The unexpected and horrible terrorist attacks carried out in London on Thursday, 7 July last year (a year ago yesterday), left the world speechless. Those who followed the aftermath of such an abominable tragedy, could easily imagine the shock, the suffering and the chaos these innocent people were going through. People covered in soot and blood, corpses lying on the street or somewhere in the underground system, four trains and a double-decker bus utterly destroyed, the wailing of ambulance and police sirens, hospitals becoming packed as they treated the wounded, a good number of whom were in a serious condition.

To make things worse, London was still celebrating the decision of the International Olympic Committee to award it the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games. It is unbelievable how, in a matter of a few hours, tears of joy turned into the most heartbreaking tears of grief and affliction. Perhaps the greatest paradox in this tragedy was the fact that the attacks occurred at a time when the world’s leading statesmen were seriously trying to tackle the questions of poverty within the African continent as well as a sustainable global environment.

Our Christian faith speaks of a God who is the Lord of history. He is a God who cares for His people. He comes to their rescue whenever they need His help. He is there, in their midst, to shield them from the snares of evil. Yet, the London bombing seems to be showing another reality. People are not saved, protected and secured. On the contrary, they are the innocent victims of evil. Where is God in this terrible atrocity? Has He escaped from the deep sadness of his children?

Rather than attempting in vain to reply to these difficult questions, I find much comfort in the comments given by Pope Benedict XVI and Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. In the face of “these barbaric acts against humanity” Pope Benedict promised his “spiritual closeness” to the families most afflicted by these diabolical killings. He prayed that God’s consolation would comfort their troubled hearts.

In an inter-religious context, the Archbishop of Canterbury and his Muslim colleagues both deplored these horrible murders and “shared (their) sense of care and compassion for those affected in whatever way”.

The best answer to this painful, fearful and angry situation is prayer, compassion towards the afflicted and overcoming evil with good. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12, 21).

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap

San Gwann