Friday of the Twenty-third Week in ordinary Time
(I Timothy
1:1-2.12-14; Luke 6:39-42)
Twenty
years have passed since the day of ignominy.
On September 11, 2001, a score of Muslim terrorists shocked and
infuriated the most powerful nation on earth.
Approximately 3000 inhabitants of the United States were killed in the
targeted crashes of four hijacked passenger jets. Of course, the nation responded to the
outrage with the result of, probably, a hundred times as many deaths in several
Muslim countries over the years.
In today’s
gospel Jesus speaks as a teacher and prophet.
He tells his disciples to take seriously his message so that they may
not be blinded by unbridled passions.
How would he respond if asked to judge the clash of civilizations
between radical Islam and postmodern western culture?
He would
condemn the attacks as wicked. He would
tell the terrorists that their crimes are indefensible and call for
retribution. And he would have words of
both consolation and instruction for the West.
They, for sure, have to protect their people from men blinded by pride
and hatred. But they also must open their
eyes to see how lust, selfishness, and greed are deteriorating families. Communities,
and cultures. Greater tragedy will come
unless all reform their ways to promote love in truth and justice in action.
