Consumed with Longing October 5

My inmost being is consumed with longing. Job 19:27

The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Luke 10:2

Piety

Let us pray: God, you revealed your glory to Job in the face of his enduring loss. In the face of continued unspeakable violence targeting the innocent, we ask you to welcome into your Kingdom and into the communion of saints these pure witnesses in faith and love.

For Naomi Rose Ebersole, 7. We pray to the Lord.

For Anna Mae Stolzfus, 12. We pray to the Lord.

For Marian Fisher, 13. We pray to the Lord.

For Mary Liz Miller, 8. We pray to the Lord.

And for her sister Lena Miller, 7. We pray to the Lord.

Father, you surely wept when you saw the world exzecute your innocent Son to save us for our sins. Two thousand and six years later, the forces of evil in the world continue to slaughter the innocent. Please send your peace to the families of these girls and the families of those girls still lying in hospitals with serious injuries. We are again shaken and angered by this and all senseless acts of aggression here and abroad. Deliver us from evil and grant us peace today. Amen.

Study

Luke has been preparing us for our missionary journey by laying out the foundation of discipleship over the past few days of readings. Today, Jesus commissions us to go out with the seventy-two as witnesses to his ministry.

Jesus’ direct instructions continue to dwell on the theme that we must make a break from the world of material possessions. These will weigh us down when we need to proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Furthermore, he underscores that we also must break the ties we have to cultural customs that will distract us from the work. Because the “laborers are few,” we haven’t a moment to waste.

If we can capture some of the zeal expressed by Job in the first reading from the Hebrew Bible, then we shall fulfill our mission with the realization that God will be vindicated and we shall meet Him face-to-face (“From my flesh, I shall see God” presents us with Job’s vision of the resurrection of the body).

As the days get shorter and the weeks of the liturgical year wind toward a close, the need to carry forth the message is clear. Just as St. Luke was blessing those with ears to hear, today we come to understand the harsh judgment upon those who hear the message of Jesus and reject it.
Action

I scream and pray for the girls killed at West Nickel Mines Amish School and those teachers, classmates and others who will forever be scarred by the living memory of that day that “Columbine” came to Pennsylvania.

Despite the Amish desire to live apart from modern society and the technological marvels o instant communications and Blackberry e-mail everywhere we go, the violence and sickness of society and evil can not be walled off. The faith of their fathers and mothers and brothers could not protect these girls any more than Job’s faith could protect him. But such a test may be exactly what Jesus has in store for all of us with his call to discipleship.

Yesterday, these five were called into sainthood. Naomi Rose Ebersole, 7. Presente. Anna Mae Stolzfus, 12. Presente. Marian Fisher, 13. Presente. Mary Liz Miller, 8. Presente. And her sister in sainthood, Lena Miller, 7. Presente.

Five other girls still remain in serious condition in regional hospitals.

Although the town is only two hours away from Washington, the kind of senseless gun violence that tore up our region in 2002 with the sniper attacks on unsuspecting citizens now tears open another community.

Jesus commissioned the 72 to take his message of peace to the households of the world. He sent them like lambs among the wolves. These Amish girls were indeed lambs attacked by a wolf. As Job cried out, “But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust; Whom I myself shall see: my own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him, And from my flesh I shall see God; my inmost being is consumed with longing.”

The souls of these innocent girls have already found vindication in a one-on-one meeting with Christ who surely cried to see them at His gate.

Pray for their families and, if you can, consider sending a gift to the official fund in Lancaster. Donations may also be mailed to The Nickel Mines School Victims Fund, care of HomeTowne Heritage Bank, P-O Box 337, Strasburg, Pennsylvania 17579. Blue Cross has already donated $500,000 to provide medical care.