I
thought I would pull out the homily I delivered ten years ago on the weekend
following 9/11. I certainly remember
where I was. On the same day, my former
associate pastor was ordained as Archbishop of Lahore, Pakistan, Archbishop
Larry Saldanha. I have excerpted
it.
Dona Nobis Pacem: 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2001
This is a week when actions have
spoken to us much more loudly than words.
We are becoming all too aware that the consequences of these actions
have only begun. . . .
There can be no doubt that
history will report that this was a watershed event, and for most of us,
Tuesday, September 11th, 2001 will live in our memory throughout our
lifetimes.
Who could have envisioned such a
tragedy? Over and over again many of us
have seen the images to convince ourselves that what we saw was real. . . .
Since these terrible events we
have begun to hear about the consequences:
the heroic efforts of rescue, the sad tales of loss, the fears of what
will follow and our anger over what has happened.
. . . There will be many voices
in the coming days looking for revenge or prescribing easy solutions to this
tragedy. There will not be any easy
answers and revenge is contrary to our Christian belief. The real threat to innocent persons can and
should be addressed. But we cannot be
blind to innocent people who suffer and die due to injustice around the world,
nor can we be complacent, believing either that we have no responsibility for
the suffering of others or that we live in some specially blessed part of the
world that should somehow be exempt from the uncertainty.
. . . In many of our homelands,
people suffer from poverty and civil unrest.
. . .
We can never support evil,
wherever we find it, so these terrorist actions are in no way justified and
people will have to be held responsible for them. However, there is so much desperation in the
world. . . . It was almost 17 years ago
that Pope John Paul II gave his homily in Edmonton, where he reminded the rich
“North” that the poor “South” would someday rise up – that the disparity
between rich and poor was itself a crime that could not go on.
We know the world has
changed. And as it changes there will be
another battleground – that of public opinion.
So we the citizens and residents of Canada have much greater power than
we know. . . .
Freedom is for the Catholic a
prerequisite of moral responsibility. We
do not want to kill innocent life anywhere or at any time. Domestically, we must continue to strive
against those evils that make lives into commodities, resulting in abortion,
euthanasia and the lowering of the quality of life for so many people on the
margins of our society. And abroad we
must seek to contribute to conditions which will enable people to live
dignified and peaceful lives. “Give to
others, as you would have them give to you.”
For all Christians, Christ is the
true measure of justice, so injustice of any kind must result in our desire to
enable God’s justice, and not our own.
What is it that we are seeking to restore – a world where we can be comfortable and
marketed to? I think we know that this
is not enough. This terrible grief has
reawakened us to deeper values in life.
At the National Cathedral of the
United States, in Washington, D.C., this week Reverend Billy Graham, stated
that America is in need of a “spiritual renewal”. When are we not in need of a spiritual
renewal?. . .
The only real way for the
Christian to deal with suffering is to unfailingly desire for all that
wholeness which is only to be found in Christ.
And so we are destined to be unsatisfied with the present world order
and probably the future on – and indeed
no Christian fully seeking the Kingdom has been satisfied with this world. But that does not make us downcast or
discouraged, rather it is our impetus to proclaim the Good News, to be beacons
of light in the midst of darkness and fear.
We have the pearl of great price, our lamp stands are lit. Every one of us has the opportunity to be a
sign of hope for our American friends who have lost loved ones, and for all
people around the world who suffer injustice.
So often the evil acts of a few cause many to suffer.
. . . It is not weakness but
maturity which allows us to know that our human solutions will be
imperfect. Let us pray today certainly,
but let us remain mindful as well each day of those who have died needlessly,
for those who mourn and for those both here and abroad who are abandoned. Let us bring dignity to this much tarnished
world.
Fr. Bob
