Beacons of Hope in a Broken World: Remembering Columbine 26 Years Later
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Editor's Note: This month marks 26 years since the tragic events at Columbine High School in Littleton, yet the need for healing, hope, and faith remains as strong as ever. In 1999, 12 students and one teacher lost their lives. In 2025, another victim was claimed, bringing the total to 14 dead. In this reflection, Deacon Ernie Martinez brings a unique perspective to the tragedy and its enduring impact, having served as a Denver Police Detective who responded to the scene that fateful day.
By Deacon Ernie Martinez
I have always cherished the Gospel of Luke, particularly Luke 21:5–19, which speaks deeply to me every April. Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ, once said, “The world belongs to those who offer it the greater hope.”
This truth struck me profoundly, especially in light of a tragedy that resurfaces in my memory every year — a day that shook our community and left deep wounds: the Columbine High School shooting in Littleton.
At the time, I was leading a team of detectives with the Denver Police Department when the airwaves crackled with a chilling call: “Attention all units, we have shots fired at Columbine High School… students shot… requesting all available units to respond.”
Without hesitation, we rushed to the scene. Law enforcement officers are trained for crisis, but nothing prepares you for the sight of terrified students, wounded bodies and a community shattered in an instant. Chaos and fear filled the air as we worked alongside other first responders, each of us asking the same silent question: Where is God in this? How can hope exist in such evil?
I did not fully realize then, but I have come to understand through faith that God was indeed present. He was there in the bravery of the teachers protecting their students, in the hands of the first responders who comforted the frightened, and in the embrace of parents reunited with their children. Even in the darkest of moments, God was offering hope through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Finding God’s Message in Tragedy
In times of devastation, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by suffering. Yet, if we truly listen to the Gospel, we hear two profound messages: patience in prayer and hope in expectation.
The Gospel of Luke speaks to people enduring persecution. We see a similar apocalyptic dynamic in the Book of Daniel, written during the Jewish people’s oppression under Antiochus, as well as in the visions of Ezekiel and the Book of Revelation. Luke’s Gospel, written after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and Jerusalem itself, also carries this theme.
At first glance, apocalyptic scripture like Luke’s Gospel can seem like messages of doom. But in truth, they are messages of endurance and trust, reminders that even in the worst suffering, God’s Kingdom will triumph.
Most people will never experience the horror of crime in the streets or a school shooting firsthand, but tragedy touches every life in some way. Whether through personal loss, violence or uncertainty, we all face moments where hope seems distant. First responders, like police officers, often become hardened to the evil they witness. It is a way to survive. But the Gospel calls us to more; it calls us to recognize that even in suffering, transformation is possible.
The Light That Breaks Through Darkness
The Canticle of Zechariah expresses it beautifully: “In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79)
This is the promise of Christ: he is the dawn breaking through the night. Healing does not always come quickly, but it comes. It comes through faith, through the love we extend to one another, and through the actions we take to rebuild what was broken.
Since Columbine, we have seen the rise of ministries, outreach programs and school safety initiatives that aim to prevent such tragedies and support those who have suffered loss. From grief counseling to community vigils, from school safety reforms to faith-based outreach, the response has been one of resilience and care. These efforts are living signs of hope. They remind us that while evil exists, so does profound goodness.
Yet, despite these efforts, we still witness the heartbreaking reality that school shootings and other acts of violence continue. As imperfect as our human efforts may be, we ought not lose heart. We hold fast to our faith, knowing that God leads us through the darkness of evil and tragedy into his marvelous light. We are reminded of St. Paul’s words:
“Whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall. No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength, but with the trial, he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor 10:12-13)
Called to Be Bearers of Hope
As we journey through this year, dedicated as a Year of Hope in the Church, we must ask ourselves: Are we a hope-filled people?
Teilhard de Chardin’s words remind us that our answer to this question shapes the world around us. It is tempting to feel powerless, to believe that our individual efforts cannot make a difference. But that is not true. We do change the world by offering hope, offering an encounter with Christ.
Every interaction, every word, every gesture of kindness or encouragement sends a message. Do we spread despair, or do we proclaim hope? Do we look for signs that the world is falling apart, or do we work to restore it?
Hope is not passive; it is active cooperation with God’s grace. It is recognizing brokenness and believing in healing. It is mourning loss and choosing love. It is seeing darkness and carrying the light of Christ forward.
A Hope That Restores
Pope Francis, in his Ash Wednesday homily this year, beautifully expressed this truth:
“The ashes remind us of the hope to which we are called in Jesus, the Son of God, who has taken upon himself the dust of the earth and raised it to the heights of Heaven. He descended into the abyss of dust, dying for us and reconciling us to the Father… This, brothers and sisters, is the hope that restores to life the ‘ashes’ of our lives. Without such hope, we are doomed passively to endure the fragility of our human condition.”
We are not meant to live in despair. We are called to hope. We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ in a broken world. Whether through small acts of kindness or great works of justice, our lives must be testimonies to the power of God’s love.
No tragedy, no suffering, no darkness can overcome the light of Christ. When we live as people of hope, we do more than endure hardship; we help transform it. And in doing so, we become part of God’s great promise: that love, in the end, will always prevail.
