Today marks a sad day in American history, September 11th, the day when our Nation was brutally attacked by terrorists, causing the death of hundreds of innocent victims. September 11th, marks a day when all remember those who died in the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the Pennsylvania field. September 11th marks a day where people across the world said, "I am an American." There is so much to say about this day which we refer to as 9/11, however there is a magnificent question about brotherhood, respect, and love which looms over America and the world. After the events that took place on September 11th, there was a remarkable display of Christian brotherhood, charity, love, and peace between all people of various races, ethnicities, religions, and cultures. The response to the tragedy that struck America was remarkable, yet sad at the same time as it lasted for a while but then faded away and now seems to merely exist on every September 11th in the calendar year. It is amazing how humans respond to tragedy and misfortune, to events that hurt our fellow man. However, why does it take an event like September 11th, to rise the multitudes to come together as brothers and sisters as one, a collective piece in this humanity we are a part of? Why does it take aircrafts being launched into buildings, and people dying to get a response from the human race? Should not we live our lives like all Americans and people who hold true to this Nation do on every September 11th? Should we not be their for our fellow Americans and fellow brothers and sisters across the globe when times are good and times are bad? Why does it take an event that is tragic to spark the love that lays in our hearts dormant until death strikes and people are so brutally affected? We live in a world where genocide, human rights violations, war, and terror are evident every day, yet response to such matters only occur for a period of time. Why is this? Why do human beings not step up to the plate and give their all to combat evil in this world, gaining peace and reconciliation for all by means of love, fellowship, and suffering for another's gain? The answer seems complex, unknown, and mysterious, however, the answer lays before us. Jesus said in the gospel of Thomas (found in the dead sea scrolls and revealed to the public after Vatican II) that "The Kingdom of God is before you, the problem is that people do not see clearly." What did our Lord mean when he said this to the disciples some 2,000 years ago? Well, God and the love of God is within us, the mission is set before us, and we are called to respond everyday, not just on September 11ths, namely tragic times. Who are we and what do we hold to be important to us? If love rules our lives then we have the Kingdom of God now and will continue to have it in the world to come. But if we do not, and we merely react to things and are those people who respond for a while and then drift away, we are lost sheep who need the Shepherd but refuse his call. So on this September 11th I urge you to reflect on your life, your situation, your past, your present, and your future. Who are you? How do you live life? Are you willing to open your eyes wide and see the Kingdom of God before you? This is a daily call to love God and neighbor. It's dates such as 9/11 that remind us of this call and then its up to us to act appropriately no matter how hard it may be. For Christ sacrificed so that all may live, the least we can do is to sacrifice so that our fellow may gain the life he and she deserves. May God grant peace and rest on the victims of September 11th and all those victims whom have been robbed of life because of tragic events.
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