Hope in Tragedy

Once again the students lined the sidewalks leading into the church.

Most  were dressed up in suits or dresses, some in bright red band jackets.  The band instruments were inside, ready to be played at the appropriate time.

The "No Parking-Funeral" signs were not just in front of the church today. They lined the streets and were even in the parking lot of the park adjacent to the church.  There were going to be a lot of people at this funeral.

Within the past four years, our parish has lost a number of young people.

One year an incoming Freshman died of a brain tumor.

Another year two recent graduates died in a horrific car crash.

At all three of these funerals, the teens did the same thing. They lined the sidewalks to show support for the families mourning the loss of their children.

Today's funeral looks similar on the outside.  Another young life cut short.  Mourners in black, flowers galore, tissue boxes at the ready, tears, and hugs.

But a huge question mark hangs in the air this time.

This time the funeral is for a girl who committed suicide.  She would have been a senior this year.  She was beautiful but troubled.  She knew loss.  She knew pain.

Quite recently the suicide death of Robin Williams shook the world. The world asked, "why?"

Again, today, we wonder "why?"

Where do we turn at times like this, when there don't seem to be any answers?

The line of teens outside showed the way.  The way into the church. The way into the Sacraments that bring us comfort.  The way into the presence of the Lord, where we find all of our hope.

Christ Jesus, bring comfort to those who mourn; bring peace to those in pain.  As you promised, turn our sorrow into joy.  May we hope in You!  Amen.


thatlife12.blogspot.com

Oh! The Pain

The other day, as I was contemplating Christ's passion and death,  I was moved to wonder, 'how many of those wounds that tortured His precious body were caused by my sins?'

Instantaneously a number popped into my head.   I will not share what the number was but I will admit that it surprised me.

Over the next several days, with that number floating around in my head, I tried to see if perhaps I had made it up myself.  Nope, that was the firm number the Lord kept giving me.

Last Saturday at confession, my penance was to stand before the image of the eleventh station.  The 11th station is Jesus being nailed to the cross.  The priest told me to put myself in the scene and choose which person represented me.

As much as I wanted it to be the pure and sinless Mother Mary, it wasn't happening!!

As I looked at the other people in the scene I saw a soldier with his hand in the basket of nails pulling out the next one to be used.  I saw the soldier in charge diligently watching his charges.  There was one soldier with a hammer ready to strike and the last person was a woman standing with the Blessed Mother.

With tears streaming down my face, I put myself in that scene, and I thought about that number.  Wow!

Christ died for our sins, before we were even alive to commit them.  As for my number, He knew that before He walked the road.

It brings new understanding and thanksgiving for the verse:

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) NIV