The sorrow and numbness of the tragedy of September 11, 2001 persists. How could profound emotion not be real? Hearing the names of those killed continues to evoke the sadness I have that humanity can be so cruel toward another. As on many other days I ask myself: Are politics, religious differences, poverty and self-righteousness worthy principles to kill for? Can nations and peoples ever be in solidarity with those not like them? For people of faith, does the Word of God impel them to be lovers of Truth and Peace? In time, I hope in a short amount of time, that we can enjoy peace in our hearts, our cities and states, our nation, indeed in the world.
The world seven years later is no different than it was when the brutality hit NYC. And so we live differently for a moment. Members of the Benedictine monastic community of The Abbey of Saint Mary and the Delbarton School gathered in the abbey church to remember, to be silent and to pray. Dare I say we hoped! In fact, that’s what the author of Lamentations put on our lips today.
We used the words of sacred Scripture to voice God’s promise and to voice our own hopes through Psalm 27, Lamentations 3:17-26, I Thessalonians 4:13-18. The Pie Jesu was sung prior to the reading of names of people connected to this community. Along with the Lord’s Prayer and Hail Mary we also prayed the Mourner’s Kaddish, a Jewish prayer which glorifies the Lord.
Kindly remember in prayer the public servants who died, their surviving families and the current public servants who give their lives to make our cities safe. Be sure to thank them.