Three mass shootings in less than two weeks.  A Black community in Buffalo targeted while grocery shopping, a Taiwanese congregation in California enjoying lunch after Sunday worship, and this week 19 elementary school children and their two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. All victims of the plague of gun violence that is unique to our country. It is hard not to become numb. Not to feel overwhelmed.  Not to be overcome with despair over what is happening in this country that we seem helpless to do anything about. How do we respond? What do we do with the grief, anger and despair we feel? Let ourselves feel it for one thing. Don’t bury it. Don’t become numb. Look at the photos of those beautiful children and adults who have been killed.  Read and listen to their stories. Cry. Wail, even. Mourn them. Pray for those whose hearts have been torn out, for those communities that have been traumatized. Yes, pray. May God gather them under her wings as a hen gathers her chicks. May God enfold them in his arms. May God give them the peace that Jesus promises that passes understanding—because, God knows, I can’t understand how any of these victims’ parents, children, family, friends can know peace. All I can do is trust that God is greater than my understanding, and that they will know peace.  If not today, then maybe in a week, or a few months, or a few years.

But we all know that praying is not enough. There’s a quote by theologian Miroslav Volf making the rounds on social media: “There is something deeply hypocritical about praying for a problem that you are unwilling to help resolve.”

And we all have to help resolve this problem.  If we don’t, our children, our youth, our church-goers, our seniors, our neighbors are going to continue to die from gun violence. We have to address the proliferation of and easy access to guns in this country. As many as 90% of Americans support universal background checks. Even most gun owners support stricter gun laws. So, yes, pray.  Rail at God like the Psalmists did.  Pray the prophet Habbakuk’s prayer, “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you ‘Violence!’ and you will not save.” Trust that God hears the cries of God’s people. Pray. Then act to help solve the problem. Donate to advocacy groups. March. Write letters. Vote. Let your voice be heard. Follow St. Benedict’s dictum “ora et labora,” “pray and work”. The two go hand in hand for people of faith. Prayer is not enough. Work without prayer will drain us and leave us rudderless. Ora et labora. 

May God have mercy upon us, heal us, heal our nation, heal those who grieve, and lead us forward. Amen.

Rev. Beverly Bartlett