Same Old. Same Old.
Eleven dead at a synagogue is a tragedy for many reasons. Perhaps the biggest reason it is yet one more version of the same old, same old story of persecution of God’s people. As old as Egypt and as recent as Pittsburgh, it’s the same old, same old thing. Some churches have decided to respond by arming the ushers. But that’s just more of the same old, same old thing – violence meets violence. God promises to “make all things new” (Rev. 21) and end the same old, same old power of death and chaos. On All Saints Day, we celebrate those who have embraced the “new” and rejected the same old, same old.