“Amidst this darkness, one truth stands out: we are called to serve”

September 2024

This blog was shared by our friends from Thimar/LSESD following the intensification of the Israeli bombardment of Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon overnight.

Most Lebanese did not sleep last night, their rest shattered by the relentless roar of jets and the deafening and brutal explosions that rained down on Dahiyeh, Beirut’s southern suburb and a Hezbollah stronghold. The sky burned, and the wailing of people filled the streets. The devastation is beyond imagination, and yet, no figures have emerged of the dead and injured. Emergency services are paralyzed, unable to reach the area as the bombings continue unabated. 

As we reflect on this night, we realize that Friday, the 27th, will mark a major turning point for Lebanon and the region. It is a defining moment.  Lives have been shattered. Families torn apart. As the sun rises over a city buried in rubble, the full scale of the destruction will slowly come into view: Homes demolished. Futures erased. Hearts broken. 

Amidst this darkness, one truth stands out: we are called to serve. We must rise in this moment of despair, turn toward our neighbours, extend our hands, and let the light of Christ shine through us. Lord, grant us the strength to do so. Give us enough compassion to cross the divides, to stand in the breach, and to be agents of hope where, for many, none seems to remain.