Ten years ago this weekend, the western world was changed in ways we are still discovering. Hidden deep within the rubble of the World Trade Centre, there were treasures of all sorts uncovered, but I'm not sure we're finished mining the richness of this experience yet. What about the richness that comes from learning lessons of forgiveness? Some lessons are well worth learning.
Listen in or read on for this week's reflection.
How often should I forgive?
There are very few moments in life that mark us deeply, so deeply that we can recall with great detail where we were, and what we were doing, but for many if not most of us here today, such details still remain vividly in our minds, as vividly as they were when they were first etched ten years ago tomorrow (today). For the past few days, it seems that the news media has opened the floodgates and brought back memories of that fateful day when so many thousands of innocent lives were lost in New York City, in Washington D.C. and in the fields of Pensylvania. On that day, thousands of families began a period of mourning for their loved ones that continues even to today. On that day, the American government was put to the test, and whether they believe it or not, a country that has prided itself on its invincibility was forced to admit that nothing is invincible.
Ten years after that fateful day, the second reading proposed for today's liturgy is perhaps fittingly one of the texts most often chosen for the Mass of the Resurrection. Paul reminds the community in Rome that people of faith do not live to ourselves. Instead, if we live, we live to the Lord. It was for this reason that Christ died and lived again. Our lives of faith must therefore motivate us to make choices to be people of mercy, people of forgiveness. September 11 will always remain as a day of mourning, but it can also become a day of action. While we will never forget the devastation of that day, we can also use this opportunity to spur on awareness of the plight of the weak in our world, and efforts to help those who are the most vulnerable in our society to recognize the dignity to which they are called.
The Holy Father issued a letter today (yesterday) adressed to the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, asking him in turn to share it with all his brother bishops and with all the faithful of the country. The Holy Father expressed his prayerful support in commending the thousands of victims to the infinite mercy of Almighty God and in asking our heavenly Father to continue to console those who mourn the loss of loved ones. He also explained that the tragedy of that day is compounded by the perpetrators’ claim to be acting in God’s name. The Church has constantly taught that every human life is precious in the eyes of God and no effort should be spared in the attempt to promote throughout the world a genuine respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of individuals and peoples everywhere.
No circumstances can ever justify acts of terrorism. In fact, even in Old Testament times, anger and wrath were seen as abominations. For many in our world, anger leads to acts of vengeance, but anger also controls the one who perpetrates vengeance, and as long as we are controlled by anger, we are not free to love. In fact, this is the lesson Jesus was teaching Peter in today's gospel. Living a life of faith, being a person of mercy, providing an example of forgiveness is not something we can choose to do one day and ignore the next. We must be willing to forgive not seven times, but ... seventy-seven times. Forgiving another person is not always an easy thing to do. It means that we ourselves must make ourselves vulnerable. It means that we ourselves must run the risk of being ridiculed by those who themselves may judge us for our actions, but more often than not, these are the same people who will secretly admire us for our strength of character. How often have we ourselves asked for forgiveness from our God for something we have done? How often, how freely is this forgiveness given? If we ourselves have known the sweetness of this pardon granted for sins that once imprisoned us, should we not ourselves be willing to forgive others for the petty ways in which they harm us?
Work has already begun on the construction of a memorial tower at Ground Zero in New York City. When plans to erect a mosque not far from the site were announced, there was a mixture of reactions. Some were outraged, perhaps understandably so because when we have been wounded, it seems almost impossible to forgive the hand that inflicted the wound, but consider for a moment what such a decision would say to the world about the power of forgiveness. Is it possible that we might one day find it in our hearts to truly be people of forgiveness? Perhpas then a firm commitment to justice and a global culture of solidarity will help rid the world of the grievances that so often give rise to acts of violence and create the conditions for greater peace and prosperity, offering a brighter and more secure future.
Listen in or read on for this week's reflection.
How often should I forgive?
Ten years after that fateful day, the second reading proposed for today's liturgy is perhaps fittingly one of the texts most often chosen for the Mass of the Resurrection. Paul reminds the community in Rome that people of faith do not live to ourselves. Instead, if we live, we live to the Lord. It was for this reason that Christ died and lived again. Our lives of faith must therefore motivate us to make choices to be people of mercy, people of forgiveness. September 11 will always remain as a day of mourning, but it can also become a day of action. While we will never forget the devastation of that day, we can also use this opportunity to spur on awareness of the plight of the weak in our world, and efforts to help those who are the most vulnerable in our society to recognize the dignity to which they are called.
No circumstances can ever justify acts of terrorism. In fact, even in Old Testament times, anger and wrath were seen as abominations. For many in our world, anger leads to acts of vengeance, but anger also controls the one who perpetrates vengeance, and as long as we are controlled by anger, we are not free to love. In fact, this is the lesson Jesus was teaching Peter in today's gospel. Living a life of faith, being a person of mercy, providing an example of forgiveness is not something we can choose to do one day and ignore the next. We must be willing to forgive not seven times, but ... seventy-seven times. Forgiving another person is not always an easy thing to do. It means that we ourselves must make ourselves vulnerable. It means that we ourselves must run the risk of being ridiculed by those who themselves may judge us for our actions, but more often than not, these are the same people who will secretly admire us for our strength of character. How often have we ourselves asked for forgiveness from our God for something we have done? How often, how freely is this forgiveness given? If we ourselves have known the sweetness of this pardon granted for sins that once imprisoned us, should we not ourselves be willing to forgive others for the petty ways in which they harm us?
Work has already begun on the construction of a memorial tower at Ground Zero in New York City. When plans to erect a mosque not far from the site were announced, there was a mixture of reactions. Some were outraged, perhaps understandably so because when we have been wounded, it seems almost impossible to forgive the hand that inflicted the wound, but consider for a moment what such a decision would say to the world about the power of forgiveness. Is it possible that we might one day find it in our hearts to truly be people of forgiveness? Perhpas then a firm commitment to justice and a global culture of solidarity will help rid the world of the grievances that so often give rise to acts of violence and create the conditions for greater peace and prosperity, offering a brighter and more secure future.
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As of Sunday, September 11, we had raised a little more than $18,000 for the East Africa relief fund.
More contributions have arrived as well. The total amount is listed on the parish website, and will be kept up to date until September 16.
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