Saint Frances Cabrini Parish

Father Kleppner - April 22, 2007

How do we deal with tragedies like the one this week at Virginia Tech University?
“Adapted from Random Acts of Kindness: A Reflection on the violence done to youth, by Mark Moitoza”
Our hearts break. Young people are once again dealing with the tragic reality of guns and violence in their classrooms at Virginia Tech University.
Often the news and government studies focus on the issue of youth violence, violence perpetuated on others by young people. The United States, however, continues to grapple with the issue of violence done to youth in what have become to be known as random acts of violence. In depth investigations frequently reveal that adults perpetrating violence on youth were themselves victimized. The oppressed become the oppressor. How does a culture move away from living under the reality of random acts of violence?
The Gospel calls us to a deep understanding of the Kingdom of God. As Christians we are reminded that we live in between the already and the not yet. We experience glimmers of hope in profound acts of holiness expressed in the community of faith. Yet we realize that our hope in life eternal is not yet realized, it is something to come. The already and the not yet place us in what can appear to be an awkward in-between when we are confronted with violence to youth.
When young people are victimized we mourn the tragic loss of life as well as the loss of innocence. We weep for those who lose a child, a relative, a friend. All of us, adults and youth ask the questions: “Why?”, “How could something so horrible happen?”, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
We struggle to find the appropriate words. We know that our presence and the presence of many other healthy adults in the lives of young people make a positive difference. We also know that by listening to the fears and the questions of the young that we help them to express what is going on in their minds and their hearts. As Catholics, we are called to a ministry of compassion in the midst of violence. We cannot answer exactly why these tragedies happen.
We can, however, create safe zones where young people can be allowed to question, ponder and pray. There is a great deal of suffering in the world. Some of the suffering puts us in touch with the extreme way that Christ suffered for all of us. It does not explain away tragedy but suffering puts us in touch with the grace of love that the living God has for each of us.
There is a response to the random acts of violence which can be found in random acts of kindness. We can begin to help break open the difficult words and images of violence through prayer with young people and their families. We can help to break the cultural perception that my life is about me only and that the decisions I make have no affect on others. We can help young people move beyond the violence by allowing them opportunities to safely process what is going on in our world. Those who mourned the loss of young life at the Amish School in Pennsylvania learned that the Amish community began their prayers by forgiving the victimizer. The grace of forgiveness was the initial prayer for the entire community as they prepared for simple funerals and burials. The Amish act of faith reminds us that we too are called to forgive violence which we do not understand. It is with forgiving hearts that we may move on with hope to share random acts of kindness with others.
Random acts of kindness surprise receivers with the experience of joy and hope. It is seen in those who defend the unborn, sick, poor, handicapped and the elderly with voice and vote. It is seen in those who pitch in without being asked, those who make an effort to include, to welcome and to smile at people that are neglected and rejected. They are small efforts that have a big effect. Our role as baptized Catholics, parents, grandparents, and catechists invites us to encourage our Catholic faith communities to think about embracing random acts of kindness. Living as true disciples of Christ we are challenged to put that thinking into practice so that we may be signs of hope in a world confronted with awkward in-betweens.

May I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector of those without protection;
the unborn, weak and vulnerable,
the young and elderly, victims of abuse
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need
For as long as space endures,
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I, too abide
To dispel the misery of the world.

A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust

115 Trinity Drive
Center Twp., Aliquippa, PA 15001 724-775-6363 Phone
724-775-3848 Fax

www.sfcabriniparish.org