Today has been declared a ‘Day of Reflection’ for the victims and the families touched by the Bondi massacre.
I’m sure out local church will do something special along those lines this morning—and there will be a public event at Bondi later this morning.
The word ‘reflection’ has been part of the English language since around 1398.
It came into English from a Middle French word, behind which stands a post-classical Latin source word.
The Classical Latin word reflectere is there somewhere in background.
The core concept in all these words is that of ‘folding back’ or ‘bending back’ or ‘turning back.’
The flexion part of the word means bending or turning, while the prefix ‘re-’ means ‘again’ or ‘back again.’
This is why we talk about a mirror’s ‘reflection’—because it sends the image it catches ‘back again.’
By the 17th century the French source word had come to mean ‘reflective thought’ or ‘meditating.’
We live in an age that has been taught to believe that the best way to meditate is to empty your mind—to think of nothing.
But this is a mistake.
Mediation really means to think about, and focus on, something in particular.
The great Christians mystics through the ages have understood this and have taught in their writings how to meditate on (for example) the love of God.
Well, it’s this kind of ‘reflective thinking’ that today is meant to be about.
Used as a word for mental activity the Oxford English Dictionary says that ‘reflection’ means ‘The action or process of thinking carefully or deeply about a particular subject, typically involving influence from one's past life and experiences; contemplation, deep or serious thought or consideration, esp. of a spiritual nature.’
I’ll be speaking a few words in our church this morning, and I think I’ll say that this awful event is a reminder that we live in a broken world—the horrors in the headlines reflect the horrors in history.
And that is why we need to turn to a source of strength and love above and beyond ourselves.
But may I encourage you to take this ‘Day of Reflection’ as an opportunity to feel for the victims—and to feel for our beloved country that never wants to see this kind of hatred again.
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