An Intercession..

Friday was marked with a terrible tragedy, a terrible tragedy that ended in the loss of 20 young children and 6 adults in the school, the shooter's mother in her own home, and the shooter. My heart and all my prayers go to the community that now lies shaken by the events.

As social media sites do in the wake of something terrible, Facebook exploded with prayers, comments on gun safety and control, comments of thanks for their safety and their own families, condolences and apologies for the sadness. There was one comment that made me sad, it made me so sad that I felt anger. A friend quoted someone who was questioning God and his existence, he said, ""Either God can do nothing to stop catastrophes, or he doesn't care, or he doesn't exist. God is either impotent, evil, or imaginary. Take your pick, and choose wisely." -Sam Harris""

Father Mike has given several homilies that have had the same message weaved in, the message that it's easy to believe, it's easy to have faith when everything is good, when life is happy and everyone is safe. It's hard to have faith when something horrible happens, when we're in a time of crisis, when our lives are stressful and we feel most alone and vulnerable.
God cares, he cares so much about us. He created us for love. He created us to love Him, and so He could love us. He loves us so much that He gave us free will. He gave us the power to choose. He gave us life, without free will and the power to choose we would all be puppets. We are not puppets. We make decisions to sin every day, whether it be something small, like a little white lie or gossip, or maybe something big, like adultery or murder, it isn't because God tells us to, it isn't something God wants. The power to choose doesn't mean He doesn't care.
God is all powerful, He is the definition of love and good, and He is real.
I have taken my pick. I pick God. I pick the good, and the love, and the hope. I pick Jesus Christ, and I pick the Heavenly Father.

Viva Christo Rey.

God Bless all the children who are now in Heaven, in His kingdom. God Bless the families marked by this tragedy and the community that is left to deal with the horrible choices of an angry and sick man. God Bless all the children and families, and I pray that we are all just a little more thankful for the great families and friends we have in our lives, and that we realize how fragile life is.

During this Christmas Season, I hope you remember the reason we are all here. I hope you remember that you are loved, and you have the choice to love or not to love, but either way, you will be loved.

-- Merry Christmas. God Bless.