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Pastor's Message: September 11, 2011
September 11, 2011
Readings for The Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Sir 27:30-28:7; Rom 14:7-9; Mt 18:21-35
Nearly every American who was alive September 11, 2001 remembers where they were when they learned of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. We were inspired by the heroism of the New York Firemen who marched to their doom into the burning twin towers and the passengers United Airlines Flight 93 who sacrificed their lives so their plane could not be used as a missile. Today's Second Reading speaks very well to the heroes of that day, "None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living" (Rom 14:8-9).
It was difficult for us to believe that any force on earth would be so evil to seek the death and destruction of so many people. Many Americans desired vengeance and retribution and our hearts were filled with anger. President Bush's speech reminded us that our good was greater than the evil that attacked us and that no darkness could ever take away our light as a people.
Today's scriptures remind us where our strength laid in the face of terrorist attacks such as 9/11 or any evil that we face in this world. Sirach tells us, " 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. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the LORD?" (27:30-28:5) Jesus responds to Peter's question about forgiving up to seven times by saying, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." (Mt 18:22) He proceeds to tell the story of the merciful master and the ungrateful servant. Jesus did not only preach forgiveness, He showed us how to defeat evil through the victory of the cross. On the night before he died He told His disciples, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." (Jn 14:1) Throughout all of his suffering and persecution on the cross Our Lord would never lose His peace and in the end He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Lk 23:34).
As a people we will never forget the suffering and the heroism of that tragic day. During these past ten years the blood of many of our finest young men and women has been shed to conquer this great evil. An estimated 225,000 lives have been lost and up to $4 trillion have been spent to eradicate this evil. While we remember that we never can let the evil forces of this world to prevail, the forces of evil will never be destroyed by guns or money. As a people facing great evils or as individuals facing the day to day sins of our world, we must always remember that we cannot allow evil to have power over us. We must learn how to forgive as we have been forgiven and love as we have been loved. In the end the light of our goodness will always be more powerful than the darkness of sin.
- Today we are welcoming the Fall Sport Teams from Mary Star of the Sea High School at the 9:00 Mass. We are very proud of all of our Students of our High School, Elementary School, Grade School and Pre-School and we are looking forward to many victories on and off the field.
- TODAY! Is the Grand Opening of our new Stella Maris Bookstore. Please come down to the bookstore at the far end of the auditorium and check out our supply of Religious Goods (rosaries, crosses, medals, CDs, DVDs, books and much more). There will be a 10 % DISCOUNT for all purchases today!
- On the way to the bookstore please stop by the Auditorium for a pancake breakfast put on by our High School Booster Club.
- Please help share the gift of grace by inviting those you may knowwho have not received the sacraments to enroll at this time. Classes for children, teens and adults are beginning at this time. Please read further for more details.
- Next Saturday September 17 at 10AM we will send a couple of vans to the multicultural Mass and festival at the Cathedral on Saturday, in the morning. If you are interested in traveling with the parish please call Fr. Ivan by Wednesday, September 14th.
- Also on Saturday the Filipino Community invites everyone to their celebration for San Lorenzo Ruiz at the 5:15 Mass and for refreshments following.
God Bless
Father John Provenza
Pastor
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