As our nation remembers the events of September 11, 2001, the Scriptures for this Wednesday of the 23rd Week of Ordinary Time seem particularly fitting. While remembering those who perished in the terrorist attack is definitely on the minds of most Americans today, St. Paul reminds us that there is something that we must do beyond remembering:
If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. . . now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all. (Colossians 3:1-5, 8-11)
I firmly believe that the best way to remember those who lost their lives and to conquer those who do such evil things is to live our lives with the awareness that Christ can and will conquer all evil when we turn our weakness over to Him. Live the life we have promised to live by virtue of our baptism. The ultimate victory over evil is within our grasp if we turn to the Lord.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator