Rescue workers remove fatally injured New York City Fire Department chaplain Rev. Mychal Judge from one of the World Trade Center towers in New York City, early September 11, 2001.
Homily - 24th Sunday - Cycle C 9/16/01, Readings: Ex 32:7-11, 13-14, 1 Tm 1:12-17 and Lk 15:1-32
Twenty years on September 16, 2001, I preached this homily, at the invitation of Rev. Francis Danella, O.S.F.S., the pastor [then] at Our Lady of Good Council in Vienna, VA I think it is still relevant and important today.
We have been through a most devastating week, as a nation. Tuesday’s events are seared into our hearts and minds. In our reading from Exodus, we heard “…for they have become depraved” - - and don’t the people responsible for Tuesday’s death and destruction come to mind.
Those of us who were not personally affected by Tuesday’s events can readily identify with Paul’s letter to Timothy, “… but I have been mercifully treated.”
But in today’s Gospel we must grapple with a most difficult lesson: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son(s). These parables turn our world upside down - -they turned Jesus’ world upside down!
How hard it would be for us to rejoice if the people responsible for Tuesday’s devastation - - repent and are saved God’s compassion? It is beyond our wildest dreams and our comprehension, but we should pray for just that.
So, Jesus tells us the story of the two sons - -one who tells his Dad to drop dead! As a father if my children did that I would be devastated. Jesus tells us that God our Father calls us to: bear our grief and forgive our hurts, and to be compassionate.
Today we should search our hearts for the pain and hurt we haven’t forgiven yet! Those in our families most especially!
This week taught us many lessons - -one of them is how fragile life is - -Today forgive in your families because tomorrow may be too late. We hope and pray that Tuesday’s horror is never repeated.
Let us heed Jesus’ call to be compassionate.
His call to be the “foolish” shepherd, woman, father.
His call to heal first in our families and then in our world, then we will join with the psalmist and “…rise and go to my father.”
May God Be Praised!
N.B. George Herbert (1593-1633) wrote, “He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” Forgiveness is fundamental to spiritual growth.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
St. Andre Bessette, intercede for us.
St. Francis de Sales, pray for us.
“Tune my spirit to the music of heaven.” [St. Brendan the Navigator]
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