Dear Parishioners,
Last Saturday, while I was eating dinner, I received a text
from one of my friends that the former President of the United Sates, Donald J. Trump, was shot. Of course,
various questions started coming to mind: Who
was the shooter? How did this happen? Is He okay? Why now? Etc.
I have seen numerous videos of the incident since that time
while also listening to first hand reports from those who were at the location.
There are still far too many unanswered questions about this apparent lone shooter, and I have to wonder
sincerely if we will ever get the true and complete story from those
investigating the situation. I fear not. Let me just say that there are many,
many unusual circumstances surrounding this attempted assassination as well as
signs of failure by those charged with protecting the former president.
There was also a man killed in the incident and two others critically
wounded. Please pray for Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief, who was shot
while protecting family members. The Pennsylvania governor said he “died a hero.”
As I think about what happened last Saturday, I realize that
somehow by God’s Divine Providence, the former president was saved from immediate
death. There was only an inch or so difference between life and death. Violence
has no place in our society, whether it is towards an elected official or some
unknown person in the city streets. Extreme violence can also be hidden from
the average person’s eyes such as the termination of a baby in the womb. The
baby dies nonetheless, and this sadly continues to be championed as something
good and a “right” in our society.
I watched the Republican
National Convention (July 14-18, Milwaukee, WI) to see that the former
president has returned to the spotlight and is apparently in good health. No
matter what your personal feelings are towards the man, he has proven to be
relentless, strong, and courageous and filled with extraordinary resilience. I
continue to pray for him as well as for our current president. I also beseech the
Lord on behalf of our nation, which needs much prayer, conversion and a return
to Almighty God, as does the entire world.
Meanwhile, the rest of the country and the world goes about
its business. The MLB All-Star Game
(July 16, Arlington, TX) takes place tonight as I write this column. The National Eucharistic Congress (July
17-21, Indianapolis, IN) also begins this week. I hope to be able to view some
of it whenever it is available on live-stream. Finally, the Olympics (July 26-August 11, Paris) will
begin at the end of the month.
Wars continue in Ukraine and Gaza. Natural disasters such as
the recent Hurricane Beryl in the
Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico will happen again. Let me remind you of some of
Jesus’ words to His disciples:
See that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’
and they will deceive many. You will hear of wars and
reports of wars; see that you are not alarmed, for these things must happen,
but it will not yet be the end. Nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be famines and earthquakes from
place to place. All these are the beginning of the labor
pains. Then they will hand you over to persecution, and
they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. And then many will be led into sin; they will betray and
hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and
deceive many; and because of the increase of evildoing,
the love of many will grow cold. But the one who
perseveres to the end will be saved. (Mt.
24: 4-13)
Remember, the Lord is still in charge and He expects our
fidelity to Him in every circumstance.
Fr. Ed Namiotka
Pastor
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