By Fr. Justin Fulton
It’s been 19 years since September 11, 2001. Some of you reading this may not have been born. For those of you who were old enough to remember the events of that horrific day, you know exactly what you were doing.
So many articles, songs, reflections and pieces have been written on it. I don’t feel I can add to the beauty of those articles. What I can do though is perhaps point out the obvious: that for one moment in time during and immediately after September 11, all of us paused and reflected on the gift of life. Indeed, all of us for a moment were pro-life.
Think about that for a second. Why did we all stop to mourn? Why did we take time, money, and resources to attempt to find some pieces of human remains to identify those who were long gone? Why did we all come together to say we did not want to experience anything like this again? The answer is simple: naturally, all human beings seek to protect, promote, defend, and nurture life. When we drive a car with care, when we feed ourselves, when we sleep—all of these items are protecting and nurturing life. All human beings naturally are pro-life.
The events of Aug. 26 involving Officer Mario Herrera, and his death Sept. 7, have shaken the community of Lincoln and the parish family of St. Teresa in Lincoln. And those events have again shown us that naturally we are all life-loving people. Officer Herrera’s wife Carrie, and their four children Carlos, Olivia, Adelina (Addie), and Celia are going through times that no one could ever wish for. Yet, those events have rallied all of us to surround them with our prayers, support, acts of kindness, and love. All of us have paused to remember the fragility of life. And in the suffering of the day the gentle presence of God has shown through His people and their prayers.
In a time where everything is seen through the lens of politics may we all commit to see through the lens of Jesus Christ. May we be intentional about our prayer life. May we pray with and for one another. Let us read Scripture with our children and talk about virtues. May we live out those virtues. Let us pray before and when we eat. Before and when we drive. Before and when we work. Before and when we study. Before and when we rest. May we pray unceasingly.
Let us invite the Holy Spirit deep into our hearts for healing, unity, wisdom, and peace. May we live out our Baptismal calling to worship God and grow in apostolic service. May we find Jesus in the Sacraments. May we let the peace of Jesus Christ remain in our hearts and share that peace with a world that longs for it.
May we tell each other that we care for one another and that we love one another. May we love each other in action. May we all remember that each day and each life is a precious gift willed out of love by God the Father Almighty.
Let us be thankful for each day God has blessed us with. May we thank Him for the gift of life.
May God give Eternal Rest to Officer Herrera. And may the knowledge of Christ’s power in the Resurrection and the love of family and friends help to assuage the loss of the Herrera family at this time.
May the God of Life bless us and keep us always. Amen.
