September 11, 2016
24th Sunday Ordinary Time
I find older persons coming to confess may refer to a regret or to a sin in the past and wonder if it has been forgiven. We wish to confess again just to make sure. With King David in our Psalm we can say: “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.†We may get carried away with St. Paul in the letter to Timothy and insist that I am “first†among sinners – a blasphemer, a persecutor and a man of violence. This honesty may lead to repentance but it can also provoke a sense of worthlessness and self-incrimination. It is very difficult for us to believe in a God desiring to forgive. After God enters into covenant with the Hebrew people they turn to worship a golden calf. God’s wrath burns hot against them. But the Lord changes his mind about the disaster he plans to bring on his people, when Moses implores God to remember Abraham, Isaac and Israel. There is a reoccurring them in the Bible that God is slow to anger and rich in mercy.
In our Gospel, righteous folk are grumbling that Jesus associates with sinners. Jesus responds by telling three parables about a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son. The searching for the lost sheep and coin, the waiting for the prodigal son is God’s disposition regarding us. Can we imagine God searching for us?
Too often we look back over our lives fretting over lost opportunities, failures and sins. There are always regrets. Sin stalks us but do we recall moments of mercy when God picks us up and invites us to come home? On this 15th Anniversary of 9-11 we must recall the horror of that day of violence and the depth of our pain but we must also remember the heroic courage of First Responders. The memorials at Ground Zero, on the field in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon, speak of great loss, courage, healing and resiliency. The row of nine vigil lights and a second row of 11 vigil lights on the sanctuary steps is our simple memorial. We pray:
“Almighty and Ever Loving God, we remember September 11, 2001, and pray for all those who were affected by the terrible events of that day. We remember with love and respect all of those who went tragically to their deaths. We remember those who still suffer from their injuries of that day fifteen years ago and pray for their recovery. We remember the still grieving families and friends and all lost loved ones. Gracious Lord continue to console them in the hope that all who trust in You will find peace and rest in Your Eternal Kingdom. Bless them with Your presence and surround us with Your love. God of peace, bless all those defending and protecting our country and its ideals of freedom and liberty. Heavenly Father, answer our prayer and bring us hope through Christ, Your Son. May Your kingdom of justice and peace reign. May the earth be filled with Your glory. Amen.â€
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22nd Sunday Ordinary Time
