Bloodshed in our country; an amazing Congress

The past several days have brought about a number of significant events for our country and Church. Allow me to share a few thoughts about two of these events.
On July 13, an attempt was made to assassinate former President Donald Trump. I feel fortunate that I felt shock when I saw this happen. In my lifetime, I have experienced the assignations of President Kennedy, Rev. Martin Luther King J.R., and the attempted assassinations of Presidents Reagan and Ford, Governor Wallace and Pope John Paul II, just to mention some murders or attempted murders of public figures that readily come to mind. Even after all of this, I am grateful to God that my heart has not become so callous that I am hardened against such horrific news.
Among many lessons which we can take to heart about this senseless shooting, it is that we cannot allow evil to so affect us that we fail to feel outrage when evil occurs. In Butler, Pa., we saw the moment when former President Trump was injured and later learned that at that moment an innocent husband and father in the audience was killed. We saw the brutality of the moment. It was right before our eyes. It affected us. 
However, the brutality of senseless shootings happens every day in our country. The difference is that we don’t see those moments. We witnessed the violence on July 13, but rarely is the bloodshed shown to us. Shootings and murders may be reported on the news, but just as another story among many. Sadly, we have become so accustomed to stories of shootings that often they are not even the lead story on the news. I point that out, in no way to criticize the media, but to illustrate that senseless and brutal violence in our country has become almost ordinary.
We cannot allow violence to become ordinary. The causes of violence will never be addressed if our hearts become so unfeeling and our emotions so drained that we are not motivated to work for a better society. Evil cannot have the last word.
On a different note, this past weekend the National Eucharistic Congress was held in Indianapolis. I was blessed to be present. Approximately 50,000 people from across the nation, including people from our Archdiocese, attended. The spirit of those attending this five-day event was exceptionally positive. Even though the crowds were large, people were smiling, laughing, praying, conversing, singing. It was an amazing experience. A most impressive moment was on Saturday when people joined together for an immense Eucharistic procession through the streets of downtown Indianapolis.
As I watched the Congress unfold, I asked myself what will be the residual effect of all this effort? I concluded that the effect cannot be measured. It will not be quantifiable. With God’s help, however, it will be a spiritual “shot in the arm” for people who attended or watched through media this grace-filled occasion. We hear so much bad news about our society and Church, but it was amazing what God was doing in that crowd as people kept their gaze upon the Lord.
That’s what it is all about—to keep our gaze upon the Lord. I pray people returned home from Indianapolis to continue to give thanks for the priceless gift of the Lord’s Real Presence in the Eucharist and to recommit themselves to living out their faith—which the Eucharist challenges us to do.
I am convinced God is working powerfully in the Church. Allow me to give one example from the Eucharistic Congress. The main hall of the convention center contained more than 240 booths, each sharing information about various Catholic ministries from across the country.
Almost every one of these ministries was started by laypeople, or if started by clergy or religious, is now led by laypeople. This is an amazing change which has come about in the Church over the past 60 years. Years ago, ministry was primarily exercised only by clergy and religious. Increasingly the Spirit is bringing about a flourishing of diverse ministries which is springing forth from every part of the Church.
The Spirit is motivating people of faith to resist being discouraged by evil, but to keep their gaze upon the Lord and to make a difference.