We join with the millions around Australia who are shocked, saddened and outraged at the events that took place at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening. Our hearts go out to those who have lost family and friends.
We pray with many for the full recovery of those currently in hospital. We mourn and lament with the Jewish community who bear the special brunt of these events and can empathise with the continuing ripple effect these and other events have with respect to their feelings of security, safety and belonging.
We marvel at the courage of those who have we seen risk their lives in intervening, offering assistance and care. We give thanks for the rapid response of the various arms of government services and the help and support they have supplied.
We pray that our governments can find time and space to resource us as a community to deal with the deplorable antisemitic sentiment this action represents; and to help us build on the goodness and bravery shown by so many in the midst of such horrors.
We wait patiently. We wait for more details, for investigations to take place into circumstances, backgrounds, and motives, trying to avoid jumping to simplistic conclusions and responses; trying to get the best picture possible on which to base our thoughts and responses.
We pray that the Lord will give us wisdom and patience as we wait and long for that day, foreshadowed in the birth of our Saviour, which we soon celebrate when justice and peace will embrace.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6–7)
