July 22, 2012
16th Sunday Ordinary Time
Cinema fantasy becomes reality. At an early morning premiere of “The Dark Knight Rises,†a deranged young man sprays bullets in the show bringing horror, terror and death. We can only image the trauma for the people present; for the wounded; for the victims who died; for the families waiting in fear; for the first responders who risked their lives (as Good Shepherds) to save, to secure and to apprehend the assailant; for the doctors and nurses at neighboring hospitals striving to stem the flow of blood; and for those who watch in disbelief. The trauma at Aurora, Colorado touches all of us. Last week in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus sends “the 12†on mission: to announce the Kingdom of God, to expel demons, and to cure the sick. Today they return to tell Jesus what they encountered. What did they say? Were people receptive to their message? Did they face evil? Could they heal body and soul? Jesus listens and then leads them away to a quiet place to absorb and reflect upon their experiences. But still the world intrudes into their quiet space. Crowds watch, follow and wait when Jesus and “the 12†disembark. Moved at the sight and with compassion, Jesus teaches them lessons on life. Undoubtedly there will be a discussion on gun control but even if all guns and ammunition are removed from society, there will still be violence. The inclination and capacity to harm another reside in us. Can we confess moments when we have desired to hurt another person? St. Paul writes to the Ephesians in our second reading. The believing community at Ephesus knows division and discord. St. Paul conveys a fundamental truth of the Gospel: “Jesus Christ is our peace.†Let us pray for the folks in Aurora and for the young man responsible for the carnage and his devastated parents.
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