Fifteen years ago today, terrorists hijacked four passenger planes and smashed two into New York's World Trade Center. A third jetliner rammed into the Pentagon outside Washington while a fourth one crash-landed on an empty field in Pennsylvania. By the time the carnage was over, the hijackers had killed 2,977 people in the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil. People, buildings and planes fell from the sky. Terrified strangers became friends as Americans united on a day that changed the world forever.
9/11. What this date now represents has changed our lives, our nation, our world and our community of faith. 9/11 has become a symbol of unspeakable evil and deep loss, of tremendous sacrifice and great faith and of challenges we continue to face as a people. The scriptures this Sunday reveal to us that at the heart of the law of Christ is mercy. Forgiveness and compassion are always proclaimed in the midst of this assembly whenever we gather for the Eucharist. Let us then acknowledge ourselves— as both sinners and sinned against.
Please join me on Sunday’s Multifaith Peace Walk beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Congregation Etz Chayim, 4161 Alma St. and walking to Our Lady of the Rosary Church. (see following article for details)