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Is it just me or was there not something chilling听

about the attack on Muslim worshippers 听

outside the Finsbury Park Mosque?听

The fact that they were emerging from prayer 听

did not protect those they who were mown down,indeed it was what made them a target.听

And yet it seems it did protect the assailant,听

as the Imam鈥檚 voice of mercy commanded restraint and self-control, 听

a refusal to let the blood-lust of one work its poisonous effect on others.听

听

In the end, that鈥檚 what it takes to break cycles of violence, 听

whether it鈥檚 terrorism, sectarianism, racism 听

or some other malevolence that鈥檚 propelling them.听

Northern Ireland knows all about the power of 鈥渢it for tat鈥� 听

to keep whole communities looking over their shoulders.听

But we also know the power of people of faith to speak up and say听

鈥渆nough鈥� and 鈥渘o more鈥�. 听

Men and women, Protestants and Catholics, 听

and frequently the parents of the victims, 听

have uttered faltering words from breaking hearts 听

that have released a love that鈥檚 proved so much stronger than any hate.听

听

And then the prayer continues 鈥� as it has done at Finsbury Park听

because that鈥檚 what we do.听

Day and night, in fear or in freedom, in outrage as well as in despair,听

we come to God,听

because regardless of our language, our emphasis 听

or even our precise understanding of what we鈥檙e doing,听

prayer really does seem to be one of the things that makes us human.听

听

Lord of all, hold us back we pray, 听

diffuse the rage and spite which can rise up in us all听

and which Christ took to Himself in His Passion, Death and Resurrection.听

So may Your forgiving grace never cease to flow 鈥� to all your children. Amen听