When I hear about someone being murdered, I say a prayer for the victim — and for the perpetrator.
Someone might question my praying for someone who has committed a crime. However, there are many circumstances that lead to that act of violence against another person.
We don’t know everything involved in that person’s life. Sometimes there may have been a lifetime of abuse he or she endured. There may have been mental illness leading to that act of violence.
Although we may be tempted to call only for justice for the victim — an “eye for an eye” — we also have to consider the possibility of forgiveness and healing for the murderer.