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The readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, on August 31, 2025, call us to reflect on humility, hospitality, and trust in God’s wisdom, even in the face of profound suffering.
These themes resonate deeply as we hold in our hearts the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis on August 27, 2025, where two children, 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski, lost their lives, and 18 others were injured during a school Mass.
This horrific event, investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and an anti-Catholic hate crime, shakes our sense of safety and challenges us to find meaning through the lens of our faith.
First Reading: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
The Book of Sirach urges us to conduct our affairs with humility, emphasizing that a humble heart is pleasing to God. “My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts” (Sirach 3:17). This wisdom invites us to approach life with a posture of lowliness, recognizing that true greatness lies not in self-exaltation but in serving others. In the context of the Annunciation tragedy, this call to humility challenges us to set aside anger or despair and instead respond with compassion and solidarity, as the Minneapolis community did through vigils and memorials. The heroic actions of teachers and students, shielding one another under pews, embody this selflessness, reflecting a humility that prioritizes others’ safety over one’s own.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68:4-7, 10-11
The psalm proclaims, “God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.” It celebrates God as a protector of the vulnerable, providing refuge for the afflicted. The Annunciation shooting reminds us that even sacred spaces can be violated, yet the psalm assures us that God remains a dwelling place for those who suffer. The outpouring of support—over 600 people at a prayer service led by Archbishop Bernard Hebda, a candlelight vigil at Lynnhurst Park, and Pope Leo XIV’s message of condolence—reflects the Church as a home for the grieving, where God’s goodness offers solace amid unspeakable loss.
Second Reading: Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a
The Letter to the Hebrews contrasts the fearfulness of Mount Sinai with the hope of Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, where we encounter “Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant.” This passage invites us to trust in God’s promise of eternal communion, even when earthly tragedies, like the Minneapolis shooting, make faith feel distant. The image of approaching a city of joy and peace challenges us to hold fast to hope, trusting that God accompanies the victims, their families, and the traumatized community. The quick response of first responders and the bravery of school staff, who protected children during the attack, mirror the mediating presence of Christ, bringing light into chaos.
Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14
Jesus’ parable in Luke’s Gospel teaches us to take the lowest place at the table and to invite those who cannot repay us— the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. This radical hospitality and humility stand in stark contrast to the violence at Annunciation, where a shooter targeted innocent children and worshippers. Jesus’ call to serve the marginalized invites us to respond to this tragedy with acts of love and justice, supporting the victims’ families and advocating for change, as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged when he said, “Prayers are welcome, but that’s not enough.” The community’s response—creating a sidewalk memorial of flowers, notes, and candles—embodies this Gospel call to embrace the suffering with open hearts.
Reflection in Light of the Annunciation Tragedy
The Annunciation shooting, where 23-year-old Robin Westman fired through church windows during a Mass, killing two children and injuring 18 others, is a wound to the Body of Christ. The readings challenge us to respond not with hatred but with the humility and love Jesus models. Sirach’s call to humility asks us to listen to the pain of the Minneapolis community without judgment. Hebrews reminds us that God’s covenant of peace endures, even when evil disrupts our sanctuaries. The Gospel’s invitation to hospitality urges us to support the grieving, as seen in the Uvalde Foundation’s fundraising for victims’ families and the joint investigation by local and federal authorities to seek justice.
Yet, this tragedy also raises hard questions. How do we trust in God’s goodness when children are killed in a place of worship? How do we embody humility and hospitality in a world marked by such violence? The heroism of Annunciation’s staff and students, the community’s vigils, and the Church’s prayers point to a path forward: leaning into faith, supporting one another, and working for a world where such tragedies are no more. As Psalm 68 assures us, God makes a home for the afflicted, and we are called to build that home through love, justice, and hope.
Prayer
Loving God, we lift up the Annunciation Catholic School community, especially the families of Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski, and all those injured and traumatized. Grant them your peace and healing. Inspire us to live with humility, to offer hospitality to the suffering, and to trust in your eternal promise. Guide us to work for justice and safety, so that no child fears violence in your house. Through Christ, our mediator, we pray. Amen.
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciation_Catholic_Church_shooting)
[](https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/28/us/annunciation-catholic-school-shooting-minneapolis)
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