Earlier today, I shared a heartfelt prayer request from our Metropolitan in response to the tragic Minneapolis school shooting. His words echo the sorrow many of us feel:
“There are no words to fully express the grief and sorrow in my heart…we are called to stand together in prayer, to seek the Lord’s comfort and peace, and to embrace one another with Christian love and compassion.”
Alongside his message was a note from Fr. Timothy Sas, priest at St. Mary’s Parish near Annunciation Catholic School. Among the 20 victims was 12-year-old Sophia, whose family calls this parish their spiritual home. We now pray for her, the other victims, their families, and the entire community.
As the Psalmist reminds us, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). In our sorrow, we turn to Him, knowing He is present in our grief. May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ pour out as a healing balm upon them, granting every good gift to both body and soul.
In the aftermath of such horror, some—including members of the clergy—have voiced skepticism, claiming that “thoughts and prayers” are hollow if we ignore the opportunity to prevent such tragedies. If I’m being gracious, I would say they’re partly right. We must indeed ask: What should we do—not just after tragedy, but before it? Still, we must never diminish the power of prayer, nor forget that prayer is action. As St. John Chrysostom powerfully declared: “The potency of prayer has subdued the strength of fire, bridled the rage of lions, silenced anarchy, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven.”
Prayer is not passive; it is our greatest weapon against darkness. It opens the gates of divine mercy. That’s why the Apostle exhorts us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We rightly pray for the healing of victims and their families. We pray that God grants rest to the departed and that the grieving find hope in His Resurrection. We pray for first responders, for their peace and strength. And yes, we even pray for the perpetrator, whose spiritual torment will far surpass earthly suffering. Lord, have mercy.
Prayer not only comforts—it moves us. It realigns our hearts with God and invites His presence into the brokenness of this world. What a blessing it was to receive texts and emails from parishioners asking how they could support the grieving community. A box of prayer shawls is being sent to our sister parish in Minneapolis. It’s a simple gesture, but one that conveys the love and prayers of Christ, the Theotokos, and Saint Anna. We labor to live the words of St. Paul: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
In the days to come, politicians will debate whether more or less legislation is needed. But for me, my hope and confidence lie not in the shifting ideologies of this world, but in Christ. A former classmate of the shooter put it simply: what he needed was a relationship with Jesus. She saw the tragedy as the result of a spiritual battle lost—a demonic victory. Her answer was clear: what the world needs is Christ. And let us not forget that Christ Himself told us, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The Church, as the Body and Bride of Christ, offers the world what it most deeply lacks: communion with the Triune God. That relationship is everything.
Saints like St. Moses the Ethiopian—whose life we commemorate today—remind us that no soul is beyond redemption. “God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). The saints testify that transformation is possible, even from a life of violence and despair to one of holiness and love.
To those who dismiss this truth, I ask:
Which saint slandered others?
Which saint abused or neglected their family?
Which saint took up arms in hatred or committed atrocities?
None. Because a life in Christ transforms the human heart. As St. Seraphim of Sarov teaches us: “Acquire the Spirit of Peace, and thousands around you will be saved.”
Whether the world believes it or not, the only enduring solution to sin—whether personal or societal—is Christ. And so, I must remain disciplined: in prayer, in fasting, in Scripture, in giving, in repentance, in confession, and in my reception of the Holy Eucharist. There is a battle for my soul and for your soul. Spiritual laziness will only bring pain—both now and in eternity. We must heed the admonition of St. Peter who warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
I pray that, through the intercessions of the Theotokos, we may remain far from sin and draw near to the Light of Christ—our only true hope in the face of darkness. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). He is the comfort for the hopeless, the Light for those in darkness, and the Savior of our souls.
Please, please pray.
