On Monday, May 28, our country celebrates Memorial Day.  This holiday began after the Civil War to remember those who died in that war.  Since that time we have included all those who have died in wars, and we also remember our own families, parishioners and friends who have passed over.
     You might find it hard to believe, but it is true, that here in the United States, almost twice as many Americans were killed by guns as in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War decade of 1963-1973.  The 46,752 killed in that conflict (a conflict?) have a handsome and moving memorial in Washington, D.C.  But the 84,633 killed by guns in the U.S. from 1963-1973 don't even have a plaque.  Our country has the world's highest death rate from guns per capita& with a new gun being sold at the rate of one every 13-15 seconds.
     Why are we Americans so fascinated with guns?  Most civilized countries prohibit the ownership other than hunting firearms.  I'm performing the wedding of two St. Paul police officers this weekend.  They see the number of guns in St. Paul alone, making it more difficult to do their job as "peacekeepers", plus they see a more violent metropolitan area for the rest of us.
     Because of my gospel beliefs and profession, I find it impossible to own a gun, even for hunting.  I do have friends and colleagues who own guns and use them for hunting.  Each person is different, but the number of guns on the street make me more fearful.  What about you?  I've heard too many stories about children finding guns and about people losing their cool and going on a rampage with a gun.
     It's only been in the last few decades that weapon and bomb detectors first appeared in airports, then courthouses, government buildings and evenschools.  What's next?  Churches, Temples and Mosques?  Don't you think all those detectors add to our anxiety and fear, especially for children?  Can we limit and control automatic weapons and hand guns?  Do we limit violence by the right to carry firearms?  Who decides?  Who gets to carry concealed weapons?  Is our society going to be better off with more guns?
     The gospel of Jesus is counter-cultural.  It's about peace and forgiveness, not living by the sword (2000 years ago) or by the gun in 2001.  We call our country a religious and even a Christian country, but violence is everywhere-- from large metropolitan areas to small towns.  We have the dubious honor of coining words like "abused child", "battered spouse", "road rage", "going postal", "date rape", etc.  Just last year a parishioner was killed by her daughter with a gun. 
     Do our "freedoms" allow us to put the teachings of Jesus on the back burner and forget his call to turn the other cheek?  What are we saying when we sing, "Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world& " A lamb is a symbol of gentleness.  It is a gentle God who calls us to be gentle and non-violent.
     Archbishop Oscar Romero, who died by the bullets because of his beliefs in Christ, wrote:
   We have never preached violence,
   except the violence of love, which left Christ
   nailed to a cross,
   the violence that we must do to ourselves to overcome
   the selfishness and such cruel inequalities among us.
   The violence we preach is not the violence of the sword,
   the violence of hatred.
   It is the violence of love, of brotherhood,
   the violence that wills to beat weapons into sickles for work.
         (Nov. 1977)
    Have a safe and loving Memorial Day,
    Fr. Bill