“Blessed are the peacemakers ….”
Monday (9/11/2006) – Scripture: Luke 6:20-26
At approximately 8:46AM on the morning of September 11, 2001, the United States of America and its citizens came under a cowardice, vicious and cruel attack. Before the sun set on that day, more than three thousand souls were lost is New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. Today, five years later, we come together as a nation still in mourning. We come together to remember the souls that were lost on that tragic day; we come together to pay tribute to those emergency service members who saved many more lives from being lost; and we come as a community to pray for the survivors, the families of the victims and yes, to pray also for those who rained down this terror upon us.
When we encounter grief, misfortune, or tragic loss, how do we respond…with fear, with anger or with faith? …with passive surrender or with patient hope and trust in God? We know from experience that no one can escape all of the trials of life — pain, suffering, sickness, and death. When Jesus began to teach his disciples, he gave them a “way of happiness” that transcends every difficulty and trouble that can weigh us down with grief and despair. Jesus began his Sermon on the Mount by addressing the issue of where true happiness can be found.
How can one possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, persecution and senseless destruction of innocent lives? If we want to be filled with the joy and happiness of Heaven, then we must empty ourselves of all that would shut God out of our hearts. Jesus promises his disciples, you and I, that the joys of Heaven will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships we can expect in this world. Thomas Aquinas once said, “No person can live without joy.”
On a cold and windy day in March of 2002, a father and his toddler daughter stepped out of the limousine into the biting wind for the funeral. James Smith never took his tear-filled eyes off the flag-draped coffin of his wife, Moira, as it was carried into Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Queens Village. But 2½ year-old Patricia stared at the lonely bagpiper who played “Amazing Grace.” It was a final farewell to Police Officer Moira Smith more than six months after she died helping others escape the hell of the World Trade Center. Her body was finally recovered and was now placed in the hands of the Lord. Moira Smith was 38 years old – the only woman from the NYPD to die on that tragic day – September 11, 2001.
Today, our great nation, from sea to shining sea, joins together one more time in sadness and in memory of the senseless acts of violence that took place five years ago. Five years ago, the spirit of the American people was put to a test. I would like to take a few minutes and once more talk about that “Spirit” of America.
First, ‘The American Spirit of Patriotism’ – Will this crisis tear Americans apart or bring them closer together as a nation? Some people almost failed this test when soon after the attack they doubled and tripled the price of gasoline, but the American public soon rose to the challenge. The heroism, generosity and self-sacrifice shown in the rescue efforts that followed showed that this crisis had not broken, but had rather strengthened the American Spirit of Patriotism, of togetherness. Yes, my brothers and sisters, even though we still fight the high price of gas, we have indeed passed this first test.
Second, ‘The American Spirit of Justice and Fairness’ – Unfortunately, this test is still ongoing. Will America be able to find and bring to justice all the perpetrators of this crime? From what we have seen so far, there is little doubt that the long arms of justice, especially that of American Justice, will soon catch up with all those responsible for this mayhem. The question is, will people continue to hold their anger in check until all the right culprits are identified or will they go on a witch hunt and take out their anger and frustration on any person or group of persons who may look like the suspects, or come from their countries of origin, or who may belong to their religion? While justice demands that guilty people be made to pay for their misdeeds, fairness demands that no innocent persons be held responsible for what they did not do! Yes, my brothers and sisters, terrorists have killed thousands of innocent Americans right here at home and also around the globe. But if we Americans respond by killing other innocent people, how then can we show that we are more civilized than the terrorists themselves? Yes, we have seen both sides of the coin on this one. Americans will have passed the second test only when they are able to render justice to whom justice is due, and fairness to whom fairness is due. This test is yet to be passed.
Third, ‘The American Spirit as “One Nation under God”’ – Before this crisis, before that tragic Tuesday five years ago, America was fast sliding into the depths of religious indifference and separation. Little attention was paid to the phrase that is inscribed on each of our coins, “In God we Trust.” To expose the cross in the classroom was a crime; to display the Ten Commandments and say prayer in a public place was politically incorrect. But all this suddenly changed since disaster struck. America has been changed. Or has it? Three days after the attacks, this wounded country picked itself up from the ruins, and, as “One Nation under God, from sea to shining sea”, we got down on our knees, raised our voices to our Heavenly Father in praise and thanksgiving and we asked him for courage, strength and wisdom. And yet, less than five years after this Nation got on its knees and prayed to our Heavenly Father, we have today, in our Nation, law makers and public officials at the national, state and local levels, who have decided to remove the Ten Commandants from all public buildings and courthouses. We have people who now claim that reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance” is politically incorrect and unconstitutional. O America…when will we ever learn? This is probably the ultimate test that this crisis presents to our nation.
After all the culprits have been identified and brought to justice…after the tears have dried and time has healed all wounded hearts… after the dust has finally settled…after America gets back on her feet, and get back on her feet she will, maybe the test that will remain is how Americans respond to their Christian heritage. Yes, this was and still is truly a spiritual and moral wake-up call for all of America.
At approximately 8:46AM this very morning, I paused and stood at attention as the radio played our National Anthem. Yes, this very morning, five years later, our hearts still go out to the victims of this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with those who died and their family members and friends. We stand in support of the families of those whose location will never be known but to God. We pray too for family members like James and Patricia Smith, for those who were injured, and for the many heroes who came to their aid and continue to be part of the healing process. We also remember the members of our armed forces stationed here at home and also those who are deployed to the many corners of the world as they continue to defend and protect our freedom, our constitution and our way of life.
There is a prayer that was my constant companion which I enjoyed praying almost everyday, but since that tragic day five years ago, that prayer has taken on a new meaning for me and has become a constant struggle. Now, every time I say that prayer I am challenged. I share that prayer with you today, with the hope that you too will be challenged by its humble, yet powerful words.
PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
May God continue to bless and strengthen you and those you love…and may God Bless America!!