Reflect
As Christ hung from the cross, he uttered these words to his Father before breathing his last (Lk 23:46). Jesus’ words tell us that we must all let go and accept our spiritual passage back to the light when the time comes. The heartbreaking truth is that, too often, the innocent suffer before ultimately being welcomed into heaven. We find ourselves mourning yet another act of unspeakable violence in our country, and our souls are in pain—as individuals and as a nation. In this darkness, let us pray for those who lost their lives this week in Uvalde, Texas.
Pray
God of light, love, and healing, welcome into your kingdom
the souls of those who died tragically at Robb Elementary School.
As loved ones grieve and grapple with the reality of evil,
we ask that you shine your undeniable light through the cracks
of broken hearts and salve shattered spirits.
Lord, bring us sunrise in our world.
We are wandering in a desert night of nihilism and apathy.
Only you can lead us out to the Promised Land.
May we open our hearts and minds to your way—the only way.
Into your hands we commend the spirits of those
who lost their lives in Uvalde.
Amen.
Act
In times like these, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless. We may not solve the problem of gun violence in our country in a day, a week, or a year, but we can take action to address this. Check with your parish or diocese for resources related to reasonable gun control policy. Consider the advice of Angel Garcia, a man who lost his daughter in Uvalde: “Please don’t take a second for granted. Hug your family. Tell them you love them.”
