2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Life After 9-11

SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
Isaiah 49:3,5-6 / Psalm 40 / 1 Corinthians 1:1-3 / John 1:29-34

INTRODUCTION - A Light to the Nations

We have entered a new year, but we carry a lot of baggage from the previous one. The scars of violent acts at home still plague us and the war against terrorism is ongoing. Of course, except for its scope and the weapons of mass destruction, violence has always been with us. When the people of Israel suffered defeat and tragedy, they did not abandon hope in God. Indeed, if anything their faith was intensified. "It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."

BODY - Twin Trade Towers and Pentagon Tragedy

Given the shocking terrorist actions last year in our nation, the words of Scripture take upon themselves a deeper meaning. The early believers suffered persecution; many grieved loved ones that lost their lives. The society promoted excesses that made the Christian lifestyle difficult. These are also our times. However, we are given direction. "Let us cast off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably as in daylight." Evil comes from within and from without. We are all sinners. Since the destruction of the Twin Trade Towers and a portion of the Pentagon, church attendance nationwide has increased and it has become commonplace to see people praying in public. We recognize that we are not perfect, and yet, at the same time, there is a new national desire to combat evil, particularly that which makes victims of the innocent. Even the national percentage opposed to abortion has risen this past year and now represents a majority of the population. I suppose we are reminded again that God writes straight with crooked lines. The heinous acts inflicted upon our nation did not arise from God's direct will but from the evil of men. The zealots of biblical times are revisited in the new fanatics who use violence as their chief means for change and intimidation. Our response has been, not to scapegoat people of any particular ethnic group or religion, but to seek out the true criminals. Our motivation, it is hoped, finds its source not in bloodlust or revenge but in a desire for justice. The blood of the innocent cries out for justice.

President Reagan and the elder President Bush were fond of speaking about the thousand points of light. That light shines all the brighter when the darkness is most threatening. There were few days as dark as last September 11th. Our hearts are still heavy with grief over the national tragedy. The images from television of the suicide aircraft and the great loss of life will be hard to forget. Cardinal Egan in New York joined his priests in giving last rites to many of the victims. He acknowledged that many of them were police officers, fire fighters, and rescue workers. Hundreds of these brave men and women were lost with five or six thousand others. The collapse of the World Trade Towers caught many of them off guard. Of course, later the other tower, building seven, and other elements of the Trade Center also collapsed. One office worker from the twelfth floor, went back into the building three times to help his associates out safely. The last time he went in the building came down. He was lost. Firemen struggled to bring a paraplegic down from the mid-point of the building. They were lost. The chief, always insisting upon being the last man out, was also lost. Such was his loyalty to those in his charge. The elevators went dead. Cells phones would not work. The lights went out. Fleeing souls stumbled down steps made wet and slippery with the water from fire sprinklers, smoke, and debris. They came down stumbling in virtually total darkness. One man was carrying a person over each shoulder but would be plagued by guilt for being unable to answer the cries of people in wheelchairs as he descended the stairs. A doctor barely able to breath cared for the injured in the midst of the cloud of smoke and ash, unaware until much later that he was himself wounded with his hair and back caked in blood.

One story that was particularly moving for me was that of the New York Chief Fire Department Chaplain, Father Mychal F. Judge. One by one, he was praying over the wounded and dying. About twenty victims surrounded him. Administering the last rites to a firefighter mortally injured, the priest knelt and removed his fire hat to pray. Then the building collapsed and he was killed by falling debris. He could have run, instead he stayed by his charges and did his duty to God and man. A fireman would later uncover the dead priest from the debris and a touching picture was published in the local papers of him carrying the priest, and every firefighter's special friend, in his arms. The fireman did not place his lifeless body with the other dead but carried it to a nearby church, walked down the aisle, and placed his body on the floor in front of the altar. He then placed a blanket over Fr. Judge's body and upon that blanket he left two symbols. First, he set the priest's purple stole on the blanket, the very same one he was wearing when he was absolving the sins of the dying. Next to it, he placed the fireman's badge. Mayor Rudolph Giulini remarked, "He was a saint, a wonderful man." The funeral Mass was conducted at St. Francis of Assisi Church, across from the firehouse of Engine Co. 1 - Ladder Co. 24, which lost seven firefighters in the disaster. As many as 300 firefighters died, fifty on duty police men and women, and many other rescue workers. Former President Clinton visited the firehouse after the Mass and acknowledged that Father Judge's vocation was "a rebuke to the act of hatred" that murdered so many Americans. "So all of us who were here this morning feel a special loss. We should look at his life as an example of what has to prevail."

The words of Jesus offer comfort that ours is a God of love and not hatred. His children should also be about love and peace. While the Islamic fanatics murdered innocent people thinking that it would earn them an eternal reward; the truth was being realized in the courageous men and women risking their lives on the ground. "There is no greater love than this, to lay down your life for your friends." The president shared with the nation his deep Christian convictions. He quoted the Twenty-third Psalm: "Even though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no harm (evil) for you are (ever) at my side." Yes, we need to trust in a higher power. Only in the Lord can we find true peace and a security that the world cannot give. Despite our many differences, today all America is united against the evil acts of destruction and are resolved to defend the liberty we hold so precious and to bring to justice those diabolical cowards who know nothing about honor and decency. Despite our best efforts for peace, and we were attacked the very anniversary week of the Camp David Peace Accords, it is still a world of war and rumors of wars. We have usually dismissed such acts of violence as the problem of nations far away. We cannot do that any longer. Some of the commentators have suggested that the terrorism we experienced will be a watershed event, a new Pearl Harbor for a new kind of war. It is said that we will never be the same.

What shall we become? Security will tighten, that is for sure. We may become more suspicious and concerned about safety. There is already evidence of this. But, I pry that we will refrain from making scapegoats of the innocent. Not all Moslems or people from the Middle East are knife-welding fanatics. Most of them in this nation have proven themselves good citizens who work hard and do the best they can in raising their families. Pictures of celebrating Palestinians basking in the glow of the American tragedy may be a misnomer. Many of those pictured on the networks were very young children, easily influenced by the few fanatics in their midst. Christian Palestinians, in particular, are often very supportive of their American compatriots in faith.

CONCLUSION - Let us Change for the Better

If we must change, then let us become more reliant upon God and more determined to be good neighbors to others. A terrible thing was committed against us. And yet, in the great darkness there was light. Volunteers came forward to render aid and to give blood. Heroes risked their own lives to save others. Many who had forgotten God, came back to the churches to pray for the dead and their country. Let us follow this path of prayer in this new year. Let us trust Jesus who has shown us the way of sacrifice and love as the LAMB OF GOD. God bless America!

ASIDE

A journalist assigned to the Jerusalem bureau takes an apartment overlooking the Wailing Wall. Every day when she looks out, she sees an old Jewish man praying vigorously. So the journalist goes down to the wall, and introduces herself to the old man. She asks, "You come every day to the wall. How long have you done that and what are you praying for?"

The old man replies, "I have come here to pray every day for 25 years. In the morning I pray for world peace and then for the brotherhood of man. I go home, have a cup of tea, and I come back and pray for the eradication of illness and disease from the earth."

The journalist is amazed. "How does it make you feel to come here every day for 25 years and pray for these things?" she asks. The old man replies, "Like I'm talking to a wall."