On this 25th anniversary of September 11, my thoughts are less about patriotism and more about the lives lost and the families forever changed. Our little parish lost nine people that day—most were first responders, but one was a young mother who had just returned to work after the birth of her second child. Both of her children attended Alyce’s day care, making that loss especially close and real to us. I pray for all who still carry the grief of that day. I also pray that the unity we once felt as a country—and truly lived—can somehow be healed and restored. Our division today makes the loss of September 11 feel even more tragic. May that day continue to turn hearts toward God, as it did when churches filled in the days, weeks, and months afterward. And may God bless America—not because we always deserve it, but because His love and mercy are greater than our failings.
The horror of that day, most especially the loss of lives, including chaplains and rescue workers who sacrificed their lives, remains in my heart. Still there was something so horrible watching incoming planes. AMEN TO THE ABOVE PRAYER!
I remember the night of 9/11 being on a Catholic Forum for Catholic Theologians. I had been visiting there for quite some time on and off, very,very good , learned devout, mostly young American theologians. But the big theme there that night was anger, rage really , which was understandable really given the terrible circumstances. But I posted the Scripture: Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down on your wrath, One said I did not understand but really after 30 years of war I did. It was anger and lack of forgiveness that had killed my own Faith: 1 John 4:20 If a man say, “I love God,” and hateth his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? The difficulty with lack of forgiveness is that it nestles like a snake in our hearts and becomes very hard to shift. My Spiritual Director told me a strange thing about this. He told me that the and other priests had noticed that when someone was murdered their own families seemed to find it easy to forgive. The people who found it hardest to forgive where those that were least involved. Neighbours or those who were least involved. Grace goes where it is most needed.
One of my former high school students was employed at the Pentagon as a computer specialist. He was killed in the attack on the Pentagon. It took 8 days to recover his body. Edmond, may your soul be at peace with God. I remember you.
