It is sad that once again we have to hear about mass shootings. What is especially sad is that we had to hear about two of them less than 13 hours apart. Of course, after such events happen, there is conversation about what actions need to be taken. Rightfully so! These are conversations that should be taking place all throughout the country. Yet, there seems to be one thing lacking in the conversation. There seems to be little talk about faith.
Our second reading from Paul’s letter to the Hebrews tells us: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” The homily helps from St. Anthony messenger press states: “The patriarch Abraham is a model of faith. He puts his trust in God’s promises; he hopes for things he does not see.” We live in a society where things have to be seen in order to be believed. What God wants us to do is to put our faith and trust in the God that we cannot see. Jesus says in the Gospels: blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. These words from our Lord come from the gospel of John when Jesus appears to Thomas. As faithful followers of Christ, we need to make sure that God is guiding all of our actions, words, and thoughts.
How do we wrap our minds around the shootings in Texas and Ohio during this past week? By ourselves, we can’t. This is why I would suggest that we all get God involved in overcoming this evil problem. What is it that is really going on? There is a breakdown in the family. Our society is trying to take God out of the picture altogether. There is very little regard for human life in this day and age. So, why is all this evil going on? Certainly, one thing we can say is that this is happening because God is not involved. If God were involved, and faith was brought into the public square, we would not have all this evil in our midst. So I encourage all of us to make sure that God is a part of our lives. Let’s do our part to ensure that God stays a part of this beautiful country that we have. If God isn’t a part of it, you will see more and more sad stories like the ones of this past week. Do we need to look at some law changes? Perhaps. What I think God would really want us to look at is the changing of hearts. This begins with us. Let us change our hearts from hearts of hate and violence to hearts of faith and love.
May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.
Fr. Todd Mlsna
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