Reflection 9/11/20:
Forgiveness. How
amazingly appropriate that today’s Gospel focuses on forgiveness. Today we are faced with the memory of those
tragic events of choice which happened 19 years ago. As we continue to navigate this pandemic, the
multiple movements throughout the United States, the upcoming election, I can’t
help but remember that day on September 11, 2001 as I was driving up Interstate
55 on my way to work. I also can’t help
but remember how united we were as a country during that events that
followed. It is because of this I
question where we are today.
Forgiveness. The
Gospel of Luke says “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both
fall into the pit?” I wonder how close
to the edge we are as a society. No one
enjoys having our discrepancies brought to light. However, at the same time, we seem so quick
to point out those of others. The Gospel
goes on to say “Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not
notice the log in your own eye?...You hypocrite, first take the log out of your
eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck from your neighbor’s
eye.” In order to do this, it will take
a lot of courage to be honest with ourselves about who we really are. How can we truly forgive or accept others if
we have not addressed ourselves first?
Perhaps this is a better question; how can we condemn others when we
should be condemned?
Today, we are faced with a decision: To become better than
we were as both an individual and a society, or to do nothing and fall into the
pit. As Luke suggests, being better
people begins with a long hard look at ourselves and then, addressing our
neighbor. “First, take the log out of
your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck from your
neighbor’s eye.” Real change begins from
within. It is a scary process of
visiting those places about ourselves that aren’t always so nice and being
completely…authentic.
W.B. Yeats stated that “It takes more courage to examine the
dark corners of your own soul than it does for a soldier to fight on a
battlefield.” Maybe it’s about time we
begin to venture into those “dark corners” and sweep out what needs to go. If we begin there, perhaps we can move toward
addressing our neighbor. Then, just maybe, we can begin to grow forward together,
collectively into a more unified and peaceful society.
As we remember and grieve the tragedies of September 11th,
2001, may the Holy Spirit bring us the peace needed to our current world in
strife. By beginning with ourselves, may
we show society courage and justice for all guided by the example of Christ the
King.
Mr. Swann - Principal