07/17/2024
Bishop Bambera, Catholic Bishop of Scranton, addressed the assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump during his homily Sunday morning with some insightful words.
In part he said:
"Last night, we witnessed the making of history in a tragic way with the assassination attempt on the life of our former president, Donald Trump. In the midst of that attempt on his life, which was spared by millimeters, an innocent bystander was killed, several people were wounded and the likely shooter was killed.
"I would be remiss if I failed to speak with you of this moment in our history as a nation and a people. This is not a political statement in support of the Republican candidate for president. It is not a moment to point fingers. It is not a time to engage in the dreadful social media posts that have emerged in the hours since this tragic event. No – this is a moment that demands that all of us reflect upon who and what we have become in the polarized, divided and angry world in which we find ourselves as a people.
"We are not responsible for pulling a trigger and taking lives. But we are responsible to set aside hatred, to embrace discourse with respect and to work to build a world of justice, mercy, forgiveness and peace. Nor can we side step our responsibility as Christians. As followers of Jesus, we have all been called to build God’s kingdom – to work for peace – to respect human life in all shapes and forms, regardless of what we believe, how we live, when we come from and what we don’t have.
"If we are uncertain of what I’ve shared and its application to our lives, I’d suggest that we all look at today’s scripture passages, particularly the first reading and the gospel. They are providential and speak to what we are experiencing this day throughout our land. Simply put, God’s way of working in our world and using some the most unlikely and reluctant of individuals like you and me in the proclamation and embrace of the mission of the gospel goes back to the very beginnings of his relationship with his people.
The full text of Bishop Bambera's Homily is available on the Diocese of Scranton website at the following link:
HOMILY 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – July 14, 2024 Last night, we witnessed the making of history in a tragic way with the assassination attempt on the life of our former president, Donald Trump. In the midst of that attempt on his life, which was spared by millimeters, an innocent bystander was ...
