June 07th, 2021

Jesus said: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” Mark 12:31.
Blessings to you All.
Again, I feel that we must take a break from Stroll for the Soul to pause and reflect on current events.
I am an immigrant.  I chose to make Canada my home as an adult.  I remember explaining to friends and family that one of the things that I loved about Canada was that it was a cultural mosaic.  It accepted everybody.  But on Sunday, in London Ontario, 4 members of a family were killed just because they were Muslim.
My heart is broken at this terrible news.  As we still grieve the discovery of the 215 bodies of Indigenous Children, we must now look again at the ugly face of racism. This is a hate crime.  How did we get to live in a world that hates others so much, just because of their faith?  No-one should live in fear.
Last night thousands turned out in London for a very moving vigil. I am sure many of you are wondering what can you do?  As Christians we are called to love each other, and that also means to accept others.  This crime was an act of Islamophobia.  Perhaps we are all guilty of that a little bit when we do not take the time to understand another faith, or when we feel that only ours is the ‘right’ path.  I encourage you all to take time to reflect, pray, read, and reach out in love to all our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Details of a multi faith march on Friday will be in the newsletter this week.
The Prophet Muhammed Hadith said: “Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourselves.” (The Golden rule in the Muslim faith.)
    Peace.  Rev. Gail