24 OTA.11 (911 10th Anniversary); Sir 27:30-28:9; Rom 14:7-9a; Matthew 18:21-35
Today is a special memorial day for us. Some will feel it more deeply than others, if you knew personally those who died 9/11 at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, Flight 93, or subsequent losses of sons & daughters, fathers & mothers, bro/sis, friends... in the years that have followed.
Today we remember our past, our present, & our future.
Today we reflect where we stand in faith.
I remember the words of Rev. Billy Graham at the National Prayer Breakfast 10 years ago: “We all watched in horror as planes crashed into the steel and glass of the World Trade Center. Those majestic towers, built on solid foundations, were examples of the prosperity & creativity of America. When damaged, those building eventually plummeted to the ground, imploding in upon themselves. Yet, underneath the debris, is a foundation that was not destroyed. Therein lies the truth of that old hymn, "How Firm a Foundation….”
Yes, our nation has been attacked, buildings destroyed, & lives lost. But now we have a choice: whether to implode & disintegrate emotionally & spiritually as a people & a nation or, whether we choose to become stronger through all of this struggle - to rebuild on a solid foundation. And I believe we are in the process of starting to rebuild on that foundation. That foundation is our trust in God. That's what this service is all about & in that faith we have the strength to endure something as difficult & horrendous … as what we have experienced this week.
(Source: /www.seekgod.ca/billy.htm)
I quoted those words Sept. 11, 2001. I still believe in those words. Why?.... Peter speaks for us, “…how often must I forgive?”
I/We are challenged by those words of Jesus.
Again, what do we carry in our hearts today?
Jesus responds to Peter/us with the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. What a picture a human being is. That slave in the gospel. His debt was enormous. The king was entitled to balance his books by selling the slave, his possessions, & even his wife and kids (possibly to different owners). The king erased his whole debt! This was beyond what the slave had hoped/asked for. His money problems were gone in the twinkling of an eye.
You’d think he would be grateful & overflowing with “the milk of human kindness.” But no! He had his neighbor thrown into debtor’s prison. What is going on here? Sin seldom makes sense. When we reflect on our own sins, we realize that we should have known better, we DO know better. This is the mystery of sin. The king’s behavior doesn’t make sense
2 either. Who in their right mind would simply erase such a large debt? Who could be so gracious? Who but God, the true king.
What is forgiveness? Forgiveness is not pardon. Forgiveness is not condoning. Forgiveness is not forgetting; some wounds are unforgettable. Forgiveness is not reconciliation. Yet, to forgive, I give up resentment & revenge. Forgiveness is a process. First, recall the hurt. Empathize, not sympathize with the offender. Accept them as a fellow human beings. If a person deserved forgiveness … it would be a matter of justice.
Forgiveness is, by definition, sheer gift. (Adapted; Celebration, 9/11/11)
Ghandi once said : “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Possible for us?
Today, some who chose to follow those same footsteps: Eddie Casinover (19 yo soldier on 9/11) & Christine Briggs, decided that a national day of grief will become for them … a day of joy & hope. They will be married. Christine said, “The more I thought about it, I was like, You know what? If we don’t take back the day at some point & start celebrating something else, the terrorists win.” (Yahoo.news.8/11) Life is the greatest memorial possible.
Hear now the words of a survivor of 9/11. The NY Times published stories of survivors. One pictured a heroic fire fighter, Michael Kehoe, a 9/11 survivor, ascending the stairs at WTC to rescue victims. Later eyewitness, John Labriola, said this about him: “The one conclusion I came to on 9/11 is that people in the stairwell…really were in ‘a state of grace.’ They helped each other. They didn’t panic. Most people are basically good. I know this, with certainty, because I had gone through the crucible. What a great example people left: be selfless, help the person around you
Today is a special memorial day for us. Some will feel it more deeply than others, if you knew personally those who died 9/11 at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, Flight 93, or subsequent losses of sons & daughters, fathers & mothers, bro/sis, friends... in the years that have followed.
Today we remember our past, our present, & our future.
Today we reflect where we stand in faith.
Today we ask ourselves, “What do we carry in our hearts?”
