Homily for Wednesday
Week 23 of Ordinary Time
Sept. 11, 2024
Luke 6: 20-26
Salesian HS, New Rochelle, N.Y.
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firefighter stands under the flag of Two World Trade Center, 9/15/2001 U.S. Navy Archives Collection AR/643 |
Some events in our lifetimes sear themselves into our memories. For one generation older than Bro. Bernie’s and mine, it was the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, which killed 2,400 Americans, which Pres. Roosevelt described to Congress and the American people as a date that would live in infamy. For my generation and Bro. Bernie’s, such a date is Nov. 22, 1963, when Pres. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. And for most Americans alive today—not you young men who hadn’t been born yet—Sept. 11, 2001, is such a date.
On
Sept. 11, four terrorist gangs used passenger airplanes to attack the U.S. by
crashing them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in
Pennsylvania when the passengers on that 4th plane fought back. Almost 3,000 people were murdered that day,
including my Scoutmaster from Troop 40 Mt. Vernon.[1]
Those
terrorists did what they did because they hated the U.S. They hated the U.S. because we have a long
history of defending Israel, which we do out of sympathy for the Jewish people,
6 million of whom were murdered in Hitler’s Holocaust. In seeking to protect the Jewish people from
unreasoned hatred, we’re practicing the beatitudes of Jesus[2]—compassion
for the weak, assistance to those in need, standing for the lives of the
innocent. How necessary that remains was
evidenced, once more, last October 7 when Hamas massacred 1,200 Jewish people. That date probably will live as a day of
infamy for Israelis.
Such
events prompt us toward self-defense, of course, and perhaps to aggressive actions
to prevent more violence. That seems
like a contradiction: violence to
prevent violence. It’s certain that we
need to find more effective solutions, better paths toward peace. We also need prayer: not just for the innocent victims of
violence, and not just for our own defenders like our troops, but also for the
perpetrators of violence—prayers of forgiveness, prayers for their conversion,
prayers that God will change the hearts of world leaders and of ordinary people
so that we all may respect every person, every child of God, and desire harmony
rather than vengeance or the possession of every inch of the Holy Land, or of
Ukraine, or any other land where people are suffering from others’ hatred or
greed.
May
God convert all of us to his ways of thinking and acting. May he lead us to peace.[3]
A Prayer[4]
Lord
God, in you we take refuge at the memory of this day of satanic brutality and
terror. Grant eternal rest in your place
of light, refreshment, and peace who those who were murdered on this day. Give those still suffering and who lost loved
ones great trust in your providence and mercy.
Forgive the evil men who carried out those attacks and others who
continue such wickedness. Bless with
strength and perseverance those who continue striving to protect us from
further violence. Move those intent on further
atrocities to holy fear and swift repentance in the light of your eternal
justice. Help us all renew our faith in
your Son’s victory over sin and death thru the shedding of his blood out of
love for us and his resurrection. We ask
this thru the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
[2] Today’s gospel is Luke’s version of
the beatitudes, briefer than Matthew’s (5:3-12).
[3] See also From
the Eastern Front: Homily for 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time
(sdbnews.blogspot.com).
[4] Based on a prayer in a parish
bulletin last weekend.
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