All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees’ and scribes were grumbling and said, this fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them. (Luke 15:1-10) The fact is that one of the most important things Jesus ever did was eat with people, all kinds of people: Tax Collectors and prostitutes, Scribes and Pharisees, Jews and Gentiles, women and Samaritans. And he did his best to help them learn to appreciate and even understand those who were different from themselves.
As I reflected on this Gospel last week it led me to reflect and pray about the events of September 11, 2001. As I reflected, I ran across a wonderful article by Jim Wallis, the Publisher of Sojourners Magazine. I would like to share some of his reflections with you.
“It was and is with pain and sadness that we remember the ninth anniversary of the day the towers fell, the Pentagon was attacked, and another plane full of passengers crashed into field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after brave citizens stopped the terrorists form hitting their target.
For nine years the anguish of lost loved ones and the feeling of vulnerability we all felt as terrible acts of violence were perpetrated on our soil have stuck with us all. But it is also appropriate to ask, what have we learned? How have we grown as a country? How have we healed, or how have we, in our hurt, turned around and hurt others?
These are not either/or questions. We have, in fact, done both: healed and wounded, learned & regressed, grown & shrunk back from the challenges before us. The challenges before us today lie in our ability to move forward in healing and building the cause of peace while remembering the lessons learned and lives lost.
Jesus calls his followers to be peacemakers, and to love not only their neighbors, but also their enemies. We Christians should not judge all Muslims by the actions of a small group of terrorists--and I hope somebody tells Muslims around the world not to judge Christians, or all Americans, by the actions of a few.
This weekend I have thought & prayed about the role that faith wll play in America. It is about whether or not we will accept Americans of all faiths as real Americans or see some as second-class citizens. It is about whether or not this country will embrace all those citizens of the world who seek peace and want to help rebuild and strengthen our nation and the world.”
In closing, I want to leave you with two prayers, one from the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer, the other written especially for this very important occasion in the life of our nation.
First, a prayer for those who Influence Public Opinion: Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (BCP, p.827)
A finally a special prayer written for the Commemoration of September 11, 2001: God the compassionate one, whose loving care extends to all the world. We remember this day your children of many nations and many faiths whose lives were cut short by the fierce flames of anger and hatred. Console those who continue to suffer and grieve, and give them comfort and hope as they look to the future. Out of what we have endured, give us the grace to examine our relationships with those who perceive us as the enemy, and show our leaders the way to use our power to serve the God of all for the healing of the nations. This we ask thru Jesus Christ our Lord who, in reconciling love, was lifted up from the earth that he might draw all people to himself. Amen.
Blessings and Peace,
Ben Alford
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