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Eye on the World: Easter in Iraq
In spite of fragile security in Baghdad and elsewhere in the nation, Iraq enjoyed a largely peaceful Easter weekend as soldiers and police increased patrols in Christian areas. Iraq’s Christian population, which has dropped to about half what it was ten years ago, took heart as Louis Raphael Sako, the country’s top Christian leader, pledged to rebuild the church community. On Monday, however, 20 people were injured and nine killed by a suicide attack in the city of Tikrit. Although violence has decreased in Iraq since its peak in 2006 and 2007, bombings are still common.
Our prayers for Iraq, and for the entire Middle East, can embrace not only Christians living in the region but all who hope for a secure, stable life. “Security: Where does it come from?,” a recent cover story in the Christian Science Sentinel, explains how each of us can recognize God’s all-embracing love, and how this prayer lays the foundation for healing solutions.
One of the ongoing challenges Iraq faces is domestic terrorism that grows out of sectarian divisions. “To defeat and unmask terrorism” explores how spiritual law not only provides protection from fear and physical harm, but also defeats the hatred and evil motives that would give rise to attacks meant to incite terror in others. The author points out, “Jesus proved the power of divine Love to communicate and change the character of individuals where a turnaround seemed impossible. This divine message of good from Love is the active presence of the Christ that transforms lives.”
In “Insight while flying over Iraq,” the author offers his humble prayer for the region: that love and joy and life can never be extinguished or lost, since spiritual identity and individuality is unfailingly protected by God. The divine laws of harmony and safety counter issues of violence, poverty, corruption, and imbalance of any kind. This idea can inspire our prayers for Iraq, and can remind us that God never allows any part of His creation to fall out of His governance.