We share the grief, shock, sadness, bewilderment and anger that many of our neighbors in Dayton are feeling after the shooting early Sunday morning that killed nine and injured 27. The Oregon District, where the shooting took place, is just a half mile from our provincial office on E. Second St., and two-tenths of a mile from Holy Trinity Parish, where our Missionaries are in ministry.
The pain of this senseless tragedy is radiating out through the city. Nor are we unique, as we also remember our brothers and sisters in El Paso, and many other areas that have experienced fearsome acts of violence and terror. The random nature of these acts leads us to pray with helpless sincerity, “Show us, Lord, the way out of this. We know that you are the Way—light the way toward peace and justice. Give us the courage to do the hard work to make it real. Help us climb up out of this darkness.”
I don’t have the answers. But I know where to go to beg for wisdom. We prayed during Sunday’s liturgy from Psalm 30, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” Let’s all pray for healing for the injured, comfort for the families of those who died, and wisdom for us all, so that we see what we should do to bring God’s light to this often-dark world. Let’s be part of that light.
V. Rev. Jeffrey S. Kirch, C.PP.S.
Provincial Director