The awful tragedy in Florida is just added to the other names of tragedies - which all become a blur: Sandy Hook, Columbine, Orlanda, Virginia Tech, Las Vegas, the streets of our cities, and so many more. For this post, I just want to write some bite-size chunks. Each could be expended into an entire post, even a series of posts. But I don't want the message to be lost in the words.
EVIL IS REAL - SATAN IS REAL
Evil is behind all of these things that have happened. Don't doubt that evil is real. Don't be misled by those who want to make the devil cute - dressing him up in a red suit and a pitchfork. Even good people can succumb to evil. Satan can enter into our actions. Do you realize that we pray these words (deliver us from evil) whenever we pray the Our Father.
EVIL DOES NOT GIVE UP UNLESS THERE IS MASSIVE RESISTANCE BY GOOD PEOPLE
The imprint of evil is everywhere. Look at all the reasons for frustration with a seeming inability to make progress against gun violence. Evil affects everything.
EVIL IS NON-ACTION
Evil is political leaders who watch these tragedies unfold again and again - and they promise they will do something and they don't.
EVIL IS DISTRACTION
How did we end up with a media culture filled with violence, gossip, half-truths? A culture that gives too little attention to troubled youth and kids on YouTube? VIdeo games that glorify violence? The glorifying of white supremacists? And so many other distractions from truth.
EVIL CAUSES US NOT TO HEAR
Did you notice this pattern once again the last few days? Every time these school tragedies and mass shootings happen, Democrats talk about guns. Republicans talk about mental illness. Each ignores the other. Both political parties need to listen to the other. But no one listens. No one meets the other on a middle ground. Nothing is done. This is evil. Satan wins again. Does Satan cause people to "offer thoughts and prayers" and then do nothing?" Perhaps.
There are long lists of things that we can do to change things, if there is a political and social will to do so. Many have been mentioned once again during the past few days. But we need to do more.
Most of us made lists of things to do for Lent. I read on the internet this suggestion for Lent: We need to give up NOT paying attention. We need to give up not hearing God. Santa causes us not to pay attention.
GIVE A VOICE TO OUR YOUTH WHO ARE COUNTING ON ADULTS TO FINALLY DO SOMETHING
We're the adults. Can we not make a difference finally!
There is something that Jesus wants for every single one of us: a chance to live life to the fullest. This is what hope is about. We either give in to Satan or we are people of hope. It is actually that stark.
Bits and pieces of the above comments were in my homily for this weekend This next section was not - because I have always taken extra care in not being political and in not using the homily as a bully pulpit for a political point of view. It can be abused so easily. I know how ticked I am when I hear of ministers misusing (in my opinion) the privileged position that they have to preach God's Word to a "captive audience."
WHAT FOLLOWS IS CLEARLY TOTALLY COMPLETELY MY PERSONAL OPINION
One of the most disheartening (but not surprising) things in this whole horrible tragedy is the response of so many politicians. I recognize that the default response of Republicans, after a shooting, is to mention the need for more mental health services since this is a mental health issue. (I do not recall major increases in mental health funding being proposed within the last year. I am aware of cutbacks.) I recognize that the default response of Democrats is to mention the need for more gun control and background checks before someone can purchase a weapon. How in God's name can Democrats speak of helping the most vulnerable and not care around the unborn. That baffles me.
The problem is that neither of these parties talk to each other in a significant way. Bi-partisanship is so needed, but a joke when you consider some of the national political leaders. How many politicians found the nerve within the past week to "promise their thoughts and prayers" for the victims. I always looked for the following phrase after those pious thoughts - "and I'm now going to do some things that make a difference." Did not happen. I cannot find any other word than "evil" to describe these political actions.
I am unabashedly committed to a complete reverence for life - from the cradle to the grave - regardless of stage or age or social condition. I really believe this. For me, this is the only response that a believer in Jesus and a member of the Church can take. Do I pontificate about this? No. But I do viscerally believe this. I believe that God is the creator of all life. I believe it is our privilege and responsibility to protect God's creation. I believe that being pro-life is belief in a reverence for all life. How the heck can politicians claim to be pro-life and, at the same time, not take the necessary steps to change this present horrible situation. Much of this involves our politicians not talking to each other. This reluctance to find a middle ground does not seem to be anything other than evil. Find me a better word and I'll use it - but I think it is evil. At this point, any action not taken, any bridge not crossed, any effort not made - results in inaction - and this is evil. It has gone too far.
A person whose writing I admire wrote a column in a national newspaper over the past several days. She had the nerve to suggest some practical compromises as a way to move the two political parties together. She also suggested some of the linkage between abortion and handguns - not a precise match, but she was making a good rhetorical point. Over a thousand people had replied at length to assail her effort at reaching some political compromises. The instant responses of both the right and left can be so discouraging to those who are trying to fine bridges between the two camps.
My bottom line in this post: the two sides on the gun issue still are talking past each other. This ends up being evil because it only causes NO action. We worship a God where our worship includes these words: we confess "all that we have done and all that we have failed to do." Failing to do something is sinful.
I am incredibly proud of the young people who are now trying to make a difference on these issues. They have not found the actions of the "adults" to be helpful. They are right. Good for them. God bless them.
I look around for politicians who really want to do wise things to make a difference. I don't find many of them. What I see are politicians who claim over the past few days that they do not know enough about the situation in this case OR a change in the gun laws would not have saved a single life OR that famous phrase - "Now is not the right time." People of hope do not talk like this. We must give our young people a fighting chance in a world that cares. Will this finally be the time? Gosh, I hope so.
I know some things that I'm going to do to encourage those who are fighting for decent solutions. I hope you are too.
When I was growing up, I always looked at politics as a noble profession. It has been harder to look at it the same way over the past decades. But I do believe that the only solution is going to come from the world of politics where political and legislative levers can be moved. Nothing else has the power right now in our system of government.
I understand why Jesus wept. Do you think our world will give him a reason to stop?
TODAY'S GRATITUDE: I'm so grateful for these kids in Florida who are trying to make the world a better place.