by
Margaret Moon |
Acts 10:34-42
Colossians 3:1-4
Matthew 28:1-10 I was sound asleep when the telephone rang, and I looked at the clock with its numbers g1owing in the dark: 1:15 a.m. I looked at the caller I.D. and recognized the name that appeared. As I answered the phone I was told that the church where I was pastor was on fire. I dressed quickly and headed for the church, a 15-minute drive. As I turned the last corner and the church came into view, I could see flames shooting skyward through the roof. The entire neighborhood seemed to be lit by floodlights and there were more pieces of fire equipment then I had ever seen in one place. In the early morning hours, when most people were still asleep, the police made three arrests. Arson. I could imagine the headlines in the newspaper. But why? Why did they do it? What were they thinking? There were many questions being asked and few of those questions seemed to have answers. The damage was extensive. The sanctuary was destroyed and the fellowship hall was badly damaged. We now had no place to worship. What the flames had not consumed or damaged beyond repair was damaged by smoke and water. A news reporter asked, 'What will you tell your congregation on Sunday?' I replied, 'It's only a building. It's time to move forward.' Although the visible damage could be seen, there was damage to the congregation that was not as visible. Many felt violated that their house of worship had been destroyed. Some would not return for worship until they could meet in 'their own church.' Yet Jesus said, in Matthew 18:20, 'Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I with them.' There was also damage in the hearts and souls of the families of the young people responsible for this horrendous act of violence. The church could be rebuilt, but the lives of the affected families also needed to be rebuilt. How was this rebuilding to begin? It began with forgiveness. The process continues. We could not undo what had been done, but we could show compassion and forgiveness to those involved, three teenage boys, and to their families. We do not condone the actions but we must forgive the perpetrators. Jesus has been our example. We must react in the way that shows God's love and forgiveness to those who are outside the family of God. We must allow them to see Jesus in us and working through us. We celebrate Lent with the culmination of Jesus' death on the cross by those who just wanted to get him out of their lives. And we celebrate Easter with the assurance of Jesus' resurrection from the grave. We have risen from the ashes of a devastating fire to celebrate new life in the community. God has not allowed his Word to go forth void but has used us as a witness to what he can do in and through his people if we just stand firm. We have been tested but through it all we have remained faithful. That is what God asks us to do. The Rev. Margaret Moon is pastor of Deer Park UMC in Reisterstown. | 
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