The Shootings at Fort Hood

Much has already been spoken and written of the tragic shootings at Fort Hood, Texas. First, I'll borrow from the post at Hillbilly's Musings, titled "Prayers for the Fallen" from the Episcopal Church Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty God, we remember before you today your faithful servants at Ft. Hood; and we pray that, having opened to them the gates of a larger life, you will receive them more and more into your joyful service, that, with all who have faithfully served you in the past, they may share in the eternal victory of Jesus Christ, our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Let us also pray for all who mourn, that they may cast their care on God, and know the consolation of his love.

Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants for whom we pray. Remember them, Lord, in mercy; nourish them with patience; comfort them with a sense of your goodness; lift up your countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Next, I refer you to Rmj's post at Adventus titled "What Happened near Killeen". I quote the first and final paragraphs:

First, the story itself is horrific: a man armed with automatic weapons does the maximum amount of carnage/damage one can do, in the amount of time between the first shot and the "first responder" who brought him down. There is a reason military bases maintain very tight control over weapons on base: they know what those firearms are capable of.
....

May the wars indeed cease unto the end of the earth, and the bow be broken, the spear cut asunder. God's peace and mercy to those who died, who were wounded, to their families, and to all the families on Fort Hood.

Last, I refer you to Counterlight's reflection titled "Predictions About How the News Will Play Out". The final paragraph is quite telling:

Meanwhile, there are the families and friends of 12 people who now suddenly find themselves unexpectedly bereaved. There are over 30 people injured and facing a long process of recovery. Perhaps there is where our attention and energies should be focused.

I urge you to read the whole of the posts of Counterlight and Rmj.

While our thoughts and prayers at this time indeed ought to be with the dead and the bereaved, it's a sad commentary on the political situation in our country that, even as the inquiry as to how and why the tragedy occurred has barely begun, the blame games will begin, and I'm already feeling a little sick in anticipation of what we will see and hear from the bloviators. Somehow, some way, although at this point we have very few answers, the fault will be attributed to President Obama and the Democrats in Congress.

Moving away from those thoughts to Psalm 130:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.

Picture from Adventus.