Peace! “I give you peace not as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” — John 14:27 .

I will tell you the story of Shay. Two men were killed in the mountain area of Iron River and two were wounded in a drive-by shooting. One of the wounded men, Shay, came to Mass last Sunday with a bullet in his side. After the Mass, Shay told me, “I was shot, Father, let me show you the bullet in my side.” He showed me the bulge on his left side. It was the bullet in his flesh.

I had spoken that Sunday morning about revenge. He came to me with tears streaming down his face but he had a big smile. I thought of Jesus hanging on the cross looking into the sky. He did not regret dying on the cross. He knew that He had rescued sinful mankind from sin, death and hell. His hour had come, He would die but then He would rise from the dead and, would lift us all His brothers from death to eternal life.

I told the congregation that one day that we will all die but we will rise with Christ and go to heaven. I told the people we must not seek revenge. There are too many quarrels, too many fist fights, too many shootings, too many deaths, too many wars, too many divorces, too many separations and too many broken friendships. Men love darkness rather than light.

We must not seek revenge. Shay said to me he will not seek revenge against those who killed his friends and shot at him and struck him in his side. He would not seek out in his mind who is the killer or the gunmen. He must get on with his life and try to live in love as Jesus Christ did on the cross. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do”.

I told the congregation that two of our Missionaries of the Poor brothers were murdered, but the whole community knelt before the Blessed Sacrament. Shay said that he would not watch any American movies anymore. He doesn’t want to see cowboys shooting and killing and taking revenge against their enemies. He would leave that all up to God.

“I don’t want to prove, Father, that I am badder than any of my enemies. Everybody says an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. I am quick-tempered, Father, but I want to be patient and kind,” he said.

It was my time to wipe away my tears. Here it is a simple, poor, country youth with a profound spirit telling me how important that lesson is: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who persecute you”
— Mt 5:44 and St Luke tells us.

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”
— Mt 7:9-11).

Shay told me that the doctor at the hospital said that the bullet in his side can stay and eventually it will melt. But I believe it is necessary that there be an operation and the bullet be removed. The steel from the bullet melting in his body can do no good. I told Shay that I will get someone to remove the bullet, by God’s grace.

I appeal to any doctor who can do this operation, volunteer to help Shay! God bless you!

Email address: mopfounder81@gmail.com