Commentary of the Gospell

All you have to do is pick up a newspaper or click on your newsfeed to see how violence is distorting our society. It impacts our nations, our communities, and our personal relationships. We see it in violent crime and the rise of imprisonment as a solution, mass shootings, wars and arms dealing, kidnapping, the drug trade, domestic abuse, and even the abuse of children and vulnerable adults by those trusted to keep them safe. Sometimes it seems as though our whole world bears the mark of Cain.

Like the Pharisees, we test God, asking for a sign, alternately demanding and begging that he banish violence from our world. But we are reminded that we too have a tole to play in eliminating violence. We cannot simply hide our heads in the sand, offering the victims our thoughts and prayers. Instead, we and our leaders must think about the causes of violence and pray for the courage and commitment to address them. God will not let such prayers go unheard.