No Greater Love

On Saturday, July 13, Donald Trump was wounded in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Though Trump was not seriously injured, one individual was tragically killed by a bullet intended for the former President. His name was Corey Comperatore, a man the Pittsburg Post-Gazette called “a real-life super hero.”

Corey Comperatore was a 50-year-old man, married, with two daughters. He had worked as a supervisor for many years at JSP, a plastics manufacturing company. He was also a recently retired volunteer fireman, who served as Chief of the Buffalo Township Fire Department. At the Trump rally, Comperatore and his wife, along with their daughter, Allison, were seated in the bleachers behind where the former President was speaking. As soon as he heard the first gun shot, Corey threw his wife and daughter to the ground and dove on top of them. This provided a human shield as the next bullet ripped into Corey’s body, killing him, but leaving his wife and daughter unharmed.

Over the next couple of days, neighbors and co-workers reported that Corey was someone who was continually helping others. One friend said that “Corey would have probably done the same thing (provided a human shield) for a stranger as he did for his family members.” One neighbor, a supporter of President Biden, noted that he and Comperatore were good friends, despite their political differences. His daughter, Allison, said, “My dad was the best dad a girl could ever ask for. He was a man of God, loved Jesus fiercely, and also looked after our church and our family.”

Some of the highest praise for Comperatore came from Pennsylvania’s Democratic Governor, Josh Shapiro. After speaking with the family, Shapiro told a press conference, “Corey Comperatore went to church every Sunday, loved his community, and most especially, he loved his family.  Corey was the very best of us.” The Governor has ordered flags in Pennsylvania to be flown at half-staff in Comperatore’s honor.

As I read about Corey Commperatore, Jesus’ words in John 15:13 came to my mind, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” However, I also found myself asking, “Why, Lord, did you allow this tragic death to occur? Wouldn’t it be better if Corey’s story had ended with him just being slightly wounded?”

Even though I don’t know the answers to those questions, I do know God is once again taking a horrific evil and using it to accomplish two very good things in my life and likely in the lives of many.

First, the death of Corey Comperatore causes me to want to be a better husband, father, neighbor, and friend. I am grateful the Lord has never called me to sacrifice my life for someone I love. However, almost every day, He calls me (and probably you) to give up some time, energy, or money in order to help someone in need.  Reflecting on Corey’s death will make us more willing to make those sacrifices.

Second, Corey Comperatore’s death reminds me of the one who laid down His life, not just for His friends, but also for His enemies. In Romans 5:8, the Apostle Paul writes, “God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This magnificent, gracious love, is experienced by all who trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord. It is the love that I believe made Corey Comperatore the man he was. It is the love that can transform our lives as well.