For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/091108.shtml
Anniversary of the Terrorist Attacks of 11 September 2008
For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!
Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!
I just finished my morning theology classes in seminary on 11 September, 2001, when news came that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. My first thought was that an unfortunate pilot had lost control of a small personal or commuter plane. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that what just happened was the worst terrorist attack in history to date. When I entered the chapel for Mass 15 minutes after class, and saw that my brother seminarians were fervently praying the rosary, I knew that I had underestimated the event severely. What a horrendous offense against the sanctity of human life!
As we remember the events of September 11th, and continue to pray for the healing of victims, for an end to terrorism, and for world peace, the lectionary gives us a selection that if read in a certain way, makes Jesus to be the most left-wing pacifist the world has ever known. As McCain and Obama will certainly try to make a case today that they can best defeat terrorism and defend our country from her enemies, we have ironically this teaching of Jesus that we are to instead offer the other cheek to the one who strikes us on one cheek.
We know better, however, than to think that if Jesus was president that He would fail to defend the innocent or let terrorists escape justice. Quite the opposite is true. Jesus may indeed be a pacifist, and would resort to violence as a last resort, instead rather allowing Himself to be persecuted by His enemies, but I would dare say our Lord would hate with a perfect hate and would confront with a serious mean streak any wolves who sought to harm the innocent lambs He has been given by His Heavenly Father to protect. Turning the other cheek has nothing to do with ignoring evil, or allowing it to have the final say. Turning the other cheek is instead the only method available for building a deep and lasting peace. There is no chance for peace and reconciliation where there is no forgiveness, and where there is no one who is willing to suffer evil for the sake of good. Jesus shows this in allowing Himself to be killed by His enemies, so that the greater good of His Resurrection, which alone redeems the world from sin and death, could come about. Being Christian then, is not about being a weakling, but is living to the fullest in imitation of Christ the axiom first given by Socrates; namely, that it is better to suffer evil than to be guilty of committing it.
Jesus says that a sure way to become a child of heaven is to not seek revenge; in other words, a sure way to know that we will have an easy time getting to heaven, is to be someone from whom it is easy to receive forgiveness. There is nothing weak in this, my friedns in Christ. To love is harder than to seek revenge. Love does not brood over injuries, but is always ready to suffer affliction, and to forgive. Heavenly Father, forgive the world of our great sins. Heal the world through the redemptive love of your Son. Make us all instruments of your peace. +m
Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!
No comments:
Post a Comment