The Aftermath
(A Reflection on the Events of 9/11/2001)
(Readings: Ex 32: 7-11, 13-14 // 1Tm 1: 12-17 // Lk 15: 1-32)
Today’s Gospel about the loving and forgiving father couldn’t come at a more appropriate time…a more needed time. While our Nation is racked with pain and sorrow, with hurt, sadness and disbelief – while our inner beings are calling out for justice, vengeance and retaliation – and who can blame us for feeling that way – today’s Gospel tells us of our Heavenly Father’s forgiveness and His overflowing Mercy. Jesus says, “…love your enemies.” For me, at this moment, that command is a challenge. But it is at times like this that we need to turn to God in faith and hope and love, asking Him to give us the strength and the wisdom to understand…to forgive…and to love our enemies.
The Chinese symbol for “crisis” is a product of two Chinese words: danger and opportunity. The USA and the world has not faced a greater crisis than the terrorist assault on the United States this past Tuesday. No other crisis in history has resulted in the grounding of air traffic worldwide, the stopping of trading on Wall Street, 24-hour, commercial-free coverage by the media, the cancellation of all sporting and entertainment activities, and much more. It is a time of unprecedented crisis. For many people, the events which have been played and replayed on the TV screen look bizarre and unbelievable. Many people have been trying to process the incident which has left everybody in a state of shock, grief and anger. As people of God, with all of these emotions in our hearts, what light does our faith shed on
the questions that some of us cannot even put into words? We do not have all the answers but, in order to help you in your struggle to make sense out of this senseless catastrophe, I invite you all to see this crisis as a time of great danger and great opportunity as well.
In his first public reaction to the attack, President George Bush said, “The resolve of our great nation is being tested. But make no mistake, we will show the world that we will pass this test.” A time of testing is a time of danger (because one could fail the test), but it is also one of opportunity (because one could pass the test and come out the better for it). Our hope and prayer is that President Bush, the American government, the American people and the whole world will be able to make the right decisions at this critical time and pass the test which this crisis presents.
If this is a test, what then are the questions? President Bush summarized it in one word – the ‘resolve’ or the ‘spirit’ of the American people. I would like to talk about this so-called ‘spirit’ under three topics:
(a) The first is: 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 all showed that this crisis has not broken, but has rather strengthened the American Spirit of Patriotism, of togetherness. The first test has indeed been passed.
(b) The second topic is: The American Spirit of Justice and Fairness. Will America be able to find and bring to justice those who are responsible for 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 those responsible for this mayhem. The question is, will people be able to hold their anger in check until the right culprits are identified, or will they take out their anger and frustration on any person or group of persons who look like the suspects – those who come from their countries of origin or who practice their religion? While justice demands that guilty people be made to pay for their misdeeds, fairness demands that no innocent person be held responsible for what they did not do. Yes, terrorists have killed innocent Americans. But if Americans respond and react by killing other innocent people, how then can Americans show that they are more civilized than the terrorists? Americans will have passed the second test when they are able to render justice to whom justice is due, and fairness to whom fairness is due.
(c) The third topic is: The American Spirit as “One Nation Under God.” Before this crisis, before this past Tuesday, America was quickly sliding into the depths of religious indifference. To expose the crucifix in the classroom was a crime; to display the Ten Commandments and to pray in a public place was politically incorrect. But all this suddenly changed since disaster struck this past Tuesday. Why must it take a disaster of such proportions to bring America back to its religious, Christian origins? Someone once said that God whispers to us in our well-being and shouts to us in disaster. If God is shouting to us in this terrible disaster, what else could God be saying except that He is calling America back to the Christian principles of her founding fathers. This is probably the ultimate test that this crisis presents to America.
After 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 settled and the collapsed buildings have been rebuilt, maybe the test that will remain is how Americans respond to their Christian heritage. This is a spiritual and moral wake-up call for America.
As we continue with our liturgical celebration today and as we approach the Lord’s Table to be one with Christ, let us ask God the Father for His overflowing mercy, this perfect joy, which is produced by union with Him through repentance and through a sincere love of the Creator of all things! And especially during these darkest moments of our history, during the aftermath of the senseless tragedy in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C., let us ask God the Father to give us the strength, wisdom and courage to walk the path that Jesus walked – to love our enemies. Let us ask God to direct our thoughts and feelings, anger and fear, into prayers of love for those who need His redemption and overflowing mercy. Let us ask God to help America pass the test. Let us ask God to help us all pass the test. Let us love and pray for the victims, their families and yes…even our enemies.
May God bless each and every one of you.
May God bless America!