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Fr. Ziliak, Courier article, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2002
We have already heard many words and seen many images as we approach
the first year anniversary of the tragic and deeply moving events
of Sept. 11. I will not attempt to capture the series of events in
words. Rather, let me share some words of prayer and faith in the
face of this national day of remembrance, so that we may move on to
tomorrow.
"Almighty and faithful Creator, all things are of your making,
all people are shaped in your image. We now entrust all those who
died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to your goodness.
In your infinite wisdom and power, work in them your merciful purpose,
known to you alone from the beginning of time. Console the hearts
of those who love them in the hope that all who trust in you will
find peace and rest in your kingdom." (Prayers for the Dead)
We acknowledge in prayer that we are all creatures of God. We are
not God. We are not in complete control of the events of our lives.
We do recognize that we are created in the image of God and thus contain
the marks of divinity within us. Much has been given to the peoples
of this world to steward in God's name.
We give over into the hands of God those who so quickly and without
warning lost their lives. We entrust to God's mercy and love those
who saw and realized what was happening. May their last moments have
been ones of peace and trust in a loving and inviting God.
We further acknowledge that God's ways are not the ways of humans.
God's thoughts and plans are not the thoughts and plans of humans.
We abdicate our control and place that humbly into the mind, heart
and hands of the Lord. We admit to a power higher than ourselves.
We know that evil and hurt surround us, but that it will be brought
low through the salvation of our Lord.
We firmly believe that those who love the Lord will find everlasting
peace and rest in that kingdom promised from of old, a kingdom of
joy, a kingdom of finality, a kingdom of fulfillment of all our desires.
At the same time that we pray for those nearly 3,000 who lost their
lives in New York City, Washington D.C. and the fields of Pennsylvania,
we pray for their families, loved ones and friends, and likewise pray
for ourselves.
"Father of mercies and God of all consolation, you pursue us
with untiring love and dispel the shadow of death with the bright
dawn of life. Comfort your people in their loss and sorrow. Be our
refuge and our strength, O Lord, and lift us from the depths of grief
into the peace and light of your presence. Your Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ, by dying has destroyed our death, and by rising, restored
our life. Enable us therefore to press on toward him, so that, after
our earthly course is run, he may reunite us with those we love, when
every tear will be wiped away." (Prayers for Mourners)
We cry out to our God who has never and will never abandon us. We
look to the time of brightness and light, knowing that darkness and
pain will not prevail. We sense unerringly that we will be lifted
up and not brought low. We express wholeheartedly that death, sin
and evil will never overcome, rather they will be overcome through
the power and resurrection of the Lord. Death is swallowed up in the
victory of the cross and resurrection.
Thus, we will move forward to tomorrow. We are chastened. We are deeply
reflective of the fragility of life. We instinctively give credence
to the preciousness of life and love. We know that we will continue
our lives and loves until we are together with our God and our loved
ones forever in a new heaven and a new earth. We acknowledge our God
as holy, blessed and glorious. He has conquered. We, likewise, will
be victorious.
Father Joseph L. Ziliak is pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic
Church in Newburgh.
