Rev Alistair McLeod’s Reflection for Sunday 22nd August 2021.
Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you…., and…, love your neighbour as you love yourself”.
Right now, we are all witnessing the re-emergence of the Taliban, and for most of us this means a time of uncertainty, instability and in some places fear. We associate the destruction of the World Trade Centre, and the terrorist acts perpetrated on this and other European countries with Al Qaeda and the Taliban, terrorist acts played out all in the name of Islam? No. Not in the name of Islam.
Al Qaeda espouses a deeply flawed ideology and it bears nothing to recommend it, neither does it express true Islam. The Qur’an does not recommend terrorist acts, or any of the impositions that women and girls especially have to adhere to under Sharia rule.
Indeed, reading the Qur’an alongside the Bible there are more similarities than major differences.
In future days and weeks, we are likely to witness and indeed experience an influx of families evacuated here from Afghanistan. These people are running to a place of safety, a place away from fear and severe reprisals. Of course, they will mostly be Islamic in their beliefs and practices but it is important for us to remember that they are not seeking terror, but peace.
Principally, Al Qaeda’s aim is to create fear and suspicion and they are effective in that. Always remember though that Jesus, who is also in the Qur’an, is recorded in the Bible as saying, “love one another as I have loved you”, and this is how we should accept and look to embrace them. Many of them will have left everything they owned and will arrive here with nothing but the clothes they are wearing – we may have to help materially because they are our neighbours too.
A prayer for you:
Almighty God, you are the one God of all people, and so we pray for the refugees running from their homes in Afghanistan and for those who are left there and who are unable, for whatever reason, to leave.
Help us to be able to love one another, and our neighbours, and yes, even those who would do us harm.
In your mercy,
Hear this prayer. Amen