NOTHING SO SAD AS

TONIGHT THERE ARE 28 FAMILIES WHO WILL HAVE LITTLE OR NO JOY IN THIS SEASON OF "PEACE ON EARTH GOODWILL TOWARD MEN."

THERE WILL BE 20 LESS CHILDREN TO COME HOME FROM SCHOOL TO WARM COOKIES AND COLD MILK. THERE WILL BE 20 LESS CHILDREN TO OPEN CHRISTMAS GIFTS AND WITH SLEEPY EYES TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR.  THERE WILL BE 7 OR 8 FAMILIES WHICH WILL HAVE A MOTHER, BROTHER, SISTER, WIFE OR HUSBAND TO HUG AND TALK TO.

THE EVENTS OF THIS DAY ARE EXTREMELY TRAGIC.

THERE IS NOTHING MORE DEVASTATING TO THE HEART AND SOUL OF PARENTS THAN THE LOSS OF THE INNOCENT.

THESE CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO SOUGHT TO PROTECT AND SAVE THEM WERE TRULY INNOCENT AND IN SOME CASE HEROIC.

I CANNOT SAY THAT I KNOW HOW DEEPLY THIS LOSS AFFECTS THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE SUFFERED THIS DAY.  HOWEVER, AS A PARENT AND GRAND PARENT I KNOW I WILL HUG MY WIFE, SONS, DAUGHTERS, AND GRANDCHILDREN TIGHTER AND LONGER.

THE PAST FEW YEARS HAS SEEN SUCH HORROR AS SCHOOL KILLING FROM COLLEGES TO KINDERGARTEN, FROM MOVIE THEATERS TO SUMMER ISLAND RETREATS.

NEARLY ALL OF THESE HORRIBLE ACTIONS ARE DONE BY YOUNG ADULTS.  THOSE WHO HAVE GROWN UP NEVER KNOWING THE WORLD WITH OUT THE INTER-NET, CELL PHONES, MORE AND MORE VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES AND LOUD "ACTION' MOVIES. THEIR HEADS ARE FILLED WITH VIOLENCE CRUDENESS WITH THE WINNERS KILLING MORE PEOPLE THAN THE PREVIOUS PERSON.

I FOR ONE BELIEVE THAT IT IS LOSS OF THE TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE FOUNDING OF THIS COUNTRY ON JUDEO/CHRISTIAN ETHICS.

AS A PEOPLE WE HAVE BECOME CRUDE, RUDE AND SELF-CENTERED  WE HAVE ALLOWED HUMANISM AND SECULAR BELIEFS AND ACTIONS TO RULE OUR ACTIONS AND AFFECTIONS.

VIDEO GAMES, MOVIES, TELEVISION, THE COMPUTER OR "NET" AND MUSIC WHICH WE INVITE INTO OUR HOME DESENSITIZES OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO FEELING AND CARE FOR THEIR FOLLOW MAN.

WHILE WE WILLINGLY INVITE THE SECULAR AND DESTRUCTIVE INTO OUR HOMES WE FORGET TO INVITE THE SPIRIT AND PROTECTION OF GOD AND JESUS CHRIST FOR US AND OUR LOVED ONES.

I CAN ONLY PRAY FOR THOSE WHO LOSS IS THE GREATEST TODAY AND IN THAT PRAYER ASK FOR THE DIVINE SPIRIT TO EASE THEIR PAIN.