Last week the term “Annunciation Catholic Church” joined other terms like Sandy Hook, Uvalde, Virginia Tech, the Orlando Nightclub that describe a Mass Shooting. I’m old enough to remember the first one—Columbine—that tragically garnered widespread attention. Partly because this shooting happened in Minneapolis, I’ve been spending a lot of time reading about it since it happened last Wednesday.
And I’m willing to keep reading about it until a large enough number of people say, “Enough!” I shared in my sermon this past Sunday, found at: August 31, 2025 Worship Service, that maybe the Holy Spirit will lead people of faith—and certainly people who don’t believe or practice faith are included—to say, "Something has to change."
"Something has to change." Perhaps this could be a new term of peacemaking.
In the past eleven years there have been over seventy Mass Shootings in Minnesota. A Mass Shooting is defined by the Gun Violence Archive as having a minimum of four victims either injured or killed not including the shooter. We’re all suffering because of this sickness. We have to keep talking about this sickness—in our families, at church, at school, at our work sites, at our community organizations, with all of our political leaders—basically with all humans.
I do not believe that this sickness will change until enough people say, “Something has to change.”
And unfortunately I’m not optimistic that the horrible incident at Annunciation Catholic Church will be the instigator for change. If change didn’t happen after Sandy Hook—where twenty students and eight adults were killed, or after Uvalde—where 19 students and 2 teachers were fatally shot, or after Virginia Tech—where 33 people were killed, or after the Orlando Nightclub attack, where 49 people were killed, then why would it change now?
However, my pessimism is smaller than my desire to see these shootings stop.
I certainly don’t claim to have the answers to what will work. But I do believe that we need to think about solutions in an expansive way. We need to use the word, “AND” much more instead of the word, “BUT.”
Already I’ve read articles about those who oppose gun control who say that more mental health resources are needed. I agree that more mental health resources are needed, AND I don’t think creating a zero-sum game of pitting gun control policies versus mental health resources is the way to go.
I do think it’s fair to say that if Robin Westman had received significantly more mental health support this likely would not have happened AND if she did not have access to guns that this incident would not have happened.
Already I’ve read where people are critical of those who have transitioned and are critical of policies that help people who have transitioned. I agree that transitioning is a complicated process, AND I believe that more support is needed for people who transition.
We need policies that bring people together AND do not
scapegoat any group of people.
In my sermon on Sunday, I encouraged people to live by praus. Praus is a Greek word that means meek, or gentle strength. Jesus said, “blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” I’d like to inherit an earth where no children or adult die in a Mass shooting. AND I’m willing to live by praus and encourage others until this becomes a reality.
Being meek does not mean we are pushovers; on the contrary it means we are rooted in something far greater than ourselves. Living with praus means each of us says consistently “this is not the world we want to live in. We don’t want to live in a world where children die from gunshot while attending Mass at their school.
My hope is the term “Annunciation Catholic Church” will be the last one on this horrible list of Mass Shootings. Even though I am pessimistic I’m willing to join a movement for change. I don’t claim the answers, AND I’m willing to work with others to find them.
Praus!
