Contemplating the Mass-Shooting in Connecticut

Contemplating the tragic mass-shooting in Newtown, Connecticut: at least 26 people dead, 20 of them children between the ages of 4 and 10. Also dead are the 20-year old shooter and his mother.

Since I heard about the shooting, this Bible verse, from the story of the Nativity of Jesus, has stuck in my mind: 

"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." Matthew 2:18, cf. Jeremiah 31:15

I will have more to say later. 

Meanwhile, I ask you to pray. 

I ask you to give thanks for the lives of those who lives were tragically cut short.

I ask you to pray for the families and friends of the dead as they mourn. 

I ask you to pray for the surviving children, that they might recover from the shock losing their classmates and perhaps from the guilt of surviving their friends. 

And I also ask your prayers for our country and our society, that we might have a civil dialogue about preventing future mass shootings of this kind, and not descending, as we so often do, into opposing sides, talking past each other, and demonizing those with whom they disagree.