Tragedy & Rejoicing?!?

With yet another school shooting tragedy in the United States, we are left again with all kinds of questions that we feel there are never any satisfactory answers: 

• Why does this happen?
• How can God allow innocent children to be killed like this?
• Where is God in all of this?

In the Liturgy this Sunday we hear the words of St. Paul to the Philippians:

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice."

I imagine that there are not many people in the close knit community of Sandy Hook in Conneticut who are rejoicing these days.  How does the scripture written almost 2000 years ago speak to our present reality?

The mystery of Christ's death and resurrection is, for me, the only hope we can have.  It was also the only hope that St. Paul had!  He wrote this letter to the Philippians while he was imprisoned in Rome, awaiting trail on charges of promoting a Kingdom other than the existing Roman Empire. In the midst of prison - which was surely not a very comfortable place, St. Paul urged his readers on to rejoice.  In the very uncomfortable place of grief and sorrow - we place our hope in the Lord. The one who had given all tragedy meaning in his resurrection!

For the people in Sandy Hook and for us - the people in Bolton - knowing that the story does not end at the cross, but continues to the resurrection, this alone can give us peace in turmoil, hope in sadness, and joy in the ultimate power of God.
Peace