Oslo, Dead Bodies, Love, Hate, and Getting a Grip

I've got quite a bit to say about what happened in Norway yesterday - and its implications. This post is mostly about love, faith, and neighbors.

The others:

• "The Threat of People Who Aren't Just Like Us?"
  (July 23, 2011)
• "Chauvinism Knows No Borders"
  (July 23, 2011)

Prayer for Anders Behring Breivik, the Dead, and the Living

More than 80 90 people were killed yesterday in Norway. At least one bomb went off in Oslo, and someone shot dozens of teens and young adults at an island camp.

Prayer Couldn't Hurt

First, and very importantly: prayer couldn't hurt. For:

• The people who were killed
  • Their families and friends
• Everyone else in Norway
• The man who killed those folks

That last point isn't as soft-headed, or simply crazy, as it may seem. We're told to:

• Love God
  • And love our neighbor
  (Matthew 22:36-40)
• Love our enemies, too
  (Matthew 5:43-44)
  
• See everybody as our neighbor
  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1825, and see Luke 10:25-30)

"Love," "Approval," and Getting a Grip

Does all that "love" stuff sounds like soft-headed, bleeding-heart, tacit approval of evil behavior? I really don't think it is.

As I've said before, "love" isn't "approval." (April 26, 2011)

As for not ranting about 'that sinner over there?' Luke 18:11-14 and Matthew 7:1-2 has what I think is pretty good advice.

Coming next: "Chauvinism Knows No Borders."

Related posts:

• "Leiby Kletzky's Murder, Gossip, Information, Evil, and Balance"
  (July 21, 2011)
• "But - They're not Catholic"
  (June 17, 2011)
• "Loving Neighbors: No Matter What"
  (May 10, 2011)
• "Neighbors, Charity, and What the Pope Said"
  (July 16, 2010)
• "Rules, the Catholic Church, Neighbors and Me"
  (June 18, 2010)