The Death of a Sinner

I guess it's not surprising that the American news media seem so excited to report on the demise of Osama bin Laden.  After all, he is responsible for a great deal of damage to the United States, and we've been hunting him for quite some time.  It's understandable that this important news would take over the air waves.  News of a military victory is something that Americans would want to know during a time of war.

But what does surprise me (though it shouldn't, since I can remember how we reacted to the execution of Saddam Hussein not that long ago) is the unabashed jubilation over another man's death.  And for this to happen in the world--for an enemy's death to be considered a victory to be celebrated--well, I guess even that isn't terribly shocking.  But it's happening among those who profess to follow Christ.  It's happening among even the Orthodox.  And that should not be so.

In the Church, we are given daily reminders of what the attitude of the Most Holy Trinity is toward people like Mr. bin Laden.  For example, every Sunday, as we prepare to unite ourselves to Christ through the Mystical Supper, we recite certain prayers.  And they are not meant to provide only a transient state of repentance, preparing us only for that single spoonful of sanctity, but also for an eternity of union with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

St. Basil the Great gives us one of these prayers, in which he uses the words of the prophet Ezekiel and the Apostle St. Paul:

. . . For, O Thou who lovest mankind, thou hast said, by thy Prophet, that thou hast no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live. Thou dost not desire, O Master, to destroy the works of thy hands or that they should perish, but willest that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth. . .

So, how is it then, that any of us, knowing this, could be glad that another human is dead?  It does not please his Maker, Whom we claim to love.  Likewise, it should not please us.

St. John Chrysostom gives us another preparatory prayer, which begins:

I believe, O Lord, and I confess that thou art truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who didst come into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief[emphasis mine]. . .

It's that last part where most of us stumble.  It's easy to recognize that Christ Jesus loves mankind, and even not too terribly hard to see that we are all sinners.  But when it comes to saying that I am the chief of sinners--the worst of the worst--more despicable than Adolf Hitler, more wicked than Osama bin Laden...well, that's difficult, to say the least.  But if I am willing to adopt that attitude, it will be possible for me to learn the mercy of Christ Jesus, who died for us even while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8).

This mercy teaches us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us (St.Matt. 5:44).   Heaven does not rejoice at death; heaven rejoices at repentance (St.Luke 15:10).  Death is never a good thing.  No one who claims to follow Christ should ever celebrate it.  Instead, we must pray.  We must pray for the souls of those who suffer death.  We must pray for those whom they leave behind.  We must pray for the state of the whole world, that we may all be moved to repent.  Whether he brought his death upon himself, or whether it was somehow necessary in order to prevent him from committing future devastating acts, is irrelevant.  The first thought of any Christian, upon hearing the news of Mr. bin Laden's death, ought to have been, "Lord, have mercy on his soul."

But, even if it wasn't, it's not too late to start.