A Story
There was a murderer who was caught by the police. Actually he was not arrested. He surrendered himself when the police came to his house after he killed his victim. The murder he committed was not a premeditated murder. The incident happened very coincidentally. He tried to defend himself for the attacks by the victim. Yet, he still felt guilty that he had lost the lives of others.
To the police, he admitted that he was attacked blindly by the victim. The issue is not clear. All he remembers is the victim accusing him of slandering the victim. Though he did not really know the victim.
“But I must take responsibility for my deeds, police officer. Eliminating the lives of others in any way is a crime. Only God can take human life. We are not entitled to the lives of our neighbors,” said the man.
He asked the court to give him the hardest punishment for his actions. That’s the way he takes responsibility for his actions. He wants to redeem his sin with imprisonment. But on the evidence gathered from the witnesses, he received a not very heavy punishment. He was sentenced to two years in prison.
Reflection
Human life is precious. Life belongs to God. Therefore, only God can take back this life which He has given. The story above tells us that everyone has to be held accountable for his actions. The cruel acts against others are a form of denial of faith in God who has given us this life. Life is a gift. This life becomes beautiful when God is glorified through our good deeds.
Believers are people who always give high appreciation to the dignity of human life. For believers, taking the lives of others in any way is a form of denial of faith in God. People must not precede the power of God. Any form of crime against human life becomes a form of our disloyalty to God.
Believers have to always remember that God is present and living within every human being. Therefore, whenever a person commits a crime against his neighbors, he removes God from within him. One feels more powerful than God. People reject God’s presence in themselves.
Therefore, every evil thing brings darkness into this life. People are in a non-directional situation. People lose the handle of life. For that, it is fitting for a person like this to repent. Such a person deserves to return to the God who has given this life to him.
As believers, let us live kindly and righteously before God and our neighbors. We recognize our limitations. We accept God’s presence within us. Thus, we find the light of life in this journey of life. May God always bless you. **
Frans de Sales SCJ
Foto: Mathias Hariyadi
