September 12, 2010
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
I visited Long Island and NYC. On Monday Msgr. Peter Popadick and I arrived at La Guardia and hailed a taxi. Our driver was named Mohammed. I wonder if he was fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramada? On Wednesday we attended Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral on the feast of the Birth of Mary. On Thursday morning we observed Jewish people entering a synagogue for Rosh Hashanah -- their holy new year. All three religions, so apparent in NYC, can trace their faith heritage to Abraham! In and through Abraham (and Sarah and Hagar) God called us to be a holy people. In the Gospel, Luke -- the evangelist, beads three parables of Jesus together to express the truth that God seeks us out. The shepherd searches for the lost sheep. The woman cleans her house looking for the lost coin. The father waits, watches and runs to embrace the returning wayward son. Each parable ends with a celebration -- heaven rejoices! The three great religions tracing their faith lineage to Abraham, confess that God (Allah) comes to save. If our fundamental and foundational experience is God's gracious salvation and mercy, how can we deny to offer that precious gift to others? St. Paul writes to Timothy (2nd reading) admitting that he was "a man of violence" who "received God's mercy" in Jesus Christ. On Thursday we visited ground zero. Not far from the very busy construction site, about two blocks, we found not a mosque or synagogue, but historic Trinity Church. The center panel on the front door is a carving of the Annunciation -- Angel Gabriel coming to Mary. Mary of Nazareth may be key in deepening respect among Catholics/Christians, Muslims and Jews. Mary is a Jewish woman, the mother of Jesus and she has a place of honor in the Quran. On the ninth anniversary of 9/11, may we build the best memorial, not of concrete, glass and stone, but of lasting peace and respect. Mary shows the way.
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23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
