Merry Christmas

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.

In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets;

in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom

he created the universe, who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being,

and who sustains all things by his mighty word.

Newtown Remembered

I continue to stand with those who remember the victims of all violent incidents, especially in America, including the horrific shooting in the Newton Connecticut School and the recent shooting in San Bernardino. I am increasingly saddened by the tragic loss of life and by the struggle of those who survive. I am also saddened by this nation's reaction to these events.

A friend of mine works for a nearby police department directing a television program called Make the Call about unsolved crimes. On this show the families and friends of murder victims are interviewed, giving us a personal account of the drive-by shootings, gang shootings, and seemingly random shootings so common in this area. I agree with him that "some of the victims were wonderful loving people and some were not, but we must never forget that they all had people who loved them".

The tragedy is that these people, or others, lost their way before losing their lives. I also agree with my friend that the grief of the families and friends is palpable and understandable. Ignoring the causes of these situations, it is a sobering reality check that the one injured or killed by an act of violence is not the only victim of the crime. It naturally inspires in us the desire to do what is possible to prevent this kind of violence.

The married couple accused of the San Bernardino shooting are described as ‘quiet and polite” with no “obvious grudges”. While the motive remains a mystery it is now being called an act of terrorism; we know that the husband was “radicalized” and his wife had recently entered the country from Pakistan. Their actions were well planned, they were both dressed in tactical gear, and they were prepared for a gunfight.

Those that support gun rights may or may not be correct about mental health being the primary cause, but it’s almost a given that someone psychologically prepared to kill innocent people is suffering from some form of mental illness. While it’s difficult for me to understand psychological causes as they relate to religious fanaticism, I would say this couple too lost their way.

What can we learn from this event? Ask yourself why the focus is still on the tools used during a crime instead of the underlying causes of crime, and you might get an insight into what is happening in this country. If you continue to let our nations leaders, the media, or anyone else distract you then you are part of the problem. Be part of the solution: Guns are just a tool, they are not the problem!