During the week leading up to the tenth anniversary, RENEW International reflects on 9/11 with stories, prayer, and scripture.
This Sunday is the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Ten years ago this Sunday, almost 3,000 people were killed when four hijacked jets crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a western Pennsylvania field. Ten years ago, millions of lives around the world were permanently changed because of this event. Children lost parents, wives lost husbands, a war began – a war that is still being fought.
So very few are able to forgive when the hurt is so deep and the tragedy is so great.
This Sunday’s Gospel goes contrary to this universal human instinct to hold on to hurt. Peter is an excellent example of someone who knows that he should forgive, but, like many of us, feels that there is a limit to forgiveness. Peter expected Jesus to congratulate him for his noble proposal to offer forgiveness seven* times.
Jesus teaches us that we must always forgive because we have been greatly forgiven. No matter how big the hurt, we must forgive. As long as we do not forgive others, then we cannot hope for God’s forgiveness. We say it every time we say the Our Father: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Unwillingness to forgive fuels the fires of resentment and bitterness and leaves us unable to heal.
We must forgive in order to be forgiven and, through this forgiveness, finally find peace.
* Seven, a powerful symbol in the Old Testament, connotes completeness; as in the seventh day marking the completion of creation.
Adapted from Word on the Go, a downloadable resource from RENEW International
