What do you say?

What do you say when your five year old daughter asks,  "Mommy, why would people be happy and cheering that they killed that man?"

Do you try to explain the terror that people felt on September 11th?  The devastating loss of hundreds of innocent lives?  Do you make excuses that the man is evil and full of hatred? Do you explain that his whole mission in life was to create a "holy war" and to continue to take innocent lives?  Do you say that there are reasons?  Do you say they had to kill him or he might have killed someone we love?

What do you say when you know what Jesus said?

      "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.'

 "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  

- Matthew 5:38-39

 

 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.'

 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

- Matthew 5:43

"Father, forgive them,  for they do not know what they are doing."

- Jesus, on the cross