Hundreds gather at St Andrew’s Cathedral to mourn victims of Bali bombings
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Hundreds of people filled St Andrew’s Anglican Cathedral at lunch time today to mourn those killed in the weekend bombings in Bali, and to offer prayers for the injured and for those who are grieving.
Bishop Robert Forsyth, Bishop of South Sydney, delivered the sermon, while Archbishop Peter Jensen led the packed Cathedral in a time of prayer.
NSW Governor Marie Bashir delivered one of the Bible readings, while other dignitaries present included NSW Opposition leader, John Brogden, NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney, Lord Mayor Frank Sartor and the US Consul-General.
In his sermon, Bishop Forsyth called on the biblical principle, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” He said that the attack had reminded Australians to the reality that every human life is precious.
“For us in the our loss, this is first of all an awakening to the preciousness of every single human.
“In the face of such a deliberate, planned attack – so utterly callous and cruelly dispensing of human beings – our response … is to overcome evil with good and reaffirm the wonderful preciousness of each human being in their God-given humanity.”
Bishop Forsyth also said that the tragedy served as a reminder that human life is precarious and fragile.
“I do not say that we should live in fear, but neither should we live in forgetfulness of our mortality. Every day is a gift from the living God.
“Bali 2002 teaches us that the easygoing Aussie philosophy ‘she’ll be right’ has its limitations.”
While the weekend’s events also served as a reminder that ‘apparently there is a war going on’, Bishop Forsyth added that this should not be surprising, considering the violent history of the 20th century. “In the last century we have fought other such ideologies so destructive of humanity and overcome them. We have fought the madness of Nazism and the tyranny of Communism.
“Now we face another such foe, this one in many forms, without borders and the comforting clarity of declarations of war.”
Despite the fear and danger being felt by many, Bishop Forsyth said that good would prevail and that ultimate hope is found in God. “The hope of overcoming evil with good is not a pious dream or a sentimental thing ‘you would say at a time like this’. It is grounded on the reality that Jesus Christ is raised from the dead, having suffered for the sin of humanity.”
The full text of Bishop Forsyth’s address is available here.
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