It was sight that was deeply moving to see. Yesterday at noon I was able to watch the reception of the body of Police Officer Jason Rivera at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for the start of his wake. It was a somber, dignified and poignant moment to see so many officers from around the country paying tribute to a 22 year old officer who died in the line of duty because of a wanton, senseless and violent attack without provocation or reason. It is heartbreaking to ponder the pain and sorrow that his newly wed wife of three months, his mother, family and friends are experiencing today at his funeral and for months to come. It is a tragedy that is only compounded by the awful and sad fact that we will see the same sight next week when his fellow officer Wilbert Mora is laid to rest at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, shot alongside his friend in the same attack that took both their lives.
As I watched the scene, I sensed within me a simmering anger that comes from the fact that violence has become a normal part of life in our country. While we shed tears and grieve for those who have died, both in the line of duty and in our neighborhoods and streets, we seem paralyzed to do anything to stop it. Let us consider how many people, especially young people, have died because of gun violence in our cities and suburbs. Many times the victims of such reckless hate are innocent bystanders, who become victims of serious injury or death simply because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. What does that say about our society? Our common values? Our future as a country?
The time has come for all of us to be brutally honest, to look deep within our hearts and to unmask the root causes of such violence. Strengthening our laws and assisting people who are struggling with mental illness, homelessness and despair will help. However, our faith teaches us that only by converting hearts can each of us, especially those who are angry, troubled or lost, find true peace. In the coming days we will reflect together on how our faith can lead us forward in hope.
May Officer Rivera, Officer Mora and all those who have died as victims of violence rest in the peace of Christ.
The previous reflection originally appeared on Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Facebook page. Follow the Bishop for daily reflections and weekly homilies.
