Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.
The vengeful will suffer the LORD's vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail.
Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.-- Sirach 27:30-28:2
Sometimes it is difficult to understand that the Lord knows what he is doing. And yet on today, we can see from the Readings that Lord has our hearts in mind and knows our ways. As we commemorate that terrible events that have marked our history with a seemingly perpetual taste of sadness, anger, vengeance and many other emotions, we must pause today and open our hearts to let the Lord speak to us and to show us what it is that we are to do. Though we stand as a wounded people, broken from many wounds inflicted over the generations, we are still a redeemed people. Though the scars of war continue to plague many peoples around the world (and in a special way we remember our Soldiers in harm's way), we must trust that the mercy and kindness of the Lord have a place in this world and remember that the Holy Spirit does work in our lives and salvation has been made to all of us. The tragic loss of life and the violence of September 11, 2001 must become a page in a history book and an anecdotal story and no longer a source of hatred and animosity. The Lord tells us today that these are what the sinner holds tight, so as this is the Lord's word, we must learn how to get past the things that lead us to sin. The fruit of confession is learning how to turn away from our occasions of sin so that we may move forward on our walk with Christ and live virtuously. Living virtuously is completely incongruous with hatred and vengeance. I am not remiss to say that these stories are a source of grief and pain because the losses are still very real in our lives. Everybody needs forgiveness and everybody needs compassion and for this, everybody needs a Savior. We are so blessed that ours has already come. Jesus has already taken our sins and won for us salvation. Christ came so that we might have life and have it abundantly. We have to look within ourselves and see the Christ who has imprinted his creative touch upon our souls and show that to the world. The mercy and grace of the Lord is in our ability to forgive and be forgiven.
"Lord, hear our prayer and in your mercy answer us. Grant this day be a day of your joy and peace in you. Give us hearts that do not call for vengeance but for love. Turn our eyes from the sadness of the history of this day but let us gaze upon you who are the source of a light and all good things. Grant to us the love and joy you want for this world and make us one in you so that we can know what it truly means to be held and loved. Forgive us our trespasses and give us the strength to forgive those who trespass against us. Make us a virtuous people with overwhelming faith, hope and love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen"
The vengeful will suffer the LORD's vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail.
Forgive your neighbor's injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.-- Sirach 27:30-28:2
Sometimes it is difficult to understand that the Lord knows what he is doing. And yet on today, we can see from the Readings that Lord has our hearts in mind and knows our ways. As we commemorate that terrible events that have marked our history with a seemingly perpetual taste of sadness, anger, vengeance and many other emotions, we must pause today and open our hearts to let the Lord speak to us and to show us what it is that we are to do. Though we stand as a wounded people, broken from many wounds inflicted over the generations, we are still a redeemed people. Though the scars of war continue to plague many peoples around the world (and in a special way we remember our Soldiers in harm's way), we must trust that the mercy and kindness of the Lord have a place in this world and remember that the Holy Spirit does work in our lives and salvation has been made to all of us. The tragic loss of life and the violence of September 11, 2001 must become a page in a history book and an anecdotal story and no longer a source of hatred and animosity. The Lord tells us today that these are what the sinner holds tight, so as this is the Lord's word, we must learn how to get past the things that lead us to sin. The fruit of confession is learning how to turn away from our occasions of sin so that we may move forward on our walk with Christ and live virtuously. Living virtuously is completely incongruous with hatred and vengeance. I am not remiss to say that these stories are a source of grief and pain because the losses are still very real in our lives. Everybody needs forgiveness and everybody needs compassion and for this, everybody needs a Savior. We are so blessed that ours has already come. Jesus has already taken our sins and won for us salvation. Christ came so that we might have life and have it abundantly. We have to look within ourselves and see the Christ who has imprinted his creative touch upon our souls and show that to the world. The mercy and grace of the Lord is in our ability to forgive and be forgiven.
"Lord, hear our prayer and in your mercy answer us. Grant this day be a day of your joy and peace in you. Give us hearts that do not call for vengeance but for love. Turn our eyes from the sadness of the history of this day but let us gaze upon you who are the source of a light and all good things. Grant to us the love and joy you want for this world and make us one in you so that we can know what it truly means to be held and loved. Forgive us our trespasses and give us the strength to forgive those who trespass against us. Make us a virtuous people with overwhelming faith, hope and love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen"
