Greetings St. John’s Lutheran Church!

These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.

They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. –Revelation 9:13-17

The Great Ordeal

While we were celebrating Easter and new life, our Christian brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka were grieving for hundreds of friends, family members, and loved ones killed in a series of attacks on churches and hotels on Easter Day.

In times like this, we often ask, “Why?” How could God let something so unspeakable come to pass? How can God allow deadly violence to be a reality not only for those in Sri Lanka, but for so many around the world from every background?

Unfortunately, this grim reality is nothing new. The Christian churches to whom John, the author of Revelation, writes were also suffering from persecution and violence.

Springs of the Water of Life

This passage from Revelation is a reminder to the churches in Asia during the 1st Century and to us today that God does not ever condone violence, but, in fact, leads us through the valley of death to new life.

God walks with us in the dark places and leads us into the light. God is with the people of Sri Lanka and every place scarred by violence.

Wipe Away Every Tear

How has God walked with you through difficult, tragic circumstances? How has God comforted you or eased your pain?

May our prayers bring healing for all those affected by violence, and may our actions bring God’s peace.

In Christ, Pastor Kat