September 27, The Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Earlier this month, our nation remembered the twenty-fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on our country. It was a day to remember the horror of three thousand lives lost in New York, Washington, and the wreckage of United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Those of us who were alive on that bloody day will never forget where we were and how we felt as the developments of that Tuesday unfolded.
During that weekend of remembrance, there were also many stories of brave and courageous people who came to the aid of many and saved countless lives. Police, firemen, and first responders entered the fray in at the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon to rescue as many as they could. In years to come,
some of these brave civil servants would die from various medical complications. On Flight 93, as I mentioned the other week, brave passengers like Todd Beamer foiled the plot of those who hijacked that jet so it would not reach possibility the White House or the Capitol. The craft crashed and Beamer and over forty others perished. Also related to this, there were two F-16 fighter jets ready to ram United 93 if the passengers did not attempt to take over the jet. They were ready to make it a kamikaze mission without a doubt in their minds, living up to their military commitment. There were also wonderful stories of individuals and events taking place after 9/11 which displayed love, unity and commitment.
In the midst of the carnage of that day, there were these and many other powerful stories of the human spirit at its best. People who did great and small things and offered a testament that with so much death and despair, great acts arose from the ashes. We all wish this day never took place, but we can take stock in the goodness of so many good-willed individuals.
The above helps give evidence to a conviction I have, and that is that in the hearts of all people, there is a dynamic process always taking place. And that is the push and pull to do what is right. Now, there is also the push and pull to do what we want and perhaps act in a way we should not, but the alternative is always at work. Stating it another way, it is when you come to a situation and your conscious will not leaving you alone. “I know I should do ‘X’ but do
I want too? I want to follow Jesus, but do I have to do it now?” Hopefully, we choose to follow Jesus.
As we move on from 9/11, I mean by elapsed time, let us pay attention to the “push and pull” dynamic in ourselves and pray that the wisdom of God will guide us to do what is right, and perhaps make those brave counter-cultural responses. Let us reach out to others who are struggling with their decision making and aid them in making those decisions/actions that represent the best of humanity and make it clear beyond a doubt that God is in charge.