heavily on my heart. It makes me shudder to consider the levels of depravity that humans are capable of while completely consumed by the sinful passions.

The conflict is cast as sectarian violence, Christian militias murdering Muslim citizens. These murderous mobs crushing limbs and skulls are most definitely not Christians. Such violence was condemned by Christ himself, who adjured his followers to "turn the other cheek" and "love your enemies." In my world, my Muslim neighbors are not my enemies, they are my beloved friends. I pray that given a similar situation, I would find the strength to reach out in love and protect my neighbors, humans created in the image of God Himself, who reached down into our world to release us from the curse of death and the grip of sin through his Incarnation, death and resurrection.

Sometimes when I lie in bed awake with my sweet nursing baby, I pray for all the people and situations in the world that are on my mind. . .of course there are too many for it to be possible to address each individually. I do though believe in the power of the intercessions of the Church on behalf of the whole world. Tonight, I am most especially praying for those in Central African Republic, both the Muslims fearing for their lives, and the so-called Christians whose atrocities demonstrate that they are lost in the dark of sin themselves.

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. . . upon me and upon the whole world.