Fr. George Shalhoub Sends a Message of Humanity After Chapel Hill Tragedy

posted on: Feb 12, 2015

February   11, 2015

It is with great sadness and human brokenness; we heard of the Chapel Hill massacre and saw the lives of three young people knocked away by the hand of an outraged man. I do not understand the reason, but whatever the reason is, he had no right, not on heaven nor on earth, to murder them. The world today lost dreamers, scientists and peacemakers. We will never know the impact on humanity if these three young people had lived.

This vicious act of violence and inhumanity, whether at the hands of the military, terrorists or hate groups, must be dealt with the strongest reaction in awakening human consciousness to live as God has asked us to be – peacemakers, good neighbors and bridge builders.

The life of Kayla is precious. The lives of the 300,000 Syrians are precious. The lives of the Iraqis are precious. The lives of the Jews are precious. The lives of the Palestinians are precious. The Jordanian pilot’s life was precious. Who are we to determine what is not holy? God gave us the gift of making us holy.

What shall we say to their parents? They sent their children to America to fulfill their dreams, but we re killed by a neighbor. I can only pray for God’s mercy and for us, one day,to know who the real enemy is.

We will pray for their souls .

 Fr. George Shalhoub

The Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Livonia, Ml