‘Let your presence transform others.’
HIGHLANDS — “I didn’t sleep particularly well last night.”
That was how Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., began his homily to the congregation at Our Lady of the Mountains Church Sunday morning as he visited for what was supposed to be a day of celebration: groundbreaking for their new church. But the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania less than 24 hours before was on everyone’s mind, including the bishop’s.
“I don’t know what I would describe what was happening…in my heart or my spirit,” he said. “I guess in general it’s a sense of anxiety, not knowing what’s coming next and feeling somewhat anxious…What is the world coming to? What does this mean when we see senseless acts of violence.”
“If you’re anything like me, you might be feeling some of the same way.”
Before a packed church of nearly 250 people, the bishop noted that some people might not like him bringing up the tragic incident on “such a festive day,” but said it offered a prime chance to remind everyone of why they were together on Sunday – faith. Faith that God remains in control and that He works all things for good.
“Jesus invites us and challenges us in almost the same breath to check our faith. Do we believe God rules over all of our lives?” he asked the crowd. “Do we believe He is capable of transforming any sin or difficulty in our lives? Do we believe God is more powerful than any evil in the world? That is the nature of worship, whether we’re celebrating something great or dealing with something difficult.”
Ordained just six weeks ago as the Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, which covers the western half of North Carolina, Bishop Martin started out Sunday at St. Jude Church in nearby Sapphire, saying the 9 a.m. Mass and also addressing the attack in Pennsylvania that killed one rally-goer and injured two others.
In Highlands for the 11 a.m. Mass, the bishop said the groundbreaking offered people the opportunity to demonstrate their Catholic faith to others – not only the residents and visitors of the mountain town, but to the world at large.
“Our God is greater than any evil and our lives are in God’s hands,” he said. “We will not give in to any attempt to claim this moment as anything else than our God’s. We are empowered to go out and make a difference.
“Let your presence transform others. By following the will of the Father, you are showing the world we can live lives of peace and justice. We can live lives of love…we can show the world that peace transforms more than any other gift.”
— Christina Lee Knauss