The first comes from a well-known contemporary warrior who so often seemed to know what was on God’s mind. The second comes from a relatively unknown contemporary peacemaker who was simply trying to nurture what God had planted in his soul.
I will not name that
well-known warrior, and it’s not one of our Presidents. He had overseen great battlefield
success. And so, along with his devout and pious wife, he decided to etch his
triumphal appraisal of God’s unseen work in the world on their annual Christmas
card, mailed to thousands.
Here is what the warrior’s card
read: “If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it
possible that an empire can rise without His aid?”
Raising an empire: God’s
plan, it must be! And likening God’s treatment of such ultimate conquest to the
dying gasps of a sparrow.
Does our scripture’s story – our
story – begin with a fallen sparrow and end with a rising empire? Looming and
lording it all over all?
Or does our scripture’s story – our story – begin with a
fallen son, and end with a forgiving father?
Michael Berg is the father of
the late Nicholas Berg. Nicholas was one of at least two Americans personally executed
by an Iraqi terrorist named Abu Musab al-Zarqawi severally years ago.
When Nicholas’ father was
notified, three years later, that American forces had succeeded in killing
al-Zarqawi, this was Michael Berg's emailed response to his supporters:
I was awakened (this morning) at 4:30
AM with the news of Zarqawi’s death. I have said to over a dozen reporters so
far today, that every human death diminishes me. I have said that Zirqawi’s (sic) death is a triumph for revenge, for
revenge is what killed Nick. I have said that Zirqawi’s (sic) death will inflame the Iraqi resistance and perpetuate the
endless cycle of revenge begetting revenge begetting revenge. I have said that
the cycle must end, and that it ends with me. I take no joy in Zarqawis (sic) death.
I am not sure that you will hear all of
that in our slanted media. ABC who called first, suddenly lost interest when I
reminded them I’d be ready for any tricks they may try to play.
Michael.
On this Fathers’ Day, let
us ask ourselves: Which way do we think the God of the best of our scriptures
chooses to make that fatherly image known?
Is the fatherly image
of our God made known to us through the wiles of an imperial potentate? Or is
our God made known to us through the ways of a grieving yet forgiving father?
