LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS
Christian viewpoint - Light out of Darkness
On the fifteenth of August last year people were going about their business in Omagh's Main Street. Families out together shopping, young people on a visit from Donegal. Shop assistants serving customers. There was a festival taking place. The street was packed with people.
Unknown to them a car was approaching the town packed with the instruments of death and destruction. Into that light-hearted and care-free scene came the forces of darkness wrecking havoc on people and property young and old and unborn!
The Omagh bombing stands as a stark reminder of how low human depravity can descend. It also called forth outstanding feats of courage and heroism. A whole community rallied round to offer help and support. Grief was felt far outside the confines of Omagh itself. So, too, contributions to the Omagh Appeal for the victims of the tragedy came from far and wide. The recent visit of the Manchester United football team was just one example of how so many groups wanted to offer whatever help they could.
The people who suffered most the bereaved and the injured over the past year have been inspiring examples of resilience and hope. They still have heavy burdens of grief and pain to bear and are in constant need of our prayers. Those who came to their aid on that fateful day - the doctors, nurses, ambulance service, police, army, fire service, bus drivers, ordinary people on the spot, local clergy, will never forget the harrowing scenes - nor will their invaluable service ever be forgotten. They were lights shining in the darkness.
St. Paul exhorting us not to lose heart (2. Corinthians 4) declares that "God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ".
As we commemorate the anniversary of the Omagh bombing and cast our minds back to many other deeds of darkness in our Province we must never forget the victims of man's inhumanity to man. They must always be in our thoughts and prayers - and they must find us eager to help them in any way we can.
We must also be mindful that our Christian Gospel is one of Light and Hope and resurrection. The light of Christ can be seen in the faces of those courageously bearing the scars of suffering the sorrows of bereavement.
In the concerted efforts being made to renew and rebuild the One who "makes all things now" is working his purposes out.
Through all the vicissitudes of life, in Christ the Light of the World, we can find with St. Paul that we may be "hard pressed in every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted; but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed".
On the fifteenth of August last year people were going about their business in Omagh's Main Street. Families out together shopping, young people on a visit from Donegal. Shop assistants serving customers. There was a festival taking place. The street was packed with people.
Unknown to them a car was approaching the town packed with the instruments of death and destruction. Into that light-hearted and care-free scene came the forces of darkness wrecking havoc on people and property young and old and unborn!
The Omagh bombing stands as a stark reminder of how low human depravity can descend. It also called forth outstanding feats of courage and heroism. A whole community rallied round to offer help and support. Grief was felt far outside the confines of Omagh itself. So, too, contributions to the Omagh Appeal for the victims of the tragedy came from far and wide. The recent visit of the Manchester United football team was just one example of how so many groups wanted to offer whatever help they could.
The people who suffered most the bereaved and the injured over the past year have been inspiring examples of resilience and hope. They still have heavy burdens of grief and pain to bear and are in constant need of our prayers. Those who came to their aid on that fateful day - the doctors, nurses, ambulance service, police, army, fire service, bus drivers, ordinary people on the spot, local clergy, will never forget the harrowing scenes - nor will their invaluable service ever be forgotten. They were lights shining in the darkness.
St. Paul exhorting us not to lose heart (2. Corinthians 4) declares that "God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ".
As we commemorate the anniversary of the Omagh bombing and cast our minds back to many other deeds of darkness in our Province we must never forget the victims of man's inhumanity to man. They must always be in our thoughts and prayers - and they must find us eager to help them in any way we can.
We must also be mindful that our Christian Gospel is one of Light and Hope and resurrection. The light of Christ can be seen in the faces of those courageously bearing the scars of suffering the sorrows of bereavement.
In the concerted efforts being made to renew and rebuild the One who "makes all things now" is working his purposes out.
Through all the vicissitudes of life, in Christ the Light of the World, we can find with St. Paul that we may be "hard pressed in every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted; but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed".
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0623
Published Date: 12-Aug-99
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