SEPTEMBER 11: the madness of hatred

Ten yars ago, I was enjoying my holidays, as I am doing this year. I was spending three days with Fr. Adriano, who had been my classmate in the seminary. In the morning, In th morning, I entered the sitting room, where Fr. Adriano’s mother was watching television, and something strange was happening, broadcasted live from America. After a while, Fr. Adriano joined me and we spent most of the day in front of the screen. Ten years have passed, and the events of September 11 still reverberate throughout the world.

How can such an act be justified? How could it be done in the name of God? And how could they claim martyrdom? The martyrs are killed, they don’t kill. The martyrs are ready to die in faithfulness to God, who is a God of life and love. They cannot commit suicide and transform their death into an orgy of blood, chaos, destruction and death. It is blasphemy to do the most horrendous things in the name of the most sacred One. God cannot be used to justify any violence, much less the violence that comes out of hatred.

Jesus warned Peter:  the ones who “take the sword shall perish with the sword.” (Mt 26:52). Violence generates violence; and that’s what happened in the aftermath of September 11: Afghanistan was invaded and then Iraq. Since then, plenty of blood has been shed and countless families have lost their beloved ones, with many others suffering distress and living in fear.

The Sunday readings of today are very appropriate for the occasion: they stress the need for forgiveness and reconciliation. In the first reading, Sirach warns us that resentment, anger, hatred and vengeance are foul things, because they are enemies of peace and the enemies of life. Blessed are the peacemakers; they are children of God.

Let us work for peace.
The video link posted below shows the horrors of September 11.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mz0_x7313I&feature=fvst