In Praise Of Grace And Humility Rising From Devastation

A family of five were laid to rest this week in the aftermath of the Sri Lanka suicide bombings. Mum, Dad and three children, the youngest just a babe in arms. They had just heard Mass.

The scale of the devastation and the cost, in human life, was terrifying. Good people taking time to contemplate how they could do more, be more, help more — wanting to bring up their children to be good adults. Innocent children.

It was heart-breaking to hear her brother speaking of that young mother as she lay there next to her husband and three children. He spoke to the BBC shortly after the family funeral. As white-clad mourners paid their respects and barely holding his emotions in control he said he envied his sister for being in a better place having just spoken with God, but he would miss her.

Other faiths drew together — there were no religious divides.

The community rallied, everyone helped. The church was cleaned by many, many volunteers and then St Sebastian moved to bury its dead.

There is no political or religious goal in the world that justifies killing innocents.

We share Sri Lanka’s heartbreak.