I remember the words of Rev. Billy Graham at the National Prayer Breakfast 10 years ago: “We all watched in horror as planes crashed into the steel and glass of the World Trade Center. Those majestic towers, built on solid foundations, were examples of the prosperity & creativity of America. When damaged, those building eventually plummeted to the ground, imploding in upon themselves. Yet, underneath the debris, is a foundation that was not destroyed. Therein lies the truth of that old hymn, "How Firm a Foundation….”
Yes, our nation has been attacked, buildings destroyed, & lives lost. But now we have a choice: whether to implode & disintegrate emotionally & spiritually as a people & a nation or, whether we choose to become stronger through all of this struggle - to rebuild on a solid foundation. And I believe we are in the process of starting to rebuild on that foundation. That foundation is our trust in God. That's what this service is all about & in that faith we have the strength to endure something as difficult & horrendous … as what we have experienced this week.
(Source: /www.seekgod.ca/billy.htm)
I quoted those words Sept. 11, 2001. I still believe in those words. Why?.... Peter speaks for us, “…how often must I forgive?”
I/We are challenged by those words of Jesus.
Again, what do we carry in our hearts today?
Jesus responds to Peter/us with the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. What a picture a human being is. That slave in the gospel. His debt was enormous. The king was entitled to balance his books by selling the slave, his possessions, & even his wife and kids (possibly to different owners). The king erased his whole debt! This was beyond what the slave had hoped/asked for. His money problems were gone in the twinkling of an eye.
You’d think he would be grateful & overflowing with “the milk of human kindness.” But no! He had his neighbor thrown into debtor’s prison. What is going on here? Sin seldom makes sense. When we reflect on our own sins, we realize that we should have known better, we DO know better. This is the mystery of sin. The king’s behavior doesn’t make sense
2 either. Who in their right mind would simply erase such a large debt? Who could be so gracious? Who but God, the true king.
God’s grace is also a mystery. (Source; Living With Christ, 9/11/11)
Do we carry God’s grace today in our hearts?
This is a soul-struggle for us as it was for Peter, especially now.
What is forgiveness? Forgiveness is not pardon. Forgiveness is not condoning. Forgiveness is not forgetting; some wounds are unforgettable. Forgiveness is not reconciliation. Yet, to forgive, I give up resentment & revenge. Forgiveness is a process. First, recall the hurt. Empathize, not sympathize with the offender. Accept them as a fellow human beings. If a person deserved forgiveness … it would be a matter of justice.
Forgiveness is, by definition, sheer gift. (Adapted; Celebration, 9/11/11)
Ghandi once said : “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Possible for us?
Corrie Ten Boom forgave the Nazi guard who helped to kill her family.
Archbishop Tutu asked South Africa to forgive all Apartheid persecutors.
The Amish families, whose daughters were murdered, forgave & helped the family of Charles Roberts, their killer. His family has no words to describe their gratitude. Forgiveness allows us to rebuild our lives after we have been wronged or betrayed. Today, some who chose to follow those same footsteps: Eddie Casinover (19 yo soldier on 9/11) & Christine Briggs, decided that a national day of grief will become for them … a day of joy & hope. They will be married. Christine said, “The more I thought about it, I was like, You know what? If we don’t take back the day at some point & start celebrating something else, the terrorists win.” (Yahoo.news.8/11) Life is the greatest memorial possible.
Hear now the words of a survivor of 9/11. The NY Times published stories of survivors. One pictured a heroic fire fighter, Michael Kehoe, a 9/11 survivor, ascending the stairs at WTC to rescue victims. Later eyewitness, John Labriola, said this about him: “The one conclusion I came to on 9/11 is that people in the stairwell…really were in ‘a state of grace.’ They helped each other. They didn’t panic. Most people are basically good. I know this, with certainty, because I had gone through the crucible. What a great example people left: be selfless, help the person around you
… and get through it.” (Source: America, 8/2909/5.11)
At this Liturgy of God’s Mercy, I believe that our foundations in faith remain. Together we can “get through it” because we live for the Lord.
Today, we can carry God’s mercy in our hearts. Hope triumphs,
… Not just today, but everyday.