Twenty-fourth Sunday of the Year (A)
11 September 2011
St. Anthony, DSM
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/091111.cfm
Today, on September 11, two-thousand eleven, we remember those fateful events of ten years ago, 9/11, two-thousand one. As we remember the attack on our nation, as we see the photos, the videos, as we hear the stories, our hearts within us are moved because all these memories carry so much meaning?
Ten years later, what does 9/11 mean for us? We are a nation that has wandered far from God, far from faith, far from a good moral foundation – so much so that we are losing the ability to defend even the most basic and fundamental principles of society – Marriage, family, generosity, charity, and faith. 9/11 served as a wake-up call for many people. This hole they had deep in their hearts was exposed because we, who had been living secure in our pride, in our selfishness, turned in upon ourselves, suddenly did not find in our hearts what we really needed.
How many of us remember the impromptu Masses and prayer services had that Tuesday night, the next Wednesday, the packed churches that weekend? That month? The memorial services for all those who lost their lives? How many of us remember that feeling rise up in our hearts that something more important than our pithy wants and desires was at stake – the poor souls who died that day, the people who lost a loved one, the very community that is our nation? How many of us remember that desire to stand up united, as the United States of America, and do something for our country? How many signed up for the armed forces in those days; how many served people in need, and sacrificed of themselves for the good of another?
A priest, who was pastor of the nearest parish to the World Trade Center, was asked by a priest-friend of his, “What do you remember most about 9/11?” His answer – “Women’s shoes.” Now, for the women out there, you need to know a little secret. Men don’t notice shoes; in fact, we’re vaguely aware that we have feet, and I currently have no idea which shoes I’m wearing. I assume they’re black, since that’s sort of the color I wear. So, when the priest-friend heard him answer “Women’s shoes”, he knew he was in for a story.
The parish was along a steep incline going away from the world trade center. It was a route that many people evacuating the scene had taken. And, it was right about at the front doors of the parish where many women had decided to get rid of their shoes. Now men, you need to know a secret – many women wear shoes to be stylish, to look nice, to go with their outfits, shoes that are oftentimes rather uncomfortable. This is why the women in your life likely own 50 pairs of shoes or more. So, as they were climbing this hill, they could no longer put up with the pain, and they sacrificed their shoes. Beautiful, impressive, dress shoes. Some middle of the line, some very expensive. As they were fleeing for their lives, as they passed the church, the women were no longer attached to their shoes. Something more important, something bigger had happened.
What does 9/11 mean for you? For me personally, 9/11 was part of God’s plan to bring me closer to him – to the vocation of priesthood he has given me. I remember the story of Father Mychal Judge, a Franciscan priest who was chaplain of the New York fire department. When everyone was fleeing for their lives, he and the fire department ran in to save lives – the fire department to save them for this world, Fr. Mychal for eternal life. He anointed the sick, prayed over the dead, absolved those who were falling from the upper floors. Not caught up with himself but entirely with his sacred duties, he gave his live into Christ’s hands when the south tower collapsed and flying debris killed the priest. As the first rescued by his fellow firemen, he had the honor of being the first official casualty of 9/11.
There are some people today who would claim that we live in a post-Christian nation – not the least of which being our very own president. There are many who would try and tell us that 9/11 wasn’t religious, and that we need to be understanding of a religion that allows for an interpretation that says mass murder is ok. These same people accuse Christians of bigotry and injustice when we defend our beliefs and morals, and say our intolerance is the source of all society’s problems.
Faced with this, we can be tempted to think that we need to be ashamed, abashed, apologetic for being who we are; that we need to dissociate ourselves from the very faith that has made us the people we are. So, we have such ridiculous scenarios as the New York mayor remembering 9/11 without inviting any symbol of American self-sacrifice: no clergy, no firefighters, no victims’ families – and certainly not Fr. Mychal Judge!
My dear brothers and sisters, we are not called to be ashamed of who we are, but to be more perfectly Catholic Christians, following the command of Christ himself, who calls us to forgive. Forgiveness isn’t saying we’re sorry as if everything is our fault, but it’s being able to call out sin definitively and say to the hijackers “What you did was evil, wrong and sinful. You willingly took thousands of lives, forfeited your own for your own private cause, and without care for the people you would make suffer.” And to say at the same time, “I choose to love you anyway, because Christ would do so himself. I forgive you.” Yes, even of this fault!
How difficult this command of Christ truly is – we must forgive if we ourselves expect to be forgiven. We must know the truth, be aware of sin, call it out when we see it, and still forgive. How much harder and more meaningful this is than society’s pathetic mandering “they’re just misunderstood.”
For me, 9/11 means strength, truth, heroic virtue, and Christian triumph through forgiveness. What does 9/11 mean for you?
