I find that there is so much more good in the world than evil.  But sometimes evil can be overwhelming as it was this week with the Las Vegas Massacre.  In the face of such evil, some would say that God was absent.  I disagree.  God was present in all those who rushed to comfort the dying and assist the wounded.  As a Catholic who receives our Lord every day in Holy Communion, I know that God is always with us.  So, my first reaction to such unspeakable evil is simply to pray for an ever-deeper awareness of God’s loving presence in our crazy old world.  I pray for a complete recovery for thousands of people who were physically and emotionally wounded by the violence on Sunday night.
My second reaction after the tears dry is anger.  I know I’ll be crying again at some point in the future after another senseless mass murder.  There will always be evil people in the world committing horrible crimes against innocent people.  But why can’t we use a little common sense and make it harder for evil to succeed?  Why is there a need for any civilian to own an automatic rifle?  The answer is that the NRA will not allow us to use common sense.  They have used their deep coffers to brainwash our society into thinking that any gun law is a bad law. Our PREP students are currently learning about different prayer experiences that involve the Blessed Mother.  Since the seventeenth century, Catholics facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles have turned to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots for her intercession.  There is no one who is closer to Jesus.  He will not refuse his Mom.  Pope Francis has mentioned this title of Mary as being among his favorites.
Joe Murphy is taking the lead on building a temporary grotto for the image of our Lady, Undoer of Knots underneath the Bell Tower.  Once finished the grotto will be open to everyone.  It will consist of Lattice walls on three sides.  In the grotto, there will be a basket of cloth ribbons.  The idea is to take a ribbon and with a sharpie marker write down in a few words a petition and then tie the ribbon to the latticework of the grotto.  If we do that in true surrender, our Blessed Mother will take our ribbon and undo even the most impossible of knots.  As you leave a knot on the grotto, you are encouraged to read the knot someone else left there and to commit to praying for that person, for the untying of their knot.  It can be a simple but beautiful prayer experience.  The Grotto will remain in place until after Thanksgiving.  It will be neat to watch the number of petitions grow.
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Deacon Tony Wagner will be our guest homilist next weekend.  I am sure that you will give Tony and his wife Lisa a warm St. Michael’s welcome.

Fr. Jerry