Make us a channel of Your peace: Tragic Death of Mr. George Floyd and the Aftermath
We are heartbroken over the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd by the actions of police officers in Minneapolis, and also saddened to see well-intentioned protests devolve into violence, looting, and the destruction of properties and the livelihood of Americans.
As bishops of USCCB said, "As members of the church, we must stand for the more difficult right and just actions instead of the easy wrongs of indifference... We cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy and justice."
We pray for the comfort and consolation of the family and friends of Mr. George Floyd. We also pray for those who promote constructive change of minds and hearts by nonviolent and peaceful means. The Solemnity of Pentecost reminds us that we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit and bear the fruits of peace. The intention to change the attitude and the community must begin by looking into our own hearts, to see if we have any attitude that hinders us from seeing our fellow brothers and sisters as children of God made in his image and likeness.
God has breathed life into each one of us. As Catholic Christians we must protect all life regardless of race, religion, gender, age, and ethnicity. Let us pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to help us look for peaceful ways to bring about change in our own hearts and community. As St. John wrote, “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are” (1 Jn 3:1). Let us not be indifferent and rid ourselves of the harms caused by bias and prejudice.
Make me a channel of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring Your love,
Where there is injury Your pardon Lord,
And where there's doubt, true faith in You.
Fr. Paul Yi
