This past week has seen violence and hatred fracture the peace of our country once again.  Attacks in Dayton, Ohio, and our neighbors in El Paso, have left thirty-one innocent people dead. And these, close on the heels of another shooting in Gilroy, California.

This has been a little surreal for me, since I am surrounded, every day, by young men and women with guns.  They ruck-march up and down the streets of Fort Jackson from the early hours until late at night, loaded down with weapons and equipment.  Here, the sounds of small arms and grenade ranges, and simulated battles, punctuate the air day and night.  Weapons are carried on the buses that shuttle throughout the base.  Assault rifles are propped against our breakfast and dinner tables.  Soldiers sit, camouflage paint on their faces, body armor on their torsos, enjoying their frosted flakes, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. 

But this is the most normal thing…when you are on an Army post which is training soldiers to kill in combat.  Fort Jackson processes more new recruits than any other Army base in the country.  A new class of soldiers graduates here every week, many of whom will soon deploy in the continuing War on Terror.

This is normal.  Soldiers are trained to fight and kill the nation’s enemies.  We sleep safely at night because of their dedication and selfless service. 

What isn’t normal is for a routine shopping trip to Walmart to end in violent death at the hands of a domestic terrorist.  What isn’t normal is for people to be gunned down in the street while out enjoying themselves.  What isn’t normal is for a culinary festival to become the site of a shooting rampage.

Now, as a clergy person, I am conscious that I must represent my entire congregation.  I recognize that some are politically conservative, and others more progressive.  I respect that.  I do not wish to enter a political conversation, mainly because, as a priest, I am really only interested in one source of power – that of Jesus Christ.

So, I simply suggest that we, prayerfully, ask ourselves some deep and penetrating questions:

Who is our God, really? 

Which comes first: our American identity, or our Christian identity? 

In times of difficulty do we turn to scripture, or do we turn to the Second Amendment?

What are we, individually and collectively, prepared to do, to make our country safer? 

Are we complicit in these killings, just by accepting the status quo?

What can we do, to allow the Prince of Peace to reign in our hearts, and in our country?

These are not rhetorical questions.  I pray that we all search our souls for answers.  I guarantee that the answer is not to be found in partisan politics.  I guarantee that the answer is to be found in the teaching of Jesus.

God bless you all.

Blessings and peace,

Fr. Nick