I am writing this article fresh off of a tragedy in my hometown – the day after, so my emotions are rocky and my thoughts are not fully formed yet. Maybe one day I’ll revisit this article and edit it. But, for now, you can read more about the tragedy here.
I could go on and on about this exact tragedy and how it’s been impacting me the last 21 hours since I found out. But, I think it’d be more fruitful for me to zoom out a bit.
There have been many big things in my life that do not make sense. Of course, yesterday’s event is near the top – if not the top – of the list. Sometimes, things just don’t make sense. Tragedies especially – events that evoke SO many emotions – they don’t make sense.
Shock.
Confusion.
Grasping to place a concrete reason to explain the event.
Numbness.
Anger.
Sadness.
All of those feelings are unpleasant. And it’s so frustrating sitting with the fact that it may never make sense.
Every night, our family prays together before our children go to bed. We go around saying what we are thankful for that day. Yesterday, I was struggling to find something to be thankful for. So I simply said, “I’m thankful to be Catholic”.
Because without the Catholic faith, Fr. Arul is simply gone and there is only darkness.
Without God sending His only Son to save us from the fires of hell, there is no hope for life after death.
Without the peace of believing Father was immediately welcomed into God’s arms, there is absolutely no peace in this.
Without the comfort of knowing Jesus, too, was killed, there is no place to turn for comfort.
Without knowing our God is a merciful and just God, there is no assurance that things will all work for good.
Without the hope of the Resurrection, there is absolutely no hope in this.
It will probably never make sense. But we can find God every day in His word, the sacraments, and in His Body – the Church. That is where we can find our source of peace, comfort, hope.
I’ve never known someone quite like Fr. Arul. From interactions with my family when I was a teenager, to helping prepare my husband and I for our wedding, to concelebrating our wedding in the Church he so beautifully restored, to recognizing my husband in a crowd of thousands at the NEC, it was evident Father knew and cared for us – and that’s coming from a person who lives 14 hours away from the region Father served for 20+ years.
To my hometown, I love you and I grieve with you. Having lived away from Seneca for 11 years now, I know there is absolutely no place like it. Do not let anger grow in your hearts. Cling to each other. Cling to Jesus.
Fr. Arul will be so missed. May he rest in peace.
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” Romans 12:19
“‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.” – Matthew 25:21
