Wolf,
Thank you for sending along this message to the Saxony List! It gives me
great comfort as we all ask WHY this tragedy happened.
Audrey
In a message dated 4/17/2007 5:06:42 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
saxonyroots@charter.net writes:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
As we learn more details of the horrific shootings on April 16th at Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University, we offer our deepest sympathies
to and sincere prayers for the families and friends of the victims, as well
as to the faculty, staff, and students at the university.
Our church body, through the offices of our Southeastern District, our
participation in Lutheran Disaster Response, and other means, will do
everything it can to minister to those in the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg,
Va., communities.
I understand that in our own university system, a number of our Concordia
colleges and universities will be holding vigils and special chapel services
today. In your own prayers and meditations, you might consider following
the lead of Concordia College, Bronxville, N.Y., by centering your thoughts
on the laments of Psalm 10 and the stanzas of Lutheran Service Book [hymn]
No. 764, "When Aimless Violence Takes Those We Love."
Undoubtedly, many questions will continue to surround the events of this
awful day. What could have caused such an outrageous action? Why did so
many have to die? How could such a tragedy have been prevented? Some may
even question, "Where was God?" The circumstances for such questions remind
us of the broken and fallen world in which we live, where evil still has its
day as the "devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to
devour."
While one may never be able to explain fully to satisfaction the many
queries of this incident, one can find the answer for hope in such times in
the Lord Jesus Christ. The Easter message of His resurrection reminds us
that He has destroyed the power of sin, death, and the devil. From the
hollowness of an empty tomb comes the message of comfort and healing that
alone can fill the emptiness of lives left vacant by the sadness and sorrow
in the tragic death of fellow students and family members and friends. In
the most tragic of circumstances we have hope, for God is there "reconciling
the world unto himself in Christ."
Even though we cannot in this life fully understand the mysteries of God, we
can be sure of His love for us. Amid the dangers of our sinful world and
fragile, fleeting lives, we turn to Christ as our eternal comfort and hope.
We find solace in St. Paul's words to the Romans: "For I am convinced that
neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor
the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in
all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in
Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:38-39).
Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick
President