Friday, September 25, 2026From the news

Near to the Brokenhearted in Times of Sudden Violence

Amid the shocking knife attack at a Polish abbey that claimed a priest's life and injured four others, Scripture reminds us of God's intimate nearness to the grieving and His call to overcome evil with good.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (NIV)

Psalm 34:18

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (NIV)

Matthew 5:4

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NIV)

Romans 12:19-21

Dear friend, this morning's news from Poland carries a heavy weight on our hearts. A priest has been killed, and four others—a woman and four men—stabbed in a sudden knife attack on the grounds of a Catholic abbey in Jarosław. A 31-year-old Ukrainian man has been arrested, and while the investigation into his motives continues, the shock ripples out. Polish leaders, from President Karol Nawrocki to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, speak of a firm state response and the full severity of the law. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and the embassy echo this, condemning the evil, calling for justice, and urging against letting pain turn to hatred or more violence. Psychological support is being offered to those affected, a small mercy in the midst of such raw grief. And this comes against a backdrop of recent tensions between Poles and Ukrainians, many of whom have fled war's horrors. We ache for the unnamed priest's family, the injured, the abbey community, and all touched by this senseless act.

In moments like these, when violence shatters peace and questions flood our minds, we turn to the unchanging Word of God. Psalm 34:18 whispers a profound truth: 'The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.' Imagine that—our heavenly Father drawing near, not distant in the heavens, but close, intimately aware of every tear, every stab of pain. The abbey grounds, once a place of prayer and sanctuary, became a scene of horror, yet even there, the Lord promises His presence. He sees the crushed spirits of the victims' loved ones, the witnesses, the responders. And He sees yours too, dear one, if this story stirs your own sorrows from a hard week or deeper wounds.

Jesus Himself speaks comfort in the Beatitudes: 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.' Blessed—not cursed, not abandoned—in our mourning. The mourners at that abbey, the Polish people shaken to their core, the Ukrainians grappling with this amid their national trials—they are not forgotten. Jesus, who wept at Lazarus's tomb and bore the cross's agony, understands. His comfort isn't a vague feeling but the very presence of the Holy Spirit, the peace that surpasses understanding, flowing from His finished work on Calvary. Through faith in Him, we receive this grace, not because we've earned it, but because of God's boundless mercy.

Yet Scripture doesn't leave us only in consolation; it guides our response. Romans 12:19-21 calls us gently: 'Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.' Leaders rightly call for justice through the law, as the Ukrainian embassy wisely notes—responsibility based solely on law, not escalating hatred. For us, as followers of Christ, this means entrusting vengeance to God while choosing the harder, Christlike path: feeding the hungry enemy, offering drink to the thirsty one. In a world of rising tensions, with Ukrainians seeking refuge and Poles extending hospitality strained by war's fallout, let us remember the grace we've received. Jesus forgave His crucifiers; by His Spirit, we can pray for all involved—the perpetrator to face consequences, yes, but also repentance and transformation.

Take this into your day, beloved. If news like this leaves you unsettled, let it drive you to Jesus. Sit with Him in prayer for Jarosław's wounded community. Perhaps reach out to a neighbor from afar, or someone carrying their own burdens—overcome evil with good in small ways. In your own trials, cling to these promises: God is near, comfort is coming, and goodness triumphs through Christ. Personal faith in Jesus isn't a shield from pain but an anchor in it, His grace sustaining us for practical discipleship. Share a kind word, extend forgiveness where possible, trust God's justice. As you face whatever this day holds, take heart—He who overcame the world walks with you.

This tragedy shakes us, but it doesn't define us. God's Word does. Rest in His nearness today, and let His comfort flow through you to others.