(This homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde during the Mass of Healing for victims of crime and violence at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, Virginia on Sat. Nov. 22.)
We have assembled in our cathedral to ask for the grace of healing. Among us, undoubtedly, are victims of crime and violence. Some victims have experienced violence within their home; domestic violence is so devastating within the family circle. Others have experienced violence within society; crimes like rape, assault, murder, are too prevalent in our neighborhoods and cities. Moreover, other persons have suffered abuse " verbal, emotional and sexual " by those they trusted the most: family members, clergy and other people representing the Church. In a special way, as a bishop in the Church, I apologize with all my heart for any abuse which a child or young person has suffered by a bishop, priest, deacon or any person representing the Church. I ask forgiveness and promise to do all I can to see to it that no child or young person is abused in the future.
Among us are family members and friends of victims who have endured violence, crime and abuse. Surely, you feel deeply the pain of the victims and struggle with a whole range of emotions, including hurt, anger, rage and even the desire for revenge.
Some among us may not have personally experienced violence, crime or abuse or may not know those who have. But, we are all one in the Body of Christ. When one member suffers, all suffer, so, in a real sense, we are all affected by violence, crime and abuse. We come, then, in prayer to ask for the grace of healing for one another and for ourselves.
Only the Lord can heal us, because He alone can reach into the depths of the human heart where deep hurt resides. His word in the Scriptures just proclaimed in our hearing encourages us to go to Him just as we are with our deep hurt and various emotions and to seek the healing He alone can give us. Through the prophet Isaiah in today's first reading, the Lord says “Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. " For I am the Lord, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.' " your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.” When we feel such deep pain and hurt, are we not like the disciples described in today's Gospel account: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Does not Jesus say to us now as He said to them then: “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” Ultimately, it is our faith intrinsically joined to our hope which allows us to echo St. Paul's words in today's second reading from his Letter to the Romans: “If God is for us, who can be against us? … For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, " nor present things, nor future things " nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is why, over and over, we must pray: “Do not abandon me, O God my Saviour.”
Although only the Lord can heal us, we must be open to His healing grace. Hurt, anger, rage, even the desire for revenge: these are human reactions to violence, crime and abuse. These emotions initially engulf us and tend to remain in us. We struggle with them and that is understandable. But, if we are to be healed, we must move beyond these feelings, powerful and real though they be. If they remain, they become like acid eating away at our very beings and prevent the healing we so desperately need from reaching us. To move beyond these deep emotions and feelings is not easy " not at all! In fact, we cannot do it on our own. We need the transforming power of Jesus in order to get beyond these strong feelings. That is why prayer is so necessary. Only in prayer can we come to understand how to forgive those who have inflicted harm the way Jesus forgave His executioners on Calvary. Only in prayer can we come to forgive any hurt or harm done to us or to those we love. Only in prayer can we transcend what really happened and move beyond to allow healing to occur. Counseling is also important and needed because through counseling, we acquire understanding and practical skills to resolve our conflicting emotions and to move beyond them to a place of inner healing. None of this is easy to accomplish. However, with the amazing grace Jesus gives us and through the help provided by competent counseling, we can become open to that healing which Jesus alone can give. Ours must be the prayer that St. Claude la Colombière prayed often: “Divine Lord, I wish to dwell in your heart and there to lose whatever of gall and bitterness there is in mine.”
Although only the Lord can heal us, He chooses to use us to be the instruments of His healing. The Prayer of Saint Francis, which we will sing in a short while, is so instructive: “Make me a channel of Your peace.” In formal ways, for example, through counseling and spiritual direction, and in informal ways, for example, through friendship and dialogue, we can be the instruments of that healing which the Lord alone gives. Let us seek from God, insight and wisdom, so that we will know when and how to be His instruments of healing.
Yes, in this Mass, wherein we relive Christ's Death and Resurrection, we seek for one another and for ourselves the grace to be healed. May we support one another as we travel together, asking the Lord for His healing grace and encouraging one another to be open to His healing touch, especially in prayer and in the Sacraments.
