麻豆约拍

Good morning. Today is known as 鈥榟oly innocents鈥� in the church calendar. That is, when the ruthless King Herod called for the slaughter of all male children under two years of age throughout Bethlehem and the surrounding region. He had heard of the infant King Jesus, and feared losing his throne and his power.

On 鈥榟oly innocents鈥� today I invite you all to remember those who find themselves violated through no fault of their own 鈥� whether in ancient times or today.

I think of a young woman in the Republic of Congo who told her story to my friend Lynne.聽 鈥淚 was in the field picking rice,鈥� she said. 鈥淪oldiers came and raped me, one after another, many times, I lost count. I went home and told my husband. He said I brought shame into our family. Later I found out I was pregnant鈥�.

Lynne was introduced to a beautiful little girl of around two. 鈥楳y daughter did not ask to be born鈥�, her mother explained. 鈥楽he was not conceived in love. But, with the help of my friends, I will raise her in love. I want to show her all the love that I can.鈥�

Lynne prays for that little one and her very brave mother every day, asking for God鈥檚 blessing and his love to walk with them on their journey through life. She uses a prayer of Mary Sumner, founder of the Mothers鈥� Union:

All this day, O Lord, let me touch as many lives as possible for thee; and every life I touch, do thou by thy Spirit quicken, whether through the word I speak, the prayer I breathe, or the life I live. Amen鈥