WE MOURN, GRIEVE, UNITE AND PRAY
Once again death has come to two stellar men, husbands and fathers, and protectors of our freedom and safety. The senseless murders of Tampa police officers David Curtis and Jeffrey Kocab while they were simply performing their duty defies logic, the fifth commandment of God, and the laws of this nation. As the search for their killer continues, the hearts and prayers of all of us go out to those who survive these two brave men and to the women and men of blue who once again, all too soon since the last senseless killing of one of their own, continue each minute of every working hour to put their lives on the line so that we might be safe.
Officer Curtis, though a member of the Baptist Church, married a Catholic in a Catholic wedding ceremony and has watched with pride as each of his four young boys have been baptized into the faith. So our Church denomination also mourns these days. Officer Kocab, also a Baptist, is a fellow Christian and he too merits our prayers. However, I would go to the bank that God will be good to these courageous men and that they will quickly take their place among the saints and martyrs in eternal life. My love and prayers are more directed to their wives and their families.
Officer Kocab’s as yet unborn child in his wife’s womb will never know his father. Officer Curtis’ sons will remember their Dad to the extent their ages will allow and will miss him terribly and their young wives will never again in this life and on this earth hear their husbands say or whisper, “I love you.” What a tragedy! What a senseless tragedy!
There is no one whom I have encountered yesterday or today who has not mentioned these men and their families to me in conversation or prayer. I think three times in one year in one city is almost more than the common weal of its citizenry can bear. Join me in asking the Lord of all life to protect the women and men who protect us, strengthen the wives and families, born and pre-born, with faith and hope and love at this awful moment, and move us to reflect on our duty to protect others in the future. There may have been no weapons of “mass destruction” found in Iraq, but they are on our streets and in our neighborhoods and they daily threaten the life and safety of our public safety women and men. The Italians have a word for this moment, it is basta, which simply translates into “enough”. It is past time to get serious about the easy availability of guns and weapons. Those who framed the constitution could not have foreseen the consequences which we see played out on our TV news and in our newspapers. It is time to do something about gun control and that would be the best memorial to remember Officers Curtis and Kocab with.
Mary, Queen of Peace, Pray for us.
+RNL
Tags: Rest in Peace