May the Lord give you His peace! At 2:30 PM this afternoon (Friday, November 6, 2009), I, like many citizens of the United States, observed a moment of silence to remember the victims of yesterday’s tragic shooting in Ft. Hood, TX. While so many citizens and members of the US military throughout the world observed this moment of silence, law enforcement officials in Orlando, FL were apprehending a suspect in an office shooting there. We have seen on television and read in newspapers stories of so many acts of violence. Then there are the victims of violence out there today whom we may never learn about and whom we may never know. Victims of domestic violence, victims of the violence of abortion, children who die because of the violence of poverty and malnutrition, victims of war, victims of hate crimes and racism, victims of sexual assault by strangers or trusted people. When does it stop? Please God help us to stop the violence. Please God help us to be instruments of your peace. Christ, the Son of God, was not immune to violence during His life on earth. The Son who became one like us in all things but sin, was a victim of violence and is thus intimately connected with every victim of violence and every person who works for righteousness and justice. Amidst the brutal violence of Calvary, God saved the world. Love is always greater than hate. In the moments of silence, in the quiet of prayer, in the reading of the Word, in the sharing of the Eucharist, we encounter intimately the God who calls us to peace. In such moments, we embrace passionately the LOVE who inspires us to be instruments of peace. Francis of Assisi experienced violence first hand and confronted peacefully the violence of a crusade. I suspect that he was able to do so by first confronting the personal violence of his own sin, no matter how great or small. He could be an instrument of peace when he could recognize more and more his need for God and his need for God’s mercy. His example teaches us to do the same. Francis was able to recognize his need for God in so many moments of silence, brief or long. As we open our hearts to seek God’s mercy, as we seek forgiveness of our sins and forgive those who sin against, we work for peace in our hearts, in our lives, in our world. Love always triumphs over hate. STOP THE VIOLENCE. Help us all to live in peace.